Bristol Township, PA Property Maintenance: Snow & Sidewalk Clearing (2026)

Article IV of Chapter 175 of the Bristol Township Code, Snow and Ice Removal, was adopted 5-21-1986 as Ord. No. 7-86 and § 175-33 was amended 2-15-2024 by Ord. No. 2024-03. It declares the Township's intent to require any owner, occupant or tenant of real estate that abuts, fronts upon, or lies alongside or adjacent to any Township street to clean and remove, or cause to be cleaned and removed, all snow, ice or sleet from the sidewalks, walkways or pedestrian rights-of-way next to that property. The clock is 24 hours after the snow, ice or sleet has ceased to fall or to form.

Section 175-34 sorts out who carries the duty. The owner is responsible where the real estate is occupied by the owner or is unoccupied. The tenant or occupier is responsible where the property is occupied by that tenant or occupier only. Where the property is a multiple-business or multiple-dwelling property occupied by more than one tenant or occupier, the owner is responsible. A landlord of an apartment building or a multi-tenant shopping center therefore answers for the sidewalk, while a single-family renter answers for theirs.

Section 175-35 gives the Township a self-help remedy. Where the responsible person fails, neglects or refuses to comply within the time limit in § 175-33, the Township can proceed immediately to clear all snow or ice from that person's sidewalk and collect the expense of the removal, with an additional amount of 10%, from the owner, occupant or tenant. That charge can be imposed in addition to any fine or penalty under § 175-36.

Section 175-36 sets the penalty. The article is enforced as a violation of the Township Code, and the Township does not need to wait for a prosecution before sending a crew. Related rules in Chapter 175 also bar construction materials from blocking a sidewalk below four feet of free passage (§ 175-29), which matters when snow is piled next to a work site.