Winter Parking Ban, Snow Removal on Sidewalks and Other Wintertime Regulations in North Reading

From the Town of North Reading:

With the approach of winter weather, the Town wishes to remind property owners of the following winter weather by-laws and Town policies:

Winter Parking Ban
Vehicles may not park in public rights-of-way between the periods of Nov. 15 and April 15 from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. other than acting in an emergency, and are prohibited at all times during snow operations. Vehicles in violation will be removed and stored at the owner’s expense.

Fire Hydrants

The Town requests assistance from residents and business owners in removing snow and ice from around the fire hydrants on and near their properties. The accumulation of snow and ice around fire hydrants can significantly increase the time needed to access and operate the hydrants in an emergency situation. By taking a few minutes at the end of each storm to clear away this snow and ice, the hydrants protecting your property remain accessible.

Snow Removal on Streets and Sidewalks

Snow may not be thrown or placed on any street or sidewalk that has been cleared, nor plowed across any public way by any private plow to deposit snow from one property to another. Snow shall not be deposited in such a way as to obstruct the operation of any fire hydrant, including Fire Department connections to buildings, cisterns, and dry hydrants.

Sidewalks

Owners of non-residential properties are required to remove snow from sidewalks abutting their property and that snow should not block sidewalk access at driveway entrances. Snow removal at businesses in North Reading should include provisions for the removal of snow from sidewalks and for keeping sidewalks accessible at driveway entrances. It is requested that homeowners clear their sidewalks to allow pedestrians safe access throughout Town during the winter months.

Impediments
Unauthorized structures or personal property which is in the right-of-way and is damaged by any snow plowing, sanding, or removal activity shall be the responsibility of the homeowners. These items include, but are not limited to: basketball hoops, bicycles, toys, fences and walls. We ask for your assistance in removing these objects from the right-of-way during winter months in order to protect your personal property and make the plow routes safer for our drivers.

Mailboxes

Mailboxes installed in the Town right-of-way are placed at the owner’s risk. Mailboxes must be 6-12 inches behind the curb. The Town will reimburse up to $50 for the repair or replacement of mailboxes damaged during snow removal providing the Town accepts any claim of such damage (only if the result of direct contact between the snow plow and the mailbox). It will be the responsibility of the homeowner to make any repairs or new installation.

Complete regulations on distance and height may be found on the Town website. Complete text of all by-laws and policies may be found on the Town website at www.northreadingma.gov. Please contact the Department of Public Works at 978-664-6060 if you have any questions or concerns.