Howell, NJ Property Maintenance: Snow & Sidewalk Clearing (2026)

Article II of Chapter 265 puts the duty on whoever holds the premises. Under § 265-11A, the owner, occupant or tenant of premises abutting or bordering on any street in the Township of Howell removes all snow and ice from the abutting sidewalks, or from the abutting right-of-way actually used by the public. Where ice is frozen so hard that removal is impractical, the sidewalk is thoroughly covered with sand, ashes or other appropriate substances. The deadline is within 12 hours of daylight after the snow falls or the ice forms, so the sidewalk permits safe passage by the public.

Section 265-11B extends the same duty to premises used by the public or business invitees: sidewalks, streets, rights-of-way and parking areas used by the public in the transaction of business must be cleared on the same 12-hour-of-daylight schedule. Section 265-11C covers any private street, highway, lane, alley or other roadway or right-of-way that is open to the public or to which the public is invited, and its owner clears it within the same time and by the same methods. Section 265-12 adds a separate provision for multiple-dwelling housing developments containing three or more dwelling units, so owners of those developments read it alongside § 265-11.

Section 265-13 bars owners, tenants and occupants from throwing, placing or casting snow or ice from private property onto a street, a sidewalk or neighboring property, and it also bars letting sump pump discharge or downspout drainage flow onto them.

If the duty is ignored, § 265-14 lets the Township remove the snow and ice. The Director of the Department of Public Works certifies the cost to the Township Council, which examines the certificate and, if it is correct, charges the cost against the abutting real estate. The amount becomes a lien and tax on the property, is added to the next taxes levied, and is collected with interest by the Tax Assessor and Tax Collector in the same manner as other taxes.