Leonia, NJ
Home MenuSIDEWALK MAINTENANCE
To help protect our Leonia quality of life, it is important we spend more time and attention on compliance of our property maintenance laws. Ensuring walkability throughout town with well-maintained sidewalks is paramount. As per Borough Code Chapter 247, property owners are responsible for maintaining sidewalks in good and passable condition. This is true even if a Borough tree has uplifted the sidewalk.
DO NOT SHAVE TREE ROOTS! Damaging a tree during the course of sidewalk repair is not tolerated and will be subject to violations including imposition of fines and tree replacement fees.
If you wish to remove the tree on your private property, you must apply for a TREE REMOVAL PERMIT at the Building Department. Residents may not remove or damage Borough trees even if they are the cause of the sidewalk damage.
A variety of repair strategies are presented in the Sidewalk Repair Guide. In this guide you will find a host of remedies that range from DIY to complete slab replacement. This guide also includes a list of contractors that repair and replace sidewalks who are licensed, bonded and insured.
FAQs:
- What does “good and passable condition” mean? What standard is used in assessing violations?
The Borough, as well as most municipalities, has taken an interpretive approach of a “safe and passable” standard rather than anything more specific. Rule of Thumb: If a stroller or walking device cannot pass without trouble, then the sidewalk is in need of repair. For the most part, our Code Enforcement will issue violations for sidewalks that are raised more than ¾”, have severe cracks in which you can catch a heel, or are unsmooth as to make it hard to roll a stroller.
Keep in mind that ADA standards are even more stringent than what the Borough enforces – calling for sidewalks to be no more than ¼” lifted, cannot be sloped more than 5% in the direction of travel or sloped more than 2% across.
- A Borough tree is uplifting my sidewalk, why won’t the town simply remove the tree?
The Borough and its residents value trees for their beauty, the shade they provide, the tremendous amount of stormwater they are able to absorb and their ecological qualities like ability to cleanse our breathing air. Removing a healthy shade tree is unacceptable. By ordinance, the Borough are to take care of Borough trees and residents take care of the sidewalks.
- How much does it cost to repair a sidewalk?
Slab replacement is generally $500 per slab. If you have a number of slabs to replace, you should work out a volume discount with your contractor. Some neighborhoods have gotten together to select one contractor to serve all their needs at a negotiated discounted price.
- What happens if I get a violation?
- The first violation is a notice without financial penalty. After this initial violation, you will have a 45-day period in which to cure the issue.
- After 45-days with no cure, a 2nd violation with a financial penalty will be issued with a 30-day cure period.
- For every 30-day period with no cure, additional violations will be issued with increasing levels of financial penalties.
- If the Borough chooses to undertake the corrective work, the cost of such work and the accumulated financial penalties will be assessed in your taxes in the form of a lien.
- What if I need more time to fix a violation?
Fill out a Time Extension Request form and send to PropertyMaintenance@LeoniaNJ.gov.