Essen
Snow and ice arising between 7 am and 8 pm must be cleared immediately. Snow falling or ice forming after 8 pm must be cleared by 7 am on weekdays, or by 8 am on Sundays and public holidays, the following day.
Clear the pavement and grit it with abrasive material, keeping it clear to its existing width or up to 1.20 m. Keep pavements to stops clear and gritted when icy so that safe access and egress is possible.
Salt and other de-icing substances on pavements are generally banned, allowed only at dangerous spots or in exceptional weather conditions such as freezing rain, where abrasive materials alone are not sufficient. This exception does not apply to pavements with trees or planting; salt-laden snow must not be deposited there.
Anyone who fails to comply with the cleaning or winter service duty, or unlawfully uses grit salt, commits an administrative offence; the fine ranges from €5 to €1,000 for intentional breaches, and up to €500 for negligent ones.
The town's bylaw is authoritative: Street cleaning and winter service bylaw of 6 December 2004, last amended by bylaw of 15 December 2025
