Do you have to clear snow from the sidewalk in front of your house? 

Verified 05 March 2024 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

YesHowever, you must clear the sidewalk in front of your home if a mayor's order so provides. If it exists, the order is posted in town hall. Otherwise, it is the city hall (the road department) that takes care of it.

So it depends on what the city council has planned.

Existence of a municipal order

In the presence of a municipal decree, the local residents bridge the obligation to clear snow in front of their dwelling.

This obligation applies to the following persons:

  • Occupant (tenant or owner of a detached house or subdivision)
  • Condominium Trustee acting on behalf of joint owners' union of a condominium (this service may be included in the duties of the custodian of the condominium or in the contract for the maintenance of the common areas).

In some communes very touched by snowHowever, the mayor may also impose any of the following:

  • Installation of snow stops (sometimes called snow bars or anti-fall bars) on the roofs of buildings bordering the public road
  • Removal of ice from rooftop or downspout.

Please note

The order is posted in town hall. It is also available on its website. Signs may also be placed near dwellings to indicate this obligation.

Snow removal includes:

  • Removing snow in front of your house or building
  • Salting (recommended if paved) or sanding (recommended if paved, paved, concrete...) in the presence of ice.

This operation is carried out in principle over a width of at least 1 meter and up to the limit of the sidewalk, and without obstructing the sewer outlets to allow the flow of water.

Failure to comply with the Mayor's snow removal measures exposes you to €150 maximum fine.

If the measures imposed by the municipal decree are not respected, the victim (bystander, co-owner...) may to incur liability of the following persons in appealing to the court of the place where the immovable is situated :

  • Tenant or owner if the sidewalk is in front of a detached house or a subdivision house
  • Condo trustee if the sidewalk is in front of a condo

Absence of municipal by-law

If she didn't make an order, it's the city hall (the road department) which takes care of the snow removal of the entire public road (including on the sidewalks in front of your home).

In the event of an accident, the victim (bystander, co-owner...) may commit the city council's responsibility in appealing to the court of the place where the accident took place.

However, the local liability (owner living in the dwelling or tenant) can also be engaged for negligence, even without a municipal order requiring snow removal. For example, if snow slides from the roof of a house and damages a car in an area that suffers from heavy snowfall.

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