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Kostanay police carried out a citywide sweep on January 6، deploying about 60 district inspectors to check whether snow and ice were being cleared outside apartment blocks، shops and banks — a push to protect pedestrians and enforce urban maintenance rules that can carry 20–100 MCI fines.

This was reported by the Infohub.kz news agency.

What police checked

The patrols covered small and medium business sites، private homes and courtyard areas، with officers issuing on-the-spot warning notices where walkways and curbs were not cleared. The two-day operation is scheduled to run January 6–7 from morning until evening، with plans to cover 200–300 locations، according to the city police department.

Penalties and legal basis

Maksut Yeraliyev، head of the Public Security Department of the Kostanay region police، said violations are handled under Article 505(1) of Kazakhstan’s Administrative Code (rules on improvement/landscaping). “The goal is safety، not fines. We usually start with a warning، and most sites clear the snow promptly afterward،” Yeraliyev noted.

In 2026، one Monthly Calculation Index (MCI) is 4،325 tenge. That puts fines at: 20 MCI (86،500 tenge) for individuals؛ 30 MCI (129،750 tenge) for small businesses and NGOs؛ 40 MCI (173،000 tenge) for medium businesses؛ and 100 MCI (432،500 tenge) for large businesses.

What they found on the ground

Officers reported some sites had seen little to no clearing since early winter، with paths in multi-storey courtyards often trodden open by residents rather than shoveled.

On Abay Avenue، police inspected two contrasting examples: Bereke Bank، which said it used special equipment and spent about 300،000 tenge to clear its grounds، and the Violetta shopping center، whose representatives disputed who must clear the area outside their fence. Police left a formal warning and clarified that the outer perimeter must also be cleared؛ failure to comply could lead to a fine. Officers also advised that businesses can file complaints if municipal crews push road snow onto private property — and that such cases would be reviewed and addressed.

Coordination and obstacles

Police said ad hoc parking hinders plowing and sidewalk clearing، and some vehicles are being towed. To respond faster، officers are coordinating with municipal services via a dedicated WhatsApp group.

Are violations falling؟

Authorities say stepped-up oversight is working. Department figures cite 346 violations in 2023 and 178 in 2024؛ officials also referenced 259 cases “last year،” without further breakdown. Police add that higher fines have pushed more businesses to hire specialized equipment rather than risk penalties، while resident groups and building associations have become more cooperative during inspections.