Sent on behalf of the Prince George's County Department of Permitting, Inspections, and Enforcement.

Prince George’s County Enforcing Sidewalk Clearing Law for Residents and Businesses

For immediate release:

1/28/2016 2:30:00 PM

For more information, contact:

Susan D. Hubbard, Public Information Officer Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement

Office: 301.636.2020/Cell: 240.508.9723 sdhubbard@co.pg.md.us

Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement Enforcing County Law Beginning Today for Business Properties and Tomorrow, January 29th, for Residents

Upper Marlboro, MD – Today, Prince George’s County announced that it is enforcing its snow removal laws requiring residents and business proprietors to clear snow and ice accumulation from sidewalks beginning today, January 28, 2016 for business properties and tomorrow, Friday, January 29, 2016, for residents per Section 23-150 of the County Code.  The Code requires that responsible parties treat and remove accumulated snow and ice from abutting sidewalks within 48 hours after snow has fallen or ice has accumulated to a depth of 2 or more inches.  However, given the amount of snow received by the area after the historic snowstorm, the County had eased enforcement of the law to focus on snow removal from roadways and gave residents and businesses three extra days to shovel out from the record snowfall.   Enforcing the law with commercial establishments has begun by issuing citations if they have not cleared the abutting sidewalks. Residents will begin to receive citations tomorrow if they have not begun to clear sidewalks abutting their properties, especially those on school routes or other such areas as listed below.  Citations carry a fine of $100, and additional citations will be issued for each subsequent 24-hour period that the snow and ice continues to obstruct the sidewalks.  Fines will accumulate with each citation. Areas of primary focus include sidewalks:

• Adjacent to commercial establishments and apartment complexes
• Along roadways within 1.5 miles of a school
• Along State designated highways
• Along County primary roadways
• Abutting major public gathering places — like churches, assembly halls, etc.

Note:  In some cases, plows moving snow may unintentionally block driveways.  Residents are reminded that the county does not remove snow that blocks driveway entrances.

Questions about the regulation or enforcement should be directed to the County Call Center at 3-1-1 or go to www.countyclick311.com  to report a sidewalk shoveling violation. 

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