Phoenixville Snow Shoveling: Who Is Responsible, When Does It Need To Happen?

PHOENIXVILLE, PA — As the winter months close their icy grip on the Philadelphia region, many Phoenixville residents will find themselves facing one of the winter's most-dreaded - or most-loved - chores: shoveling snow.

Here are a few points to keep in mind as you grab those shovels. According to the township code:

• The owner, occupant or tenant of every property fronting upon or alongside any of the streets in the Borough of Phoenixville 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 shall have ceased to fall or to form. The following persons shall be responsible for conforming to the provisions of this section in the following instances: the owner of a property, where such property is occupied by such owner or is unoccupied; the tenant or occupier thereof, where such property is occupied by such tenant or occupier only; and the owner thereof where such property is a multiple business or multiple-dwelling property, occupied by more than one tenant or occupier. In areas zoned Central Business District, the minimum cleared width of the sidewalks shall be 48 inches. In all other districts, the minimum cleared width of sidewalks shall be 30 inches. In cases of declared emergencies, the Mayor and/or the Borough Manager may extend the period for snow and/or ice removal beyond that herein set forth.
• It shall be unlawful to place, throw or cause to be placed or thrown, snow and/or ice onto any public street within the Borough of Phoenixville.
• In any case where the owner, occupant or tenant, as aforesaid, shall fail, neglect or refuse to comply with any of the provisions of § 21-701 of this Part within the time limit prescribed therein, the Borough 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 § 21-703 of this Part.
• Any owner, occupant or tenant who shall violate any provision of this Part shall, upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $1,000 and costs of prosecution, or, in default of payment of such fine and costs, to undergo imprisonment for not more than five days. Such penalty may be in addition to any expenses and additional amounts provided under § 21-702 of this Part.

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

Photo: Flickr Commons