Maplewood Ordinance: Clear Snow or Face Fines

Maplewood residents have exactly 24 hours to clean the snow off their sidewalks or they could face fines, according to a Township ordinance.

The ordinance states “the owner, occupant or tenant of premises abutting or bordering on any street in the Township of Maplewood shall remove all snow and ice from the abutting sidewalks of such street or the abutting right-of-way actually used by the public within 24 hours from the end of every snowfall or hail or after the formation of ice upon the sidewalks or abutting right-of-way. In the event of ice which may be so frozen as to make removal impractical, the ice shall be thoroughly covered with sand or salt within 24 hours from the end of every fall of snow, or hail, or after the formation of ice upon the sidewalks or abutting right-of-way so as to protect against falls.”

It is also illegal in New Jersey to leave snow and ice on your car while driving, whether that snow falls off the car or not. Drivers who fail to comply face fines of $25 to $75 for each offense.

If the ice and snow dislodges from your car while you're driving and causes property damage or injury to others, you could face fines ranging from $200 to $1,000.

Maplewood Article I, Removal of Snow and Ice is as follows:

Removal from sidewalks required.

Deposit in plowed streets unlawful.

No owner or tenant of any lands abutting upon any public highway of this municipality or agent, employee, servant or contractor of such owner or tenant or person shall throw, place, plow or deposit any snow or ice into or upon any traveled area of the street or road that has already been plowed.  

Violations and penalties.

Any person in violation of the provisions of this article shall be subject to a fine as follows:

• First offense: $100.
• Second Offense: $200
• Any subsequent offense: an amount not to exceed $500