- Sanitary norms and rules "Sanitary and epidemiological requirements for the maintenance and operation of territories," approved by the Resolution of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Belarus dated February 2, 2023, No. 22:

Clause 7 – In winter, ramps, building entrances and steps (structures), pedestrian paths (sidewalks, alleys, boulevards, pedestrian streets and squares, overhead, ground-level, and underground pedestrian crossings, stairs, pedestrian and bicycle paths), and public transport stops must be promptly cleared of all types of snow, ice, and snow-ice formations, and treated with permitted anti-icing agents as needed;

- Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus dated July 22, 2020, No. 430 "On the procedure for determining the sizes (limits) of territories for performing work to maintain their proper sanitary condition":

Clause 3 - Work is carried out in the respective territories to maintain their proper sanitary condition with a frequency according to the appendix (Clause 3 of the appendix - clearing snow and ice from all types of surfaces, treatment with anti-icing agents – as needed (during the winter period), in conditions of heavy snowfall, blizzards, and icy conditions – constantly, but at least once a day.).

Clause 5 - the dimensions (limits) of the corresponding territories when engaging legal entities and individual entrepreneurs to perform work on maintaining proper sanitary conditions are established based on the following parameters:

for land plots on which non-residential buildings (structures) are located, with the exception of objects for which this Regulation provides otherwise, - on the facade side of the building (structure) located along the street carriageway from the boundary of the land plot to the sidewalk (if it is absent, to the boundary of the street carriageway, road), on the other sides of the land plot, half the distance of the setback to the boundary of the adjacent land plot is fixed, but not more than 30 meters;

for land plots on which industrial facilities located along the street carriageway are located, - from the boundary of the land plot to the sidewalk (if it is absent, to the boundary of the street carriageway, road), on the other sides of the land plot, half the distance of the setback to the adjacent land plot is fixed, but not more than 30 meters, and if the land plot borders on lands of agricultural designation, environmental, health, recreational, historical and cultural designation, forest fund, - to the boundary of such lands, but not more than 5 meters from the boundary of the land plot;

for land plots on which gas stations, liquefied petroleum gas stations, car wash facilities, tire fitting workshops, and service stations are located, - within the range of 15 to 100 meters from the boundary of the land plot, as well as access roads and parking lots to these facilities.

For land plots provided to (used by) state-funded organizations, homeowners' associations, and organizations of apartment building developers, the sizes (limits) of the corresponding territories shall be determined along the perimeter within the boundaries of the land plots provided to them (in their possession).

- by the Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus of November 28, 2012 No. 1087 "On Approval of the Rules for Improvement and Maintenance of Populated Areas" (as amended by Resolutions of the Council of Ministers of May 25, 2018 No. 398, November 11, 2024 No. 824, May 16, 2025 No. 267):

cl. 26 - Territory maintenance during the winter period includes clearing of roadways and pedestrian paths from snow and ice, removal of snow and ice to designated snow storage sites approved in the prescribed manner, and is carried out in accordance with the mandatory requirements of technical regulatory legal acts regarding the operational condition permissible for ensuring road traffic safety.

cl. 29 - Street treatment with anti-icing agents, formation of snowdrifts with subsequent removal of snow and ice are carried out in accordance with approved and established street maintenance plans and technological maps for the execution of these works for a specific street or section of the street and road network, and as a rule, should be completed by 8:00 AM. In conditions of heavy snowfall, blizzards, and icy conditions, these works are carried out around the clock, ensuring normal and safe traffic and pedestrian movement to the maximum extent possible.

cl. 30 - Priority is given to works on treatment with anti-icing agents and clearing of roadways, sidewalks, and public transport stop platforms from snow and ice on street sections with steep slopes and public transport routes, narrow streets, as well as bridges, overpasses, transport tunnels, pedestrian crossings, and other areas where pedestrians and vehicles may accumulate.

cl. 31 - The width of a snowdrift formed on a street roadway must comply with the mandatory requirements of technical regulatory legal acts and should not exceed 1 meter, depending on the street category (number of traffic lanes, presence of central and side medians, barrier fencing).

cl. 32 - snowdrifts are cleared at intersections to the width of the intersection, at public transport stops - to the length of the boarding area, at pedestrian crossings - to the width of the pedestrian crossing, but not less than 5 meters, in places where drainage devices (catch basins) are located - not less than 1.5 meters.

cl. 33 - the formation of snowdrifts within public transport stops, pedestrian crossings, at intersections, as well as the movement of snow, including by vehicles, from the roadside to the roadway of the street is not allowed.

cl. 34 - in green areas:

snow removal and anti-icing treatment of driveways, areas, pedestrian paths (alleys) and adjacent sidewalks are carried out during working hours in the winter period from November 15 to March 15 from 7 to 16 hours, while the main transit pedestrian paths (alleys), stairs, ramps are cleared first by 8 hours, and in case of heavy snowfall, these works are carried out in a two-shift mode;

during icy conditions, pedestrian paths (alleys) are treated with clean sand without salt admixture, while the storage of clean snow, ice and snow-ice formations along the paths is allowed, and driveways and sidewalks are treated with anti-icing agents using sand with the removal of all types of snow, ice and snow-ice formations to snow storage areas.

cl. 35. all types of snow, ice and snow-ice formations removed from adjacent territories and driveways in residential areas are allowed to be stored in adjacent territories in specially designated and prepared places for these purposes, without obstructing driveways and pedestrian paths.

Clause 36 - cleaning of driveways in residential areas and adjacent territories shall be carried out at least twice a day. Priority shall be given to clearing driveways in residential areas and access roads to solid municipal waste collection sites, including those for bulky waste.

Clause 36-1. In case of vehicle parking on adjacent territories and driveways, legal entities and individuals, including individual entrepreneurs, shall ensure timely snow removal from the territory intended for vehicle movement and/or parking, at a distance of at least 1 meter from the vehicle, owned by them by right of ownership or other legal grounds.

Clause 37 - cleaning of all types of snow, ice and snow-ice formations from building roofs shall be carried out during daylight hours with the mandatory implementation of a set of measures ensuring safe working conditions, traffic and pedestrian movement, preservation of plantings and other property (overhead power lines, guy wires, advertising, traffic light objects, road signs, vehicles, etc.).

Clause 38 - all types of snow, ice and snow-ice formations removed from building roofs shall be promptly cleared by specialized organizations that performed the roof cleaning work.

We recommend carrying out anti-icing measures and snow removal from sidewalks and pedestrian areas opposite facilities during the winter season. We recommend that heads of facilities of all forms of ownership offer employees to assist services in clearing driveways and passages, sidewalks, pedestrian areas, porches, and steps of residential apartment buildings from snow and ice, including anti-icing measures.

Liability for violation of sanitary and epidemiological requirements is provided for in accordance with Article 17.5 of the Code of the Republic of Belarus on Administrative Offenses.

Liability for violation of the Rules for the Improvement and Maintenance of Settlements, approved by the Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus of November 28, 2012 No. 1087, is provided for in accordance with Part 2 of Article 22.10 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Republic of Belarus.

These documents can be found on the website of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Belarus http://minzdrav.gov.by/ru/dlya-spetsialistov/normativno-pravovaya-baza/tekhnicheskie-normativnye-pravovye-akty/teksty-tekhnicheskikh-normativnykh-aktov/index.php and on the official national legal Internet portal of the Republic of Belarus pravo.by https://pravo.by .

 

Assistant Hygienist Doctor                                                           K.O. Skornyakova