CODE SEC RE SIDEWALKS 8/23/2018 Salem,MA Code of Ordinances
Sec. 38-9. - Obstructions by shrubbery.
No tenant, occupant, or owner having the care of any building or lot of land bordering on any street,
lane, court, square, or public place within the city shall allow any bushes, shrubbery, or any other form of
plant growth to obstruct the safe passage of any pedestrian on any such street, lane, court, square, or
public place.
(Code 1973, § 26-9.1)
Sec. 38-13. - Removal of snow from sidewalks.
The owner of any building, structure or lot of land bordering on any street, lane, court, square or public
place within the city where there is a sidewalk, including any curb ramp/cut, shall cause all snow that may be
on such sidewalk and curb ramp/cut to be removed there from within six hours after the snow ceases to fall
or the city's snow emergency lights are turned off, whichever time is later. If the snow ceases to fall and the
snow emergency lights are turned off in the nighttime, the snow shall be removed before 12:00 noon. If he
neglects to do so, he shall be fined $25.00 for the first offense and $50.00 for each subsequent offense.
Violations shall be abated within 24 hours of receipt of a written notice of violation or warning. If the
violation continues, each subsequent 24-hour period shall constitute a separate offense. The director of
public services or the department's general foremen, all building inspectors, in addition to police officers,
shall be enforcing persons for this section.
This section shall apply to snow which falls from buildings as well as to that which falls from the clouds.
(Code 1973, § 26-13; Ord. of 3-30-2000, § I; Ord. of 1-9-2003, § 1; Ord. of 3-11-2010, § 1; Ord. of 3-12-2015(1)
§ 1)
Editor's note— Ord. of 3-12-2015(1) § 3, establishes fines to be retroactive back to January 1, 2015.
State Law reference—Authority of city relative to the removal of snow from sidewalks, M.G.L.A. c. 40, §
23(3), M.G.L.A. c. 85, § 5.
Sec. 38-14. - Removal of ice from sidewalks.
Whenever any sidewalk or any part thereof, including any curb ramp/cut, adjoining any building or lot of
land on any street, lane, court, square or public place is encumbered with ice, it shall be the duty of the
owner to cause such sidewalk and curb ramp/cut to be made safe and convenient by removing the ice there
from or by making such ice even and keeping it covered with sand, ashes or some other suitable material to
prevent slipping within six hours after the ice forms if in the daytime, and before 12:00 noon if it forms in
the nighttime. If he neglects to do so, he shall be fined $50.00 for each offense. Violations shall be abated
within 24 hours of receipt of a written notice of violation or warning. If the violation continues, each
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8/23/2018 Salem,MA Code of Ordinances
subsequent 24-hour period shall constitute a separate offense. All building inspectors,the director and
general foremen of the department of public services, in addition to police officers, shall be enforcing
persons for this section.
(Code 1973, § 26-14; Ord. of 3-30-2000, § II; Ord. of 3-11-2010; Ord. of 3-12-2015(1) § 2)
Editor's note— Ord. of 3-12-2015(1) § 3, establishes fines to be retroactive back to January 1, 2015.
State Law reference—Authority of the city relative to the removal of ice from sidewalks, M.G.L.A. c. 40, §
21(3), M.G.L.A. c. 85, § 5.
Sec. 38-19. - Maintenance of public area in front of private property.
Whenever any public area, commonly called tree lawn, or berm, paved or unpaved, exists in front of
private property on any street, lane, court, square or way, it shall be the duty of the owner of such property
to cause such areas to be maintained by cutting, trimming or removal. If he allows such area to become
overgrown with weeds or grass, he shall be liable to a penalty of$20.00 for each offense, with each day
during which such situation continues, following mailing by written notice to correct the situation from the
director of public services, constituting a separate offense.
(Code 1973, § 26-20)
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