Must I clear snow and remove icicles in Sweden?
It depends what you mean — and the roof is always yours. As a property owner you are always responsible for snow, ice and icicles on the roof above a public place under the Public Order Act, and they must be removed without unreasonable delay. For the pavement, municipalities differ: in Stockholm the city itself clears the footways, while in many other municipalities a house owner must shovel outside his own plot. What catches Stockholm owners out is the exception within the exception: ice formed by your own downpipes is your responsibility even here. If snow or an icicle falls and injures someone you can be liable in damages and convicted of causing injury. Cordon off the area before clearing a roof.
📋 The rules
- The owner is always responsible for roof snow, ice and icicles
- Roof snow/ice must be removed without unreasonable delay
- In Stockholm the city itself clears the pavements
- You are responsible for ice from your own downpipes
- Cordon off before roof clearing and move snow toward the road
🔓 Exceptions
- In Stockholm the city is responsible for the footways, unlike homeowners in other municipalities
- The owner can delegate clearing to a contractor by a clear contract
- Pavement ice from your own downpipes is the owner's responsibility even in Stockholm
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Failing to remove roof snow and icicles can bring summary fines under the Public Order Act, that is, a fine for the neglect alone — even if nothing has happened. If someone is injured it becomes serious: it can mean fines or imprisonment for causing bodily injury or creating danger to another, plus damages to the person affected. What does not help is pointing at someone else: you can delegate the clearing to a contractor through a clear agreement, but responsibility for the roof stays with the property owner.
📎 Official sources
- City of Stockholm · Owner responsibility (snow and ice) →
- Public Order Act (1993:1617) · Riksdagen →
- Street Cleaning Act (1998:814) · Riksdagen →
❓ Frequently asked
Must I shovel the pavement outside my house?
In Stockholm the city clears the footways, so there you normally do not have to shovel the pavement. In many other municipalities the house owner must shovel outside his own plot.
Who is responsible for icicles on the roof?
Always the property owner, whatever the municipality. Snow, ice and icicles over a public place must be removed without unreasonable delay under the Public Order Act, and the duty cannot be passed on.
What about ice from my downpipes?
You are responsible for ice on the pavement formed by your own downpipes, even in Stockholm where the city otherwise clears the footways. The downpipe is your problem, not the city's.
What happens if an icicle falls and injures someone?
You can be liable in damages and convicted of causing bodily injury or creating danger to another. Simply failing to remove the icicles can already bring summary fines.
Can I hire someone to clear the snow?
Yes. You can delegate the clearing to a contractor through a clear written agreement. Cordon off the ground before clearing a roof and push the snow towards the carriageway, not towards pedestrians.
🔎 Common searches
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