Pittsburgh Public Works inspectors on Monday began what their boss called a judicious enforcement of the city's sidewalk-clearing ordinance, issuing 26 warnings to residents and businesses that had been turned in for failing to remove snow.

In all 26 cases, Public Works Director Rob Kaczorowski said, inspectors acted on complaints from the city's 311 help line. He said the city, in announcing resumed enforcement of the ordinance, would continue to respond to complaints but did not intend to patrol neighborhoods in a search for violators.

"It's a minor thing to me," he said.

Mr. Kaczorowski said 81 sidewalk complaints had come in since Friday regarding properties citywide, and that some of the complaints still have to be investigated.

He acknowledged that some of the 311 complaints concerned snow on city-owned sidewalks, called in by residents angry that the city was admonishing private property owners before getting its own house fully in order.

He said the city would get to some of those properties -- such as city steps and the Eliza Furnace Trail -- as time and resources allow and would notify the school district or the county about any complaints that come in about their properties.

Throughout the city, dark, hard-packed snow piles continue to stand in medians, traffic islands, turning lanes and even crosswalks. The sidewalk between the First Avenue Bike and Blade Station and the T-stop at the First Avenue Garage was ice-caked Monday night.

The sidewalk along P.J. McArdle Roadway, connecting the Liberty Bridge with Mount Washington, was impassable Monday night with downed trees and mounds of plowed snow. Along Grandview Avenue on Mount Washington, the sidewalk was cleared and salted, but the overlooks remained covered with ice and snow.

"I do believe the government should step up and make the sidewalks passable for us. We have a rather large snow-removal budget," said Stephanie Richards, 20, who regularly walks to get around Mount Washington, where she lives.

"Residents have a responsibility to clear their sidewalks, but there are still a number of public places where the sidewalks are covered with snow and people have to walk in the street to get around. And that's just obnoxiously dangerous."

The city requires property owners to clear walks within 24 hours of a snowfall or face a $25 fine. Enforcement was suspended after a Feb. 5-6 storm dumped nearly 2 feet of snow on the city.

With school officials and residents complaining about snowy walks, however, the city announced last week that it would resume enforcement Monday. Mr. Kaczorowski said the 26 who received warnings will have three days to make progress on their walks before facing a return visit and fine from an inspector.

He said common sense would be applied in cases involving senior citizens and others for whom sidewalk-clearing would be a burden. Instead of turning in a senior, he said, a neighbor should consider clearing the walk himself.

Rochele Paris of Squirrel Hill was among those angry at the city's request that residents step up efforts to clear sidewalks. She said calls to 311 and public works haven't resolved her complaints -- only one passable lane on Denniston Street and a large pile of snow jutting into the street.

"The snow pile is 5 feet high and 5 feet into the street," she said. The pile was caused by plowing and residents' sidewalk-clearing, she said.

Lisa Schlar, parent of two students at Pittsburgh Colfax K-8 in Squirrel Hill, also would like to see the city continue snow-removal efforts.

She said snow has been plowed into parking areas around the school, making it difficult for parents to pick up and drop off children. She said there are mini-traffic jams each morning and afternoon as parents jockey for space in front of the school.

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