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

Section 180-20 puts the duty on the owner or tenant of lands abutting or bordering the sidewalks of a public street in Wayne Township. The clock is 48 hours after the snow falls or the ice forms, and the cleared path must leave an unobstructed portion of the sidewalk area open to a width of at least 36 inches. Chapter 180 defines "sidewalk area" as the area adjacent to a public street that includes the full right-of-way width, including the paved sidewalk, grass, gravel, or dirt, measured from inside of the curb to the property line directly in front.

Where the snow goes matters too. Section 180-22 bars anyone from placing, depositing or throwing snow, ice, vegetation, brush or tree growth into or upon the roadway between the curblines of a public street.

If the owner or tenant fails or refuses to clear in time, the Township removes the snow or ice itself under § 180-23. The Township Engineer, the Director of Public Works or any Police Officer can issue a notice of violation or summons. Under § 180-24 the Township Engineer or the Director of Public Works certifies the cost and the Legal Department has a lien placed on the property.

Larger properties run on shorter clocks. Chapter 169 requires owners of multiple-dwelling housing developments with 3 or more units, and owners of shopping centers or commercial establishments, to clear private streets, walkways and other roadways open to the public within 12 hours of the cessation of the snow and/or ice storm, and paths, walks and walkways must be open to a width of at least 36 inches (§§ 169-1, 169-2, 169-4). The owner or developer of a residential development with unaccepted dedicated streets has six hours under § 180-35 and must keep a width of at least 25 feet. Mailboxes get their own sentence: § 180-39B makes the final cleaning adjacent to mailboxes the responsibility of each resident, and § 180-40 reimburses up to $150 for eligible mailbox damage caused by Township snow removal operations.