Property owners in Bergen County are required by municipal ordinance to clear snow and ice from sidewalks abutting their property, typically within 12 to 24 hours after snowfall ends, under authority granted by N.J.S.A. 40:65-12.
Under N.J.S.A. 40:65-12, New Jersey municipalities including all Bergen County towns are authorized to require abutting property owners to remove snow and ice from public sidewalks. Typical Bergen County municipal ordinances require clearing within 12 to 24 hours after snowfall ceases, with full sidewalk width cleared to bare pavement when possible and ice treated with sand, salt, or other approved deicers. Bergen County itself maintains snow removal on county roads through the Department of Public Works. Commercial property owners often face stricter timelines, sometimes as short as 4 to 6 hours after a storm. Failure to clear can lead to municipal abatement and tort liability for slip-and-fall injuries on commercial property.
Failure to clear snow and ice can result in municipal fines of $25 to $500, municipal cleanup with cost recovery via tax lien, and significant civil liability for commercial property owners.
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Bergen County.
See how other cities in Bergen County handle snow & sidewalk clearing.
See how Fort Lee's snow & sidewalk clearing rules stack up against other locations.
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