Snow Removal for Properties in Stockholm – Who Does What?

Who is responsible for snow removal on a property?

Responsibility for snow removal in Stockholm is divided between several parties depending on which area is involved. The municipality handles roadways and some main pavements itself, while the property owner has a statutory duty to clear and grit the pavement outside their own plot. The owner's own yard, driveway and entrance are always the responsibility of the property owner or the association, whether it is a house, a housing cooperative (BRF) or a property company.

For blocks of flats and joint property associations, responsibility for the shared areas lies with the board or the managing agent. This covers paths between buildings, bicycle parking, playgrounds and often access for refuse collection and emergency vehicles, which must be kept clear regardless of the weather.

• House – own pavement, driveway, approach and entrance
• BRF or joint property association – yard, paths, bicycle parking, playground
• Property company – the entire outdoor environment including parking and loading docks
• Municipality – roadways and certain main pavements under the city's own management

When does a snow-removal crew go out?

Response is governed primarily by how much snow has fallen and how icy it is, not by the time of day. As a rule of thumb, action is usually needed at around 3–5 cm of fresh snow, since that amount is enough to make walkways slippery and difficult for prams, walking frames and bicycles.

Ice without fresh snow is at least as common in Stockholm, particularly when the temperature hovers around 0 degrees or in the case of freezing rain that ices over immediately on the ground. Action may then be required even if no snow has fallen at all. With a signed winter contract, standby cover is available around the clock, and rounds are often run early in the morning, before 7am, so that paths and parking areas are passable when residents need to head out.

• Fresh snow of around 3–5 cm or more
• Icy conditions during temperature swings around 0 degrees
• Freezing rain or ice forming overnight
• Drifting snow that builds up at entrances and doorways
• Continued snowfall during the day may require a second round

Does the service differ between a house and a block of flats?

Yes, the arrangement looks different depending on how the property is used. A homeowner can book snow removal on individual occasions or sign a seasonal contract for the whole winter, while a BRF or a property company usually needs a solution that covers several buildings and shared areas at the same time.

If several properties are located in the same area, for example a whole block or a joint property association with terraced houses, the round is often planned so that everything is done in sequence on the same morning. This makes the service more predictable for residents and easier to coordinate with ice treatment.

• House – booked as needed or via a seasonal contract
• BRF and joint property association – winter contract with fixed rounds and standby cover
• Property company – several properties coordinated in the same round
• Priority given to main entrances, stairwells, parking and bins

What determines the order in which properties are cleared?

The order is governed by safety and how many people use the area. Paths leading to entrances, nurseries and schools are given high priority, as are parking spaces with disabled permits and access for emergency vehicles. Other areas, such as smaller lawns or rarely used paths, come later in the round.

The exact scope and order for your particular property is agreed together with Service Plus during the site visit and written into the contract, so it can be tailored to how the grounds are actually used in winter.

• Number of properties in the same area and how the route is planned
• Accessibility for machinery, for example narrow passages or steps
• Steep or exposed sections with extra risk of ice
• Requirements to keep the municipal pavement clear outside the property

How does Service Plus handle snow removal?

Service Plus's snow-removal specialist is called Skottis and works with equipment suited to the area, from hand-operated machines on narrow paths to vehicles for larger car parks. Which areas are included, how often they are cleared and where ice treatment is applied are agreed together during the site visit and written into the contract, since the needs differ for a house, an association and a property with several buildings.

Snow can be hauled away if needed when it would otherwise become an obstacle, and as a private individual you get a RUT deduction of up to 50% of the labour cost, deducted directly from the invoice. Get in touch with Service Plus Stockholm AB for a free quote within 24 hours, whether it concerns a single house or an entire block.