Code Enforcement Rules for Snow Removal and Sidewalk Clean-up
Posted by Homes Boston on Wednesday, January 18th, 2012 at 11:52am.Dear Back Bay Association Member:
KEEP IT CLEAN/KEEP IT CLEAR
As the Back Bay Association celebrates the New Year, we challenge our member businesses to sign on to a New Year’s Resolution. Let’s make the Back Bay the cleanest neighborhood in the country. As we traverse the charming and bucolic streets of Back Bay, while we appreciate the area’s vitality and success, we also see an area for improvement….the Back Bay Association strongly encourages every business with a street front and every property owner to play an important role in Back Bay’s beautification by cleaning the storefront out to the curb.
KEEP IT CLEAN
It is very important to note that City of Boston code REQUIRES businesses to clean the sidewalk to the curb (including the cutter area). The Code states, business owners or employees should sweep sidewalk and gutters removing any garbage, trash and debris; failure to do so may result in a $25 fine. This includes cleaning the tree pits in front of your building. One way to ensure sweeping gets done is to add this task to the job description of your businesses’ opening crew, to ensure that the sidewalk in front of your business is swept once per day.
KEEP IT CLEAR
The Back Bay Association also supports the swift and efficient removal of snow. The Back Bay is home to the finest retail stores, restaurants and businesses, but one big snowstorm can grind access to businesses to a halt and impact sales. The City of Boston suggests that businesses:
- Remove snow, slush and ice from sidewalks and curb ramps abutting your property within three hours of snowfall ending (or 3 hours from sunrise if snow falls overnight).
- Remove snow and slush from the full paved width of the sidewalk and curb ramp or minimum path of 42 includes wide (note from us: it goes without saying that the paths should line to encourage pedestrian foot traffic in spite of inclement conditions).
- Remove ice to bare pavement or make as level as possible and treat with sand, sawdust or similar material.
- Please clear fire hydrants and catch basins in your area.
- Please don’t shovel snow, under any circumstances, in to the street, as violators will be fined
As you traverse the City, the Mayor’s Office strongly encourages business leaders and residents alike to see it, hear it, report it. If you see something that needs to be fixed or reported, please call the Mayor’s hotline at 617-635-4500 or add a report to the City of Boston’s Citizen’s Connect program by clicking here!
All businesses located in the Back Bay will benefit from a cleaner neighborhood that is swept, shoveled and ready for business. Thank you for participating in the daily beautification of the Back Bay.
Best Wishes for a Clean and Clear Back Bay!
Meg Mainzer-Cohen
President
Back Bay Association
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