Westport Commercial Property Owners Responsible for Removal of Snow and Ice

The Department of Public Works reminds all commercial property owners that per Westport Town Code, Sec. 50-407, they are responsible for any and all snow and ice removal from the sidewalk within the Town and or State rights-of-way for the total frontage of their property and for the entire width of the sidewalk.

Sec. 50-407. - Business use sidewalks—Snow and ice removal The owner or person in possession and control of any property adjoining any business use sidewalk shall provide for the removal of snow and ice from such business use sidewalk within 24 hours after the deposit or formation of snow or ice. (Code 1981, § 128-3)

State Law reference - Authority to require adjacent landowners to remove snow and ice from sidewalks, C.G.S. § 7-148(c)(6)(C)(v).

The penalties for non-compliance are as follows:

Sec. 50-404 - Penalties for offenses.

The Director of Public Works is authorized to impose monetary penalties for a violation of maintenance as set forth in Section 50-406, removal of ice and snow as set forth in Section 50-407, and the removal of barriers, obstructions or overgrowths as set forth in Section 50-408, upon the failure of the owner, or person in possession and control to do so after notice, if required in this article. Violation of any provision of this article shall be punished by a fine not to exceed $90.00, payable to the Town. Each violation of this article shall be a separate and distinct offense, and in the case of a continuing violation, each day's continuance thereof shall be deemed a separate and distinct offense.