Township of Rochelle Park, NJ Article II Removal of Snow, Ice, Grass and Weeds

[Adopted 2-21-1984 by Ord. No. 481]

§ 161-7 Removal of snow and ice from sidewalks; casting of snow and ice.

[Amended 8-20-2014 by Ord. No. 1072-14]

A. Removal of snow and ice from sidewalks. The owner or occupant of land abutting or bordering upon the sidewalks of the public streets, avenues and highways within the limits of the Township of Rochelle Park shall remove all snow and ice from the same within 24 hours after the same has been formed or fallen thereon.

B. Casting of snow and ice. No owner, tenant or occupant of any premises abutting any street, avenue or highway within the limits of the Township of Rochelle Park, nor any person working for or on behalf of any owner, tenant or occupant, shall throw, place or deposit any snow or ice upon the public street in front of his/her property or upon any municipal fire hydrant. The intent of this subsection is to prohibit all persons from throwing, placing or depositing snow or ice from the private driveway or parking areas or on the sidewalk in front of the property, upon the municipal streets or sidewalks of the Township or upon any municipal fire hydrant.

C. Clearance of fire hydrants.

[Added6-17-2015 by Ord. No. 1086-15]

(1) The owner of any real property abutting any fire hydrant shall clear such fire hydrant of snow within 24 hours of snow coverage. A three-foot clearance around the fire hydrant shall be required.

(2) If the party responsible for fire hydrant clearance under this subsection fails to perform the required clearance within the specified time, the Township, or any department thereof, may perform the clearance and bill the responsible party no more than $75 for this service. This charge shall be in addition to any penalty imposed for the violation of this section, in accordance with the provisions of § 161-9.

§ 161-8 Grass and weeds between curb and sidewalk.

[Amended 8-20-2014 by Ord. No. 1072-14]

All grass, weeds or growth of any kind which may grow between the curbline and the line of the sidewalk of any such street shall be kept cut below the height of eight inches from the ground and shall be cut to that length within seven days of notice to so cut the same. All grass, weeds or growth of any kind or other impediments upon the sidewalks of such streets shall be removed within seven days of notice to remove same.

§ 161-8.1 Alteration of premises between curb and sidewalk.

[Added 7-17-1996 by Ord. No. 727]

No owner of premises shall be allowed to construct, remove or in any way alter the area of the premises located between the sidewalk and the curb without first obtaining a permit from the Township Construction Code Department.

§ 161-9 Violations and penalties.

[Amended 11-9-2011 by Ord. No. 1042-11; 8-20-2014 by Ord. No. 1072-14]

Any violation of this article shall, upon conviction, be punishable as follows:

A. For the first offense in any calendar year, by a fine of $75.

B. For the second offense in any calendar year, by a fine of $150.

C. For the third offense in any calendar year, by a fine of between $250 and $500. A court appearance shall be mandatory for a third offense.

D. For the fourth offense, by a fine up to $1,000, and/or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 90 days, or any combination thereof. A court appearance shall be mandatory for a fourth offense.

E. If the owner of any property who is charged with violating this article chooses to enter a plea of guilty for a first, second or third offense, he/she shall be entitled to pay the fine without the necessity of a court appearance.

F. Separate violation. Except as otherwise provided, every day that the violation shall continue shall be deemed a separate violation.

G. This article may be enforced by the Department of Public Works, Health Department, Police Department, Building Department or Property Maintenance Department.

§ 161-10 Performance of work by Township; costs.

Upon the refusal or neglect of such owner or occupant to remove such snow or ice, grass or weeds or other impediments within the time herein provided, the same may be removed by the Township under the direction of its Supervisor of Roads or other person or officer designated by the Township Committee for that purpose. The cost thereof, as nearly as can be ascertained, shall be charged against the lands abutting or bordering upon the sidewalks from which removal is made, and with the interest thereof, shall forthwith become a lien upon said lands, and shall be added to and form a part of the taxes next to be assessed and levied and shall be certified to the person or persons whose duty it is to collect the taxes of the Township and shall be collected in the same manner and at the same time as other taxes.