Ice and Sidewalks

The majority of cities and towns throughout the country leave it up to the owners of any properties that have a sidewalk to remove the ice from said sidewalk whenever there is ice and snow to remove. This removes the responsibility from the city and places it firmly with the property owner.

When a property is owned by one person and leased by another, the lease typically will announce who is responsible for removing the snow and ice. In the event that the snow and ice are supposed to be removed by the tenant, the property owner is still liable for the damages that are done to individuals who slip and fall on the sidewalk in front of his or her property; however, the tenant can be indemnified for not living up to his or her end of the contract.

Many statutes, like that of New Hanover, are extremely specific as to their requirements for ice removal. New Hanover specifies the amount of time a person is given to get the ice and snow out of the way, how much of a path needs to be cleared, and even specifies the space required around fire hydrants. For example, when snow, sleet, or freezing rain fall in New Hanover, any party responsible for ice removal has 24 hours after the last drop or flake falls to clear a path in the sidewalk.

The sidewalks in front of buildings must be given 30 inches of cleared areas to ensure that people have enough space to walk. In addition, according to New Hanover, there must be 30 inches on available of cleared sidewalk on all sides of a fire hydrant that is located on a person’s sidewalk space.

Contact a Harrisburg Premises Liability Lawyer

If you have been injured by a neighbor or property owner’s failure to abide by a statute requiring ice and snow removal, contact the Harrisburg premises liability lawyers of Lowenthal & Abrams at 610-667-7511.