Islip, NY Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Sidewalk Repair (2026)
Key Facts
- Duty holder
- Owner or occupant fronting the sidewalk (§ 47A-17)
- Winter duty
- Clear snow, ice; year-round repair (§ 47A-17)
- Town enforcement
- Superintendent of Highways repairs, bills owner (§ 47A-28)
- Notice period
- At least 48 hours before repair deadline (§ 47A-27)
- Penalty
- $20-$250 fine or up to 15 days jail (§ 47A-40)
Summary
Islip Town Code makes the owner or occupant of the property fronting a sidewalk responsible for keeping it in good, safe repair and clear of snow, ice and debris. If an owner ignores a Town Board repair order, the Superintendent of Highways can do the work and bill the cost back to the property, and violators face fines up to $250.
§ 47A-17. Snow and ice removal; general maintenance. Each owner or occupant of any house or other building and any owner or person entitled to possession of any vacant lot and any person having charge of any church or any public building in the Town shall, during the winter season or during the time snow shall continue on the ground, keep the sidewalk in front of the lot or house free from obstruction by snow or ice and icy conditions and shall at all times keep the sidewalk in good and safe repair and maintain it in a clean condition and free from filth, dirt, weeds or other obstructions or encumbrances. § 47A-40. Penalties for offenses. The violation of any provision of this ordinance shall be an offense against the ordinance, which shall be punishable by a fine of not less than $20 and not to exceed $250 or imprisonment for a period not exceeding 15 days for each such offense, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4826765; v112 updated 2026-02-24; through 02-24-2026).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 47A, Article II, § 47A-17 puts general maintenance duty on 'each owner or occupant of any house or other building and any owner or person entitled to possession of any vacant lot,' requiring that person to keep the sidewalk in front of the lot or house clear of snow, ice and icy conditions during winter, and 'at all times' keep it 'in good and safe repair' and free of filth, dirt and weeds. Separately, § 47A-25 lets the Town Board require construction or repair of sidewalks along Town streets, roads, highways and parkways at the expense of the abutting owners.
When the Board orders repair, § 47A-27 requires it to specify the place, manner and time for the work (at least 48 hours out), with notice published twice in a designated paper and mailed by registered mail to the owner or occupant. If the owner does not comply, § 47A-28 authorizes the Superintendent of Highways to perform or contract the repair using Town funds, and § 47A-30 lets the Town recoup its cost by special assessment against the benefited lot, collected the same way as other ad valorem Town charges.
Owners doing their own repair work must first obtain a permit under § 47A-29. Section 47A-19 separately bars obstructing a sidewalk with goods, boxes or merchandise for more than an hour.
Violations & Fines
Any violation of Chapter 47A's sidewalk provisions, failing to clear snow and ice, letting a sidewalk fall out of repair, ignoring a Town Board repair order, or unlawfully obstructing a sidewalk, is punishable under § 47A-40 by a fine of not less than $20 and not more than $250, or up to 15 days' imprisonment, or both. Each day a violation continues is a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has to fix a broken sidewalk in Islip?
What if I don't fix my sidewalk after the Town orders it?
Is it against the law to leave boxes on the sidewalk?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Islip
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