Clearing Snow & Ice from Your Property
The City provides mechanical sidewalk snow clearing in most parts of Toronto, however in the downtown core the city is unable to provide this service. View a map of sidewalk snow clearing in the City.
If you live in the downtown core where sidewalks cannot be plowed, residents and business owners are responsible for clearing the ice and snow from sidewalks adjacent to their properties within 12 hours of a snowfall. Clearing the ice and snow from the sidewalk in front of your home or business will make it safer for everyone. Failure to do so could result in a fine of $100.00 plus $25.00 surcharge, total $125.00 as per Municipal Code Chapter 719. Please contact 311 to report property owner who do not clear their sidewalk.
If you are a senior or person with a disability living in any area where sidewalks cannot be plowed and require the sidewalk snow clearing service, you may download the application form and submit it to us along with the required documentation. All participants already registered with the program will be automatically renewed. If you have any questions about the form, the service or are unable to print the form, please contact us at 311 (service available in parts of Toronto, York, East York, Etobicoke & North York wherever the City does not mechanically clear the sidewalks).
A detailed Sidewalk and Transit Snow Clearing Level of Service table is available for viewing.
The following district maps show what streets have their sidewalks mechanically cleared:
Here is a brief description of what you can expect and some helpful numbers to call if you require assistance.
- High pedestrian volume sidewalks will be cleared when the snow has stopped and the accumulation has reached two centimetres (approximately one inch). High pedestrian volume sidewalks are sidewalks on arterial roads, transit routes, near school zones and around accessibility locations.
- Low pedestrian volume sidewalks will be cleared when the snow has stopped and the accumulation has reached eight centimetres (approximately three inches). Low pedestrian volume sidewalks are sidewalks on local roads.
- Generally, it takes approximately 13 hours to clear high and low pedestrian volume sidewalks after a snowfall. However, depending on the severity of the storm, sidewalks may have to be cleared more than once.
- This service can take up to 72 hours after the snow has stopped.
- The service does not include the clearing of snow from driveways or private approaches (private sidewalks) leading to a residence.
- If your property is a corner lot, the sidewalk on the flank will not necessarily be cleared at the same time as the sidewalk at the front. This work is sometimes performed by different equipment.
- While every attempt is made to clear all the residences on the service within 72 hours, if your sidewalk has not been cleared after 72 hours after the end of a snowfall, please call 311 and staff will place your address on our “missed list” and crews will be scheduled to attend and clear the sidewalk.
Property owners are responsible for ensuring that all ice and snow is cleared, as per the City’s Property Standards Bylaw.
Applicable sections of the bylaw
629-20:
Every roof of a building and all its components shall be weather-tight and free from leaks, loose, unsecured or unsafe objects and materials, dangerous accumulation of ice and snow, and hazards.
629-23
Steps, landings, walks, driveways, parking spaces, ramps and similar areas of a yard shall be cleared of snow and ice within 24 hours of a snowfall to provide safe access and egress for persons and vehicles.
