Barnegat Township Updates Snow Removal Rules for HOAs

A common winter headache for active adults in Barnegat is getting a bit clearer. The Barnegat Township Committee has introduced an amendment to its snow removal ordinance that officially hands the power back to Homeowner Associations (HOAs) to set their own rules for sidewalk clearing. [link]

Why the Change?

Previously, township laws required all property owners to clear snow from their sidewalks within 12 hours of daylight. However, many residents in older, established adult communities like Pheasant Run pointed out several practical issues:

• Liability & Cost: In many of these developments, the HOA—not the resident—owns the sidewalks. Clearing them would significantly hike up monthly association fees.
• Physical Safety: Residents noted that the rule was originally designed to ensure safe paths for schoolchildren, which isn’t a factor in age-restricted neighborhoods.
• Practicality: Asking seniors to clear deep snow and ice within a strict 12-hour window is often physically unrealistic.

The New “HOA-First” Rule

Instead of a “one-size-fits-all” mandate, the new amendment specifies that if an HOA has its own regulations regarding sidewalk snow removal, those rules take precedence over the township’s ordinance.

Township officials noted that they couldn’t simply “exempt” seniors due to constitutional equal protection laws, so this amendment creates a legal workaround by deferring to the private community’s own governing documents.

What This Means for Residents

• Check Your Bylaws: If you live in a Barnegat adult community, your specific HOA’s policy is now the final word.
• Fee Stability: This move prevents potential “stealth” fee increases that would have been necessary to pay contractors for 24-inch wide sidewalk clearing across entire developments.
• Safety First: While the township won’t be issuing tickets to individual residents in these communities, officials still urge everyone to look out for their neighbors during New Jersey’s icy winters.

The final vote on this amendment has been approved, and you can view the modified ordinance on Barnegat Township’s website or via this [Link].