Monroe Township (Middlesex County), NJ Property Maintenance: Snow & Sidewalk Clearing (2026)

Section 105-29 of the Monroe Township Code puts the clearing duty on the owner or owners, occupant or occupants, or tenant or tenants of premises abutting or bordering any street in the Township. They must remove all snow and ice from the abutting sidewalks and from any fire hydrant located on the property within 12 hours of daylight after the snow falls or the ice forms. Where ice is frozen so hard that removal is impracticable, the sidewalk must instead be thoroughly covered with sand or ashes within the same 12 hours of daylight.

Multi-unit buildings have a specific assignment. Where a building is occupied by more than one family or business unit, the tenant or occupant of the first floor or story must clear the snow and ice from that portion of the sidewalk and from any fire hydrant on the property, or cover impracticable ice with sand or ashes, within the same window. The section does not apply where a sidewalk was constructed, pursuant to municipal approvals, to serve offsite properties (§ 105-29 C, added in 2000).

If the snow or ice is not removed, or is cast or deposited on the sidewalk, hydrant or street, § 105-30 lets the Township act. The snow or ice is removed forthwith under the direction of the Township Engineer, who certifies the cost to the governing body. Once the governing body finds the certification correct, the cost is charged against the abutting real estate. It becomes a lien and a tax on the land, added to the next taxes levied and assessed, bearing interest and collected by the same officers in the same manner as other taxes. Paying a fine does not bar the Township from collecting that certified cost.

Chapter 97 adds a second hook. Section 97-9 A requires sidewalks, steps, driveways and parking spaces used by the public to be kept free of snow, ice, mud, obstructing overhanging trees and shrubs, and other debris. The owner is responsible, except that the occupant remains responsible for areas bordering or on the premises of any single-family dwelling.