Who Is Responsible for Snow Removal at a Rental Property?

When snow begins to accumulate at a rental property, someone needs to clear the driveway, walkways, steps, parking areas, and entrances. But is that the landlord’s responsibility, or is the tenant expected to handle it? The answer usually depends on the lease, the type of rental property, which areas are shared, and the laws or ordinances that apply where the property is located. For landlords, vacation-home owners, property managers, and tenants, the safest approach is to decide who handles snow and ice removal before the first storm arrives—and put that responsibility in writing.

The quick answer

In many rental situations:

• The landlord or property manager handles common areas shared by multiple tenants.
• The tenant may handle a private driveway, walkway, or entrance used only by their rental unit.
• A snow removal provider may be hired by the owner, property manager, or tenant, depending on the lease.
• Local rules may still place certain responsibilities on the property owner or occupant.

A lease can assign snow removal responsibilities, but the wording should clearly identify who is responsible, which areas must be cleared, when removal should happen, and whether ice treatment is included.

Start with the lease agreement

The lease should be the first place both the landlord and tenant look. A clear snow removal clause should answer questions such as: Who is responsible for plowing the driveway? Who clears steps, walkways, decks, and entrances? Who handles parking spaces and shared access areas? Is the responsible party also expected to apply salt or another ice treatment? How soon after a storm should the property be cleared? Who pays if a professional snow removal provider is needed? What happens when the tenant is traveling or unable to remove the snow? A statement that simply says “the tenant is responsible for snow removal” may still leave too much uncertainty. It is better to identify the exact portions of the property covered by the agreement.

Snow removal at a single-family rental

At a single-family rental, the tenant is often assigned responsibility for routine snow removal because the driveway, entrance, and walkways are used exclusively by that household. However, that arrangement should not be assumed. Some landlords include professional plowing as part of the rent. Others may plow the driveway but require the tenant to clear steps and pathways. Vacation-home owners may have a property manager coordinate all winter services so guests are never expected to operate snow removal equipment. A single-family lease should clearly explain:

• Whether the tenant must shovel or arrange service
• Which surfaces need to be cleared
• Whether the landlord pays for plowing
• Whether ice treatment is required
• Where snow should be placed
• Whether access must be maintained for deliveries and emergency vehicles
• Snow removal at a multi-unit property

Responsibility becomes more complicated when several tenants share the same driveway, walkway, stairs, parking lot, or entrance. Landlords commonly retain responsibility for these shared areas because they control the property and the areas serve more than one rental unit. New Hampshire courts have also recognized that landlords retaining control of common access areas may have a duty to use reasonable care to keep those areas reasonably safe. A tenant may still be responsible for a private entrance, walkway, porch, or steps used exclusively by that tenant. The lease should distinguish these private areas from common areas instead of assigning the entire property with one general statement.

New Hampshire’s snow removal rules for rental properties

New Hampshire enacted a new law addressing snow and ice removal responsibilities in tenancies. The law is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2027, and applies to tenancies entered into or renewed on or after that date. Under the new law: A landlord and tenant may agree that either party—or a combination of both—will handle snow and ice removal from specific areas. Unless otherwise agreed, landlords of covered rental properties are responsible for common areas used by tenants of more than one rental unit, including shared driveways, walkways, stairs, and entryways. Unless otherwise agreed, tenants are responsible for private areas intended exclusively for their individual rental unit. Condominium associations, homeowners’ associations, manufactured-housing parks, and similar communities may have separate governing documents that assign responsibility differently. Rental owners should review their lease language before the law’s effective date, particularly when renewing an existing tenancy. Does assigning snow removal to a tenant eliminate landlord liability? Not necessarily. Assigning the physical task of snow removal in a lease does not automatically eliminate every duty or potential liability a property owner may have. In a 2024 New Hampshire Supreme Court case involving a commercial lease, the tenant had agreed to keep the premises free of snow and ice. The court determined that the lease provision did not automatically relieve the landlord of a possible duty of care to an injured third party. The exact outcome of a snow or ice claim depends on the property, the lease, who controlled the area, what each party knew, and the circumstances surrounding the incident. Rental owners should not assume that transferring snow removal duties also transfers every legal responsibility. What about short-term rentals and vacation homes? Vacation rentals need a more dependable plan than simply asking guests to shovel. Guests may arrive during a storm, may not know where equipment is stored, or may be physically unable to clear a driveway. A poorly cleared property can also cause check-in problems, blocked parking, delayed cleaning crews, and unsafe access. Vacation-home owners should establish a winter service plan that covers:

• Driveway plowing
• Walkways and entrances
• Steps, decks, and porches
• Parking areas
• Ice treatment
• Trash and utility access
• Access for cleaners and maintenance workers
• Service between guest stays
• Emergency service during an active storm

The owner or property manager should also specify who confirms that the work was completed before a guest arrives. What should a snow removal agreement include? Whether the arrangement is written into a lease or handled through a property-management agreement, include the following details.

Areas covered

List every area that must be maintained:

Driveway

• Parking area
• Sidewalk
• Front and rear entrances
• Stairs
• Deck
• Porch
• Mailbox access
• Trash and utility areas
• Snowfall trigger

Explain whether service begins after a specific amount of accumulation or whether the property should be cleared after every measurable snowfall.

Timing expectations

State when removal should begin and whether repeat visits may be needed during a longer storm.

Ice treatment

Clarify whether the responsible party must apply salt, sand, or another approved treatment after plowing or shoveling.

Cost responsibility

Identify whether snow removal is included in the rent, paid separately by the tenant, or coordinated by the property manager.

Backup coverage

Establish what happens when the responsible tenant is away, the usual provider is unavailable, or equipment stops working.

Documentation

Property managers and rental owners may want to keep basic records of service dates, weather conditions, treatments, and completed work.

Why rental owners need a backup snow removal plan

Even when a tenant agrees to handle snow removal, the landlord should know how the property will be cleared if that arrangement fails. Common problems include:

• The tenant is away during a storm
• A snowblower will not start
• The snowfall is too deep to handle manually
• A plowing provider is delayed
• Ice develops after the initial clearing
• A short-term guest arrives before the property is ready
• A vehicle blocks the area that needs to be plowed

A backup plan can help prevent a small winter maintenance issue from becoming an access, safety, or guest-service problem.

How Snow Patrol can help rental-property owners

For properties in an active Snow Patrol service area, owners and property managers can request snow removal and send the opportunity to available local service providers. This can be especially helpful when:

• A regular provider is unavailable
• A tenant cannot complete the work
• A vacation rental needs service before check-in
• A storm creates an unexpected need
• A property owner lives outside the area
• More than one seasonal service is needed

Creating an account before winter weather arrives can make it easier to request assistance when time matters.

Rental property snow removal checklist

Before winter begins, confirm that you have:

• Reviewed the lease
• Identified all common and private areas
• Assigned responsibility in writing
• Established a snowfall trigger
• Clarified ice-treatment expectations
• Selected a primary snow removal provider
• Created a backup service plan
• Confirmed emergency and delivery access
• Checked local requirements
• Shared contact information with tenants or guests
• Established a way to confirm service completion

Frequently asked questions

Prepare before the first storm

Snow removal responsibility should never be decided while snow is already covering the driveway.

A clear written agreement, reliable provider, and backup plan can help landlords, tenants, vacation-home owners, and property managers avoid confusion and maintain safer access throughout the winter.

Snow Patrol helps property owners request outdoor services from available local providers when seasonal work is needed.

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