Must I clear snow from the pavement in Austria?
Yes — as a property owner in built-up areas you must clear and grit. Under § 93 of the road code, owners must clear snow and dirt and grit the pavement along the whole frontage, but only where it lies within 3 m of the property boundary. The time window is 6am to 10pm. Where there's no pavement, a 1 m wide strip of the roadside must be cleared. The duty also covers removing snow cornices and icicles from the street-side roof. You can delegate the duty by contract (property manager, caretaker, winter-service firm), and that person steps into your place. In short: yes, in built-up areas from 6am to 10pm, within 3 m.
📋 The rules
- Owner in built-up areas clears & grits
- Pavement within 3 m of the boundary
- Time window 6am to 10pm
- No pavement: a 1 m strip of the roadside
- Also snow cornices/icicles from the roof
🔓 Exceptions
- Undeveloped agricultural/forestry plots: exempt
- The municipality can deviate by ordinance (hours, widths)
- In heavy snowfall the duty pauses only if clearing is pointless
⚠️ Penalties & fines
A breach is an administrative offence under § 99; fines up to about €72 for the clear/grit duty and up to €726 for failing to remove roof cornices or ice. The bigger risk is civil liability — an injured pedestrian can claim damages directly from the adjoining owner. Parked cars are not protected by § 93. Beware a myth: "a 'slip hazard' sign frees me from liability" is false — warning signs don't replace proper clearing and gritting; you can be liable after 10pm too if the fall traces to a daytime failure. Tip: re-grit at intervals during freezing conditions, and delegate the duty to a winter service in writing if needed.
📎 Official sources
❓ Frequently asked
Who must clear pavement snow?
In built-up areas the duty falls on the owner of the property. They must clear snow and dirt from the pavement along the whole property and grit it when slippery, but only where the pavement lies within three metres of the boundary. The duty can be delegated by contract.
What hours must I clear?
The clearing and gritting duty applies daily from 6am to 10pm. Outside those hours there's no active duty, but residual liability can remain if a night-time fall traces to a daytime failure. In freezing conditions you should re-grit at intervals.
What if there's no pavement?
Where there's no pavement, you must clear and grit a one-metre-wide strip of the roadside. In a pedestrian zone or home zone without a pavement, a one-metre strip along the house front must be kept clear. Snow cornices and icicles from the street-side roof must also be removed.
What does a breach cost?
A breach of the clearing and gritting duty is an administrative offence under § 99 and can be punished with up to about €72, and failing to remove roof cornices or ice with up to €726. More serious, however, is civil liability towards people who fall.
Am I liable for falls?
Yes, that's possible. If a person falls because the pavement wasn't cleared or gritted, they can claim damages directly from the adjoining owner. A mere warning sign doesn't free you from liability. Parked cars, by contrast, aren't protected by § 93.
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