REMINDER: Town Bylaws Require Sidewalks on Non-Residential Properties to be Cleared of Snow
Non-residential property owners and tenants are reminded that Town Bylaws require snow and ice be cleared from sidewalks abutting their properties within 24 hours after snowfall ends. Violations are punishable by a fine of up to $300 per day.
The Town's Bylaw is as follows:
§ 158-9. Snow removal on streets and sidewalks.
A. The tenant or occupant, and in case there is no tenant or occupant, the owner or any other person having the care of any building or lot of land which is used for non-residential purposes abutting upon any street or public place within the Town where there is a sidewalk, shall clear sidewalks of snow and ice within 24 hours after the snow ceases to fall. If the sidewalk becomes covered with ice that cannot be readily removed, the tenant, occupant, or owner shall place a sufficient amount of sand, salt or similar commercially available off-the-shelf snow/ice melting materials on the sidewalk so as to render it safe for pedestrians. Failure to comply with the requirements of this section may result in the Town causing the snow and ice to be removed, and the costs of such removal, if not paid by the tenant, occupant, or other person within thirty (30) days of the issuance of a statement therefor by the Town, shall be assessed and collected in accordance with the provisions of General Laws Chapter 80. The foregoing shall not limit the remedies set forth in Subsection D.
B. The owner, or any other person having the care of any non-residential building abutting upon or any part of which stands within fifteen (15) feet of the line of any street, the roof of which building pitches or slopes toward the street or sidewalk, shall fit or provide such roof with snow barriers or guards sufficient to prevent the sliding of snow and ice from such building onto any part of the street or sidewalk. Failure to comply with the requirements of this section may result in the Town causing the snow and ice to be removed from the public sidewalks, and the costs of such removal, if not paid by the tenant, occupant, or other person within thirty (30) days of the issuance of a statement therefor by the Town, shall be assessed and collected in accordance with the provisions of General Laws Chapter 80. The foregoing shall not limit the remedies set forth in Subsection D.
C. No person shall lay, throw or place or cause to be placed any snow or ice on any portion of any street or sidewalk within the town, which has been cleared or plowed for travel. No snow shall be plowed across any public way by any private plow to deposit snow from one property to another. No snow shall be deposited in such a way as to obstruct the operation of any fire hydrant, including Fire Department connections to buildings, cisterns and dry hydrants. This provision shall be in addition to the provisions of § 158-6.
D. This bylaw shall be enforceable through the non-criminal disposition provided for in § 1-5. The penalty for violation shall be $300 per offense. Each day or portion thereof during which a violation continues shall constitute a separate offense. The Chief of the North Reading Police Department or his/her designee and the Director of the North Reading Department of Public Works or his/her designee shall be authorized to enforce this bylaw.
E. To the extent that any particular provision of this bylaw is determined to be invalid, such invalidation shall not affect the validity of any other provision.