With the first snow of the season having fallen, it is important to know what your obligations are for clearing snow from roads, sidewalks, etc. In Switzerland, municipalities are responsible for removing snow from the streets, and homeowners and landlords are generally responsible for removing snow and ice from walkways on their property and sidewalks in front of their homes. In Basel-Stadt, however, this is no longer the case. This winter, for the first time, the canton will also be responsible for snow removal on the sidewalks in Basel. 

To clear the approximately 450 kilometers of sidewalks in Basel-Stadt of snow, the canton has awarded a contract to the external company Welti-Furrer. They will have four teams of 16 employees each who will be clearing the sidewalks within 5 hours of the end of the snow fall. Because the sidewalk-clearing operations will take place between 7:00-19:00, assuring that an overnight snowfall will be cleared by noon, the support of homeowners is still welcome. In a letter to all property owners last autumn, the civil engineering office requested the active cooperation of homeowners to ensure that pedestrians can move around safely in front of their buildings, particularly in the early morning hours. With the change in the responsibility, however, homeowners will no longer be liable if someone slips and injures themselves on “their” sidewalk. Note that the area between the house entrance and the sidewalk is still considered private and remains the responsibility of the homeowners.

In most municipalities in Basel-Landschaft, property owners are still required to clear and grit the sidewalks in front of their properties. This obligation generally applies on weekdays from 7:00-20:00 and on Sundays and public holidays from 9:00-20:00. In rental appartments, the responsibility for winter maintenance usually lies with the landlord, unless the rental agreement specifies otherwise.

What to Keep in Mind When Clearing Snow

When clearing snow, remove it from the sidewalk and pile it along the curb, away from trees as much as possible. Keep the drains clear so that meltwater can drain away. In Basel-Stadt, the city cleaning service will place boxes of grit or sand (Streugut) in the neighborhoods that can be used on black ice and compacted snow. Salt can be used in conjunction with grit and sand; however, it is important to clear the snow prior to salting to ensure that meltwater doesn’t flow towards tree roots. If this is the case, it’s best to refrain from using salt. For a map of the location of the Streugut boxes, go to https://tiefbauamt-bs.ch/geoviewer/splittkisten.

Also note that it is illegal for you to drive your car in Switzerland unless you have removed ALL snow from your windshield. If the snow is only partially cleared, you can get fined. Furthermore, it is illegal to let your car idle for the purpose of melting the snow off your windshield, so it is best to invest in a snow broom/scraper and some gloves!

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