Snow clearing at a private house: duties and solutions
In Estonia the owner is responsible for the pavement by their plot. What you must clear, the risk of ice, and how to organise winter without a shovel.
Every winter the same story repeats: the first big snowfall, and house owners remember that the pavement along the plot is their responsibility.
What the law says
In Estonia the plot owner must keep the adjoining pavement safe: clear snow and treat ice. If a passer-by slips and is injured on an uncleared pavement by your house, liability — including possible compensation — falls on the owner. City services clear the roadway, not your pavement.
Typical mistakes
- Waiting “until the snow stops”: packed snow turns into an ice crust that a shovel will not take - Salt on paving: concrete stone gets white stains and crumbles from salt — use granite chips - Dumping snow on the roadway: that can earn you an order
Where to put snow in a small yard
Plan snow piles where spring meltwater will not run toward the house or basement. When there is no space left, snow is carted away: normal practice in dense development.
A winter contract: how it works with us
Clients on a seasonal contract do not call us after every snowfall: we arrive automatically when more than the agreed amount falls, clear paths, driveway and pavement, and treat ice with granite chips. In the morning you simply walk out to a clear car.
We sign seasonal contracts before winter starts; the number of addresses is limited by equipment.