Sidewalk snow clearing rules in Canada by city

In most Canadian cities, the owner or occupant must clear the public sidewalk beside a property, and the deadline ranges from 10 a.m. in Vancouver, Victoria and Surrey to 12 hours in Toronto and 24 hours in Calgary. Fines run from $55 a day in Surrey to $250 in Vancouver and Calgary for a first ticket.

Updated Oct. 29, 2026

Rules are set by each city, not by the provinces, and they differ sharply. Some cities, including Winnipeg and most of Halifax, plow residential sidewalks themselves. We read each city’s own page or bylaw for this guide. Where a city’s page did not state a deadline or fine, the table says so rather than guessing.

Key facts: sidewalk snow rules by city

How long do I have to shovel my sidewalk in Calgary?

Calgary’s snow and ice page says snow and ice must be removed, down to the bare surface, from public sidewalks bordering private property within 24 hours of a snowfall ending. Owners of rental properties are still responsible if they live elsewhere.

The city says it can clear the sidewalk and invoice the owner a minimum flat rate of $150 plus GST and an administration fee, which is added to the property tax bill if unpaid.

What is the snow shovelling rule in Edmonton?

Edmonton asks owners to remove snow and ice “as soon as possible”, especially during continuous snowfall and freeze-thaw cycles, according to the city’s sidewalk snow page. It says failing to maintain sidewalks “could result in a $100 fine plus the cost of snow removal.” The page gives no hour-based deadline. The city clears sidewalks only around public schools, bus stops and city facilities.

What are the rules in Vancouver, Surrey and Victoria?

Metro Vancouver and Victoria use a morning deadline instead of a number of hours. Vancouver requires owners and occupants to clear the full width of the sidewalk by 10 a.m. each day when snow is present, under Traffic By-law 2849. Missing 10 a.m. the next day after snowfall can bring a $250 fine, and the city says it could be $750 if snow and ice stays for more than 24 hours. Corner lots must also clear the side alongside the property.

Surrey says to clear sidewalks before 10 a.m. after a snowfall. After a notice goes unanswered, fines are $55 a day for a resident and $80 a day for a business. Surrey asks people to shovel snow onto the lawn, not the street.

Victoria requires an owner or occupier to clear the sidewalk by 10 a.m., with a fine of $125 per ticketed offence per day. The city says environmentally friendly ice melt can be used and that corrosive products, including rock salt, are not acceptable.

What are the rules in Regina and Saskatoon?

Regina gives owners 48 hours after the snow stops falling, and 24 hours for properties in Schedule B of the Clean Property Bylaw, which the city says is mostly downtown. Under Bylaw No. 9881, a property owner who does not comply may receive a notice of non-compliance, after which the city can clear the sidewalk and add the cost to the property taxes. The page does not state a fine amount.

Saskatoon’s sidewalk clearing page says home or business owners are responsible for the sidewalk around their property. We could not confirm a deadline or fine from the page, so check the city before relying on a number.

Do I have to shovel the sidewalk in Winnipeg?

Not under the documents we could read. Winnipeg’s Snow Clearing and Ice Control Policy has city crews plow sidewalks, with operations on priority sidewalks completed within 36 hours after a 5-centimetre snowfall triggers plowing. We found no owner duty to clear snow from public sidewalks in the policy or in the Neighbourhood Liveability By-law, which covers garbage on sidewalks and snow only on roofs. The by-law also limits snowblower hours.

What are the rules in Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal?

Toronto’s winter maintenance page says residents and businesses clear sidewalks within 12 hours of the end of a snowfall when less than 2 cm falls. When 2 cm or more falls, city crews clear public sidewalks, which can take up to 72 hours after the snow stops. Residents must keep shovelled snow on their own property, and the city lists a $500 fine plus a $110 victim surcharge for snow that is not stored there.

Ottawa’s Property Maintenance By-law 2005-208 requires owners and occupants to keep roofs and surrounding lands free of snow and ice that could create an accident hazard. We could not read the city’s sidewalk plowing page, so we cannot say which sidewalks residents must clear.

Montreal’s private property page says owners must clear the main entrance and the parking entrance, and that snow must not be pushed onto the sidewalk or street. It states no deadline or fine.

What is the rule in Halifax?

The Halifax Regional Municipality’s By-law S-300 says owners in the core area must clear abutting sidewalks to bare pavement within 12 hours after a snowfall ends, or six hours after daylight if the snow stops overnight. The fine is $100 to $5,000.

The municipality’s common questions page says it clears public sidewalks across the region and that residents clear their own driveways and pathways. The two documents are not reconciled, so confirm with the municipality which applies on your street.

What does a missed deadline cost? A worked example

Say snow stops falling at 8 p.m. on a Monday in Calgary. You have until 8 p.m. Tuesday. If you miss the deadline three times in 12 months, the fines listed by the city are $250, then $500, then $750, a total of $1,500. In Vancouver, snow that falls overnight must be cleared by 10 a.m., and a $250 ticket is possible if you miss 10 a.m. the next day. In Toronto, a 1-centimetre snowfall that ends at 6 a.m. should be cleared by 6 p.m.

Where can I put the snow?

Cities agree on one point. Surrey says to shovel onto your lawn, Toronto says store snow on your property, and Regina says do not shovel or blow snow into the road. Vancouver says to shovel onto your property, away from the road and sidewalk. Calgary allows shovelled sidewalk snow to go onto another public space such as a road. Check your own city before you pile snow at the curb.

For related winter rules, see our guides to winter parking bans in Canada, how to shovel snow safely and how to de-ice a driveway and walkway.

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Sources: City of Calgary; City of Edmonton; City of Vancouver; City of Surrey; City of Victoria; City of Regina; City of Saskatoon; City of Winnipeg; City of Toronto; City of Ottawa; Ville de Montreal; Halifax Regional Municipality. City pages were read Oct. 29, 2026. Rules change, so confirm with your city before relying on a deadline or fine.