[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council of the Township of Bridgewater 10-18-1976 by Ord. No. 76-30. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Closing of streets — See Ch. 74.
Excavations — See Ch. 89.
Littering and handbills — See Ch. 132.
Public health nuisances — See Ch. 145.
Reimbursement for snow removal — See Ch. 183, Art. I.
[Amended 4-23-2026 by Ord. No. 26-05]
The purpose of this chapter is to promote the public health, safety and welfare by requiring the timely removal of snow and ice from sidewalks, public rights-of-way, and certain private roadways within the Township of Bridgewater in order to ensure the safe passage of pedestrians and vehicles, maintain access for emergency services, and prevent hazardous conditions caused by the accumulation of snow and ice.
[Added 4-23-2026 by Ord. No. 26-05]
For purposes of this chapter, the following terms shall have the following definitions:
PRIVATE ROADWAY
Any private street, highway, lane, alley, drive aisle, or other vehicular roadway servicing a multifamily residential development that is open to the public or to which the public is invited, whether or not dedicated to the Township.
PRIVATE SIDEWALK
Any paved or improved pedestrian walkway located on private property and not within the public right-of-way of a public street, avenue, or highway, including sidewalks, walkways, or pedestrian paths servicing buildings, parking areas, or common areas within a multifamily residential development.
PUBLIC SIDEWALK
Any paved or improved pedestrian walkway located within or along the public right-of-way of a public street, avenue, or highway within the Township of Bridgewater and abutting or adjoining private property.
[Added 1-22-1998 by Ord. No. 98-1; amended 4-23-2026 by Ord. No. 26-05]
The owner or owners, tenant or tenants of any land abutting upon the public streets, avenues and highways of the Township of Bridgewater shall remove all snow and ice from the abutting public sidewalks of such public streets, avenues and highways within 12 hours of daylight after the same shall cease to fall or be formed thereon or within such longer period as shall be fixed by the Mayor or Director of Public Works in the event of emergency.
[Added 4-23-2026 by Ord. No. 26-05]
It shall be the duty of the owner of any land upon which there has been constructed a multifamily residential development containing three or more dwelling units to remove, or cause to be removed, all snow and ice from any private roadway servicing such development which is open to the public or to which the public is invited within 12 hours of daylight after the same shall cease to fall or be formed thereon, or within such longer period as shall be fixed by the Mayor or Director of Public Works in the event of an emergency.
[Added 4-23-2026 by Ord. No. 26-05]
The owner of any land upon which there has been constructed a multifamily residential development containing three or more dwelling units shall remove or cause to be removed snow and ice from sidewalks servicing such development within 12 hours of daylight after the same shall cease to fall or be formed thereon. Failure to comply with this subsection shall be subject to enforcement by summons or penalty as provided by ordinance but shall not authorize municipal removal or lien certification pursuant to § 182-3.
[Added 4-23-2026 by Ord. No. 26-05]
Furthermore, no owner or owners, tenant or tenants, contractors or subcontractors shall plow, shovel, blow, throw or otherwise deposit snow onto or into any public roadway or street within the Township in such a manner so as to result in the reduction of the cleared traveled way to a width of 18 feet or less, thus preventing, restricting or impeding the free and clear passage of pedestrians and motor vehicles. Any sump pump discharging into the public right-of-way in such a manner as to cause an icing condition within the traveled way shall be redirected by the homeowner to a discharge point that does not adversely impact the public right-of-way. Property owners, their tenants and their contractors shall be held equally responsible.
[Amended 4-23-2026 by Ord. No. 26-05]
In the event of ice which may be so frozen as to make removal impracticable, the owner or owners, tenant or tenants of lands required to remove snow and ice as prescribed in this chapter shall cause the same to be thoroughly covered with sand, ashes or rock salt within 24 hours after the same shall cease to fall or be formed thereon.
[Amended 4-23-2026 by Ord. No. 26-05]
A. 
In the event that the owner or tenant responsible for the removal of snow or ice pursuant to this chapter fails to remove the same within the time required herein, the Township may cause such snow or ice to be removed under the direction of the Superintendent of Public Works or such other officer as may be designated by the Township.
B. 
Such removal may include:
(1) 
Snow or ice located upon any public sidewalk or gutter abutting upon lands within the Township, as authorized by N.J.S.A. 40:65-12; and
(2) 
Snow or ice located upon any private street, highway, lane, alley or other roadway servicing a multifamily residential development that is open to the public or to which the public is invited, as authorized by N.J.S.A. 40:48-2.47.
C. 
The officer in charge of such removal shall certify the cost thereof to the governing body of the Township. The governing body shall examine such certificate and, if found correct, shall cause the cost to be charged against the real property responsible for the removal.
D. 
The amount so charged shall thereupon become a lien upon such real property and shall be added to and form part of the taxes next to be levied and assessed thereon, and shall be enforced and collected, with interest, in the same manner as other municipal taxes.
E. 
The remedies provided in this chapter shall be cumulative and not exclusive. The Township's right to remove snow or ice and to certify the cost thereof as a lien shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other remedies or penalties provided by law or ordinance.
F. 
The Township's removal of snow or ice pursuant to this chapter shall not relieve the owner, tenant, or occupant of the property of the duty to maintain the premises in a safe condition. The Township shall not be deemed to have assumed responsibility for the condition of any private property by reason of such removal.
[Amended 10-3-1997 by Ord. No. 77-37; 4-23-2026 by Ord. No. 26-05]
Violations of this chapter shall be subject to the following penalties:
A. 
Any person, firm or corporation violating § 182-1.3 of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be subject to a fine of not less than $1,500 and not more than $5,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 90 days, or both. Each and every 24-hour period that such violation continues shall be considered a separate and distinct offense.
B. 
Any person, firm or corporation violating any of the provisions of this chapter other than § 182-1.3 shall, upon conviction thereof, be subject to a fine of not more than $500 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 90 days, or both. Each and every 24-hour period that such violation continues shall be considered a separate and distinct offense.
[Added 4-23-2026 by Ord. No. 26-05]
The provisions of this chapter shall be enforced by the Department of Public Works, the Bridgewater Township Police Department, and/or their designees.
[Added 4-23-2026 by Ord. No. 26-05]
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to authorize the Township to remove snow or ice from private property other than a private roadway as defined in § 182-1.1 and subject to the requirements of § 182-1.3, nor to certify the cost thereof as a municipal lien except as permitted by N.J.S.A. 40:48-2.47.
[Added 4-23-2026 by Ord. No. 26-05]
A. 
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to alter, limit, or supersede the provisions of Chapter 183, Qualified Private Community Services Reimbursement, which provides for the reimbursement of certain snow removal costs incurred by qualified private community associations pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:67-23.2 et seq.
B. 
The obligations imposed by this chapter regarding the removal of snow and ice shall apply independently of any reimbursement that may be available under Chapter 183.