Clearing ice and snow from footways
There's no law stopping you from clearing snow and ice on the footway outside your home or from public spaces. If you clear snow and ice carefully you are unlikely to be held liable.
Reporting an issue with ice or snow
You can report an ice/ snow issue or request a salt-bin or pile at the link below.
Tracking the progress of a fault
You can check the progress of a fault you have reported using this link:
Tips on clearing ice and snow
You should:
- clear ice/ snow early in the day - loose snow is easier removed than hard snow which has packed together from people walking on it
- use salt or sand, not water - if you use water to melt the snow, it may refreeze and turn to black ice which is invisible and very slippery
- take care where you move the snow - when you are shovelling snow, take care where you put it so it doesn’t block people’s paths or drains
- pay extra attention to clear ice and snow from steps and steep pathways – you might need to use more salt on these areas
Clearing ice and snow from footways
The Department for Infrastructure does not normally salt footways but where resources allow will work with councils during longer periods of snow and ice to clear footways in busy town centres.
People often ask if legally they can clear snow and ice. The fact is there’s no law stopping you from clearing snow and ice on the pavement outside your home or from public spaces.
In 2010, the Attorney General for Northern Ireland advised if you clear snow/ ice carefully you are unlikely to be held liable.
Commercial property owners in particular should make sure that they have adequate supplies of salt in place to make sure of the safety of employees and visitors.