City of Hoboken Issues Rules and Regulations for Thanksgiving Snow Fall

The City of Hoboken may receive the first measurable snowfall of the season this week, so residents and businesses are reminded to prepare for winter weather and be aware of related regulations and procedures.

For a guide to snow storm procedures, safety tips, and an interview with the Hoboken Police Department, click here.

Emergency Snow Routes

Emergency Snow Routes in Hoboken are labeled with street signs that read “No Parking When Road Is Snow Covered.” When streets are snow covered, no parking is permitted on these streets. A snow emergency does not need to be declared for this rule to be in effect. Vehicles parked on snow emergency routes are subject to towing.

This is necessary to move police, fire and ambulances throughout Hoboken in time of emergency for the safety and welfare of all our citizens. A list and map of emergency snow routes is available on the City website.

Keeping Sidewalks Clear

Property owners/occupants are reminded that they have six hours after the completion of a storm to remove snow and ice from sidewalks adjacent to their property, along with adjoining wheelchair ramps, curb cuts and gutters.

Residents are urged to assist elderly or disabled neighbors with clearing snow from their properties. It is illegal to shovel snow back onto streets or onto fire hydrants. The City is responsible for clearing sidewalks around City-owned properties.

The City performs proactive inspections and also relies on citizen complaints to help identify those property owners that are not meeting sidewalk safety requirements. The vast majority of property owners comply with these regulations, but the City will issue fines to those who do not keep sidewalks clear.

Reporting Problems

To report an unplowed street, unshoveled sidewalk, or other problem, residents can submit an online complaint or via the Hoboken 311 application available for iOS and Android devices.

City Code Regarding Snow Removal

A. The owner or occupant or person having charge of any dwelling house, store or other building or lot of ground in the City shall, within the first six hours after every fall of snow or hail, or after the formation of any ice upon the sidewalks, unless the ice is covered with sand or ashes, cause the snow and ice to be removed from the sidewalk abutting such dwelling house, store, building or lot of land, clearing a traversable walkway so that a minimum of four feet or 2/3 of the width of the sidewalk, whichever is greater, is free of snow and ice. In those instances where the traversable walkway is less than four feet in width, the owner, occupant or person having charge shall clear the entire width of the abutting sidewalk.

B. In case the gutter opposite any dwelling house, store or other building, or lot of ground, in the City shall at any time become obstructed with snow, ice, dirt or any matter, the owner or occupant or person having charge thereof shall cause the gutter to be cleaned out to the width of two feet, so that the water may run freely along the same.

C. If more than four feet of sidewalk is available, snow may be deposited between the cleared area and the curbline at a height of no greater than 3.5 feet.

D. At no time shall snow, ice, dirt, or any matter be removed into the street.

E. Where public facilities or public infrastructure are present on a sidewalk, such as mailboxes, phone booths, handicapped ramps at corners, parking meters, bicycle racks, and benches, the owner, occupant or person having charge shall maintain clear access to said facilities or infrastructure so that all public functions may continue unimpeded at all times.

Information and photo courtesy of the City of Hoboken