Who should clear the snow on the Belgian sidewalks?

Legal basis: where does the obligation come from?

Local police regulations (most decisive)

Belgium does not have a single national snow clearing law for sidewalks. In practice, cities and municipalities regulate this through their police regulations (also: "general police regulations"). These regulations stipulate who is responsible, how wide the snow must be cleared, and what can be done with the snow.

Example: City of Brussels (police regulations): the maintenance obligation for sidewalks/verges (including keeping them slip-free in snow/ice) lies solely with the owner, co-owner, holder of a property right, tenant, caretaker/doorman/guardian, or persons responsible for daily maintenance. Brussels also specifies that the sidewalk must be completely cleared/made slip-free, or at least 1.50 m wide, and that snow may not be thrown onto the roadway.

Who is liable/responsible?

This varies by city, but often applies (as explicitly in Brussels):

• Owner/co-owner
• Tenant
• Caretaker/doorman/security guard or whoever handles daily maintenance
• Sometimes also: holder of a property right (e.g., usufructuary)

Specifically for apartments (Antwerp example)

Antwerp specifically stipulates a distribution key: in an apartment building, the ground-floor resident is responsible for keeping the sidewalk clear of snow and ice; if no one lives there, the resident above is responsible.

Even if a city offers an "emergency service" (e.g., for people over 75 or with disabilities), the city can also stipulate that you remain personally responsible if someone slips. Antwerp explicitly states this.

What if you don't clean up? (fines + other consequences)

Administrative sanctions/fines (locally regulated)

Many municipalities impose fines for this.

• Heist-op-den-Berg: Anyone who fails to clear the sidewalk can receive a fine of up to €500 (according to municipal communications, based on local regulations).

The exact amounts, deadlines, and enforcement practices vary by municipality.

Civil liability if someone slips

Besides a potential fine, a liability dispute can also arise if someone falls and suffers damage (medical expenses, loss of income, etc.). The argument often is that you failed to comply with your local obligation (keeping the sidewalk clear of snow or ice).

In practice, such a claim is often referred to your personal liability insurance (private liability insurance), but the specific coverage depends on your policy (and there may be a deductible).