See Marple, Newtown Snow Removal Laws Before The Storm

MARPLE-NEWTOWN, PA — Winter weather is on the way to the area and you could face penalties if snow and ice is not removed from your property depending on your municipal government codes.

So how do the Marple and Newtown township codes handle snow removal, or lack thereof?

Let's take a look, first at Marple's laws:

>>>RELATED: Snow Expected Wednesday, Winter Storm Watch Issued For Eastern PA<<<

• The owner, occupant or tenant of every property fronting upon or alongside any of the streets in the Township of Marple is hereby required to remove or cause to be removed from all of the sidewalks in front of or alongside such property all snow or ice thereon fallen or formed within 12 hours after the same shall have ceased to fall or to form. The owner of a property shall be responsible for conforming to the requirements of this section where such property is occupied by such owner or is unoccupied; the owner or tenant or occupier thereof where such property is occupied by such tenant or occupier only; and the owner thereof where the property is a multiple-business or multiple-dwelling property occupied by more than one tenant or occupier. It shall also be unlawful to cast or dump plowed snow or ice upon a public street.
• In any case where the owner, occupant or tenant, as aforesaid, shall fail, neglect or refuse to comply with any of the provisions of § 261-32 of this article within the time limit prescribed therein, the Township authorities may proceed immediately to clear all snow and/or ice from the sidewalk of such delinquents and to collect the expenses thereof, with any additional amount allowed by law, from such owner, occupant or tenant, as the case may be, which may be in addition to any fine or penalty imposed under § 231-34 of this article.
• Any owner, occupant or tenant violating any of the provisions of § 261-32 of this article shall, upon conviction thereof, be punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000, plus costs of prosecution, and in default of payment of such fine and costs by imprisonment for not more than 30 days, provided that such fine and costs of prosecution may be in addition to any expenses and additional amounts authorized by law, imposed as provided in § 261-33 of this article.
• For the purposes of this article, it shall be sufficient for a sidewalk to be cleared for a path having a width of three feet.

Link to the full Marple Township code for snow and ice removal here.

And let's look at Newtown Township's guidelines here:

• Requirements; failure to comply; costs.
  • A. The owner, occupant or tenant of every property abutting or fronting upon or alongside of any of the streets in the Township is hereby required to remove or cause to be removed from all of the sidewalks in front of or alongside such property all snow or ice thereon fallen or formed within 24 hours after the same has ceased to fall or to form, as herein set forth. The following shall be responsible for conforming to the requirements of this section:
    • (1) The owner where such property is occupied by such owner, in whole or in part, or is unoccupied or is vacant.
    • (2) The owner or tenant or occupant thereof, where such property is occupied by such tenant or occupant only.
    • (3) The owner thereof, where the property is a multiple-business or multiple-dwelling property occupied by more than one tenant or occupant.
  • B. For the purposes of this article, it shall be sufficient for a sidewalk to be cleared for a path having a width of two feet.
  • C. In any case where any owner, occupant or tenant fails, neglects or refuses to comply with any of the provisions of Subsections A and B within the time limit prescribed therein, the Township, by its proper officials, may proceed immediately to clear all snow and/or ice from the sidewalk of such delinquents and to collect the costs and expenses thereof, with any additional amount allowed by law, from such owner, occupant or tenant, as the case may be, which sum shall be in addition to any fine or penalty imposed under § 145-13.
• Violations and penalties. Any person, firm or corporation violating any provision of this article shall, upon conviction, be punishable by a fine not exceeding $1,000, plus costs of prosecution, and, in default of payment of such fine and costs, shall be imprisoned for a term not exceeding 30 days. Each day that a violation continues shall be considered as a separate violation and punishable as such. Such fine and costs of prosecution shall be in addition to any costs and expenses and additional amounts authorized by law which are imposed as provided in § 145-12C.

You can review the entire Newtown code online here.

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