BILL NUMBER: S4941
SPONSOR: COMRIE
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in
relation to requiring the department of sanitation to remove any snow or
ice accumulation in front of fire hydrants
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
The purpose of this bill is to require the New York city department of
sanitation to remove any snow or ice accumulation in front of any fire
hydrants.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section one amends section 15-205 of the administrative code of the city
of New York law by requiring the department of sanitation to clear snow
and ice accumulation in front of fire hydrants.
Section two sets forth the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
During the winter of 2013-2014, the city of New York experienced an
unusually active snow season with numerous storms and record breaking
amount of snowfalls, presenting unprecedented challenges as a result.
Among these challenges, snow covered fire hydrants presented a major
public safety concern.
Sanitation plow trucks that clear snow on the city streets often deposit
snow onto the curbside and sidewalk, resulting in an accumulation of
snow on and around the fire hydrants. For firefighters responding to
emergencies where time is of the essence, snow and ice covered fire
hydrants can present an extremely hazardous obstacle.
Currently, section 15-205 of the New York city administrative code
requires property owners, lessees or tenants to clear snow or ice from
the fire hydrant in front of their property. However, locating and
clearing snow covered fire hydrants can be an extremely difficult and
costly task for some individuals and potentially hazardous for senior
citizens and persons with disabilities.
Any snow and ice covered fire hydrant severely limits firefighters'
ability to put out a fire and presents a major threat to public safety,
a risk that we cannot afford to take. This legislation would address
such safety concerns by shifting the responsibility for clearing snow
and ice accumulation in front of fire hydrants to the department of
sanitation, which can utilize equipment and manpower to effectively
remove the snow and ice from city owned. fire hydrants.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
A7571 of 2017-18: Referred to Cities.
S4556 of 2017-18: Referred to Cities.
2022: S5508
2024: S5563
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
Yet to be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.