Sidewalks

Requirement To Clear and Maintain Sidewalks:

  • Removal of snow. The occupant, manager, owner, or owner/agent of every lot or parcel of land adjoining any sidewalk on publicly or privately owned rights-of-way, easement, and other areas that convey pedestrian and bicycle traffic, must clear from those surfaces all snow, fallen, drifted, or in any other manner accumulated, within twenty-four (24) hours from the first accumulation of one (1) inch or more as measured at the parcel.
  • Removal of ice. The occupant, manager, owner, or owner/agent of every lot or parcel of land adjoining any sidewalk or publicly or privately owned rights-of-way, easement, and other areas that convey pedestrian and bicycle traffic, and the owner, manager, or owner/agent must immediately remove from those surfaces any ice formed and/or accumulated. When immediate removal of ice is impracticable, sand, salt, or other chemicals or materials must immediately be spread upon the ice in such manner and such quantity as to prevent the surfaces from being slippery and dangerous to pedestrians and bicycle riders, and then must remove such ice as soon thereafter as removal is practicable.
  • Removal of other materials. The occupant, manager, owner, or owner/agent of every lot or parcel of land adjoining any sidewalk or publicly or privately owned right-of-way, easement, and other areas that convey pedestrian and bicycle traffic, shall have a period of forty-eight (48) hours to remove such earth, dirt, rocks, branches, or other substance, material, or debris after notice to remove is given. It will be considered a violation of Title 1 Chapter 3 Municipal Civil Infraction if not removed as ordered.
  • Failure to clear.
    • Removal by Thomas Township: If snow or ice is not removed or treated as required in sections (6-1-5(C) Removal of Snow) and/or (6-1-5(D) Removal of Ice), the Township may cause such snow or ice to be removed. The owner of the adjacent property to the sidewalk (as indicated by the records of the Township Assessor) shall then be charged the actual cost of the sidewalk clearance. If those charges are not paid within thirty (30) days after mailing the invoice for said charges, Thomas Township may proceed in law or equity to collect said charges and may use any remedy available to recover charges including the use of Municipal Civil Infraction, Court Order, or Thomas Township may choose to place the charges on the property tax bill.

Please click the link for a map of sidewalks located within Thomas Township:                                                        Thomas Township Sidewalk/Trail Master Plan Map

Thomas Township