Canillo Updates Snow Removal Ordinance with Fines Up to €2,000

Canillo parish council has updated its snow removal ordinance, imposing fines of up to €2,000 on property owners who fail to clear snow and ice from sidewalks in front of their homes. The revised rules, approved in a recent council session, require owners to remove accumulations from adjacent pavements and keep them safe for pedestrians and services.

Under the previous 2025 ordinance, first offences carried a €151 penalty, which could double for repeat violations. The new 2026 version lowers the initial fine to €100, but escalates sharply: €500 for a first repeat offence and €2,000 from the second onwards. As before, the council can clear the area itself, billing the offender for costs.

Owners may now pile unshoveled snow on the sidewalk, provided it does not spill onto the road, block storm drains, or narrow the pedestrian path to less than one metre between the building facade and the pile. The obligation extends to snow on landings as well.

The council can ban parking on public roads and parish lots during snow clearance operations, with clear signage. Vehicles left in prohibited zones face removal by traffic services, with towing and storage fees charged to owners.

Priority goes to clearing public spaces before tackling sidewalks, which will occur once snowfall ends.

The ordinance introduces further measures. A new article bans capturing water from rivers, streams, or springs for agricultural or forestry use without council permission, as well as laying temporary hoses or pipes along communal paths. Approved installations must be buried along path edges, with the applicant solely responsible for maintenance. Violations incur fines of €200 for the first offence, €500 for the second, and €1,000 thereafter. If the council orders removal, costs fall to the offender.