Lower Merion Snow Shoveling: Who Is Responsible, When Does It Need To Happen?

LOWER MERION, PA — As the winter months close their icy grip on the Philadelphia region, many residents will find themselves facing one of the winter's most-dreaded - or most-loved - chores: shoveling snow.

Here are a few points to keep in mind as you grab those shovels. According to the township code:

• It shall be the duty of all tenants or occupants of occupied properties, and the owners or agents in charge of unoccupied properties, abutting on public streets in the Township of Lower Merion, not later than 24 hours after snow or sleet has ceased to fall, to clear or cause to be cleared a pathway in the sidewalk in front of their respective properties in the event of snow and to cover the sidewalk with ashes, sawdust or similar materials in the event of ice or sleet. Such pathway shall be cleared in accordance with the guidelines of the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended (ADA compliant), and not less than 36 inches (three feet) in width and shall be thoroughly cleared of snow and ice or covered with ashes, sawdust or similar materials. Where snow and ice is removed from the pathway, it may be placed or piled on the curbside of the sidewalk, but it shall not be piled or placed in the gutter or the cartway.
• Summary proceedings for failure to comply with the provisions of § 133-4 of this article may be instituted by the Township before any District Justice, and any person, firm or corporation convicted of violating the provisions of § 133-4 of this article shall be punishable by a fine or penalty of not less than $1 and not more than $600 for such offense, recoverable as such fines or penalties are by law recoverable; provided, however, that each period of 24 hours during which the prohibited conditions shall be allowed to continue shall constitute a new and separate offense hereunder.

Link to the full township code for snow and ice removal here.

Photo: Flickr Commons