Winter service obligation: This keeps our town free of snow and ice!

Winter service obligation: This keeps our town free of snow and ice!

As the winter months approach, the fulfillment of special obligations for home and landowners approaches. The municipality regulates the clearing and gritting obligations in accordance with the regulations that apply in winter. In particular, citizens are encouraged to keep their sidewalks and the area up to one meter along the side of the road free of snow and ice to ensure the safety of all pedestrians. This applies to all public streets and paths that border your own property. In addition, the footpaths behind the property must also be cleared accordingly, as Lappersdorf informs.

The obligation to vacate extends from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., although on Sundays and public holidays this applies from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. If there is a risk of slippery roads, owners and tenants are obliged to use suitable grit. Popular environmentally friendly alternatives are sand and grit, while the use of salt as a grit, which is considered harmful to the environment, is expressly prohibited in many municipalities, as t-online.de emphasizes.

Duties and responsibilities

As a rule, municipalities are responsible for winter maintenance on public roads and can delegate these tasks to private companies. In urban areas, municipalities are responsible for ensuring safety in dangerous places, such as thoroughfares or busy pedestrian paths. Outside towns, clearing and spreading is only necessary in particularly dangerous places; here too, the ADAC points out the responsibility of the municipalities.

Owners have the choice of carrying out the clearance themselves or hiring a professional winter service. However, it is important that private property owners clear and grit sidewalks at their own expense, as required by the ordinance. Landlords are also able to transfer this obligation to their tenants, provided this is stipulated in the contract. Snow and ice should be removed early before rush hour to avoid accidents.

Regulations on diversification

The regulations require property owners to store snow next to the sidewalk without obstructing visibility or blocking the roadway. Fire hydrants, sewer inlet shafts and pedestrian crossings must also be kept clear so that road safety is not endangered. When it comes to gritting materials, it is important to note that only non-corrosive materials should be used. The use of salt and other environmentally harmful materials should be minimized or avoided entirely.

Once applied, some grits, such as sand, are easy to clean up and environmentally friendly. It is therefore advisable to stock up in good time in order to be well prepared for times of snow and ice. In the event of falls due to inadequate evacuation, those responsible are liable and can be claimed for damages and compensation, which underlines the importance of properly fulfilling this duty.