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

TREDYFFRIN, PA — As the winter months close their icy grip on the Philadelphia region, many 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:

• Clearing of sidewalks. Not later than 30 hours after snow or sleet has ceased to fall, it shall be the duty of all tenants or occupants of occupied properties and the owners or agents in charge of unoccupied properties abutting on public streets in Tredyffrin Township to clear or cause to be cleared a pathway in the sidewalk in front of their respective properties in the event of snow, or to cover the sidewalk with salt, cinders, sawdust or similar ice-control materials in the event of ice or sleet. Such pathway shall be not less than 24 inches in width and shall be thoroughly cleared of snow and ice. To the extent that the private property includes a fire hydrant, the same persons shall be responsible for maintaining a cleared pathway to the hydrant.
• Depositing of snow and ice in certain areas. Where snow and ice are removed from the pathway, it shall not be piled or placed in the gutter, in any stormwater sewer inlet, or obstructing any fire hydrant.
• Depositing of snow and ice in public street prohibited. Snow and ice removed from sidewalks, driveways and other private property shall not be deposited, shoveled, pushed, thrown or plowed from any sidewalk, driveway, parking lot or any other area onto any public street.
• Any person, firm, or corporation who or which violates or permits a violation of § 177-12A and/or B, upon being found liable therefor in a civil enforcement proceeding, shall pay a fine of not more than $300, plus all court costs, including reasonable attorney’s fees, incurred by the Township in the enforcement of § 177-12A. No judgment shall be imposed until the date of the determination of the violation by the District Magistrate and/or Court. If the defendant neither pays nor timely appeals the judgment, the Township may enforce the judgment pursuant to the applicable rules of civil procedure. Further, the appropriate officers or agents of the Township are hereby authorized to seek equitable relief, including injunction, to enforce compliance herewith.
• Any person, firm, or corporation who or which violates or permits a violation of § 177-12C, shall be guilty of a summary offense, punishable by a maximum fine of $1,000 plus costs of prosecution for each offense and/or imprisonment not exceeding 30 days. Further, the appropriate officers or agents of the Township are hereby authorized to seek equitable relief, including injunction, to enforce compliance herewith.
• The continuation of a violation for each successive day shall constitute a separate offense, and the person or persons allowing or permitting the continuation of a violation may be punished as provided above for each separate offense.

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

Photo: Flickr Commons