Yes, It’s Important to Clear Snow and Ice from Sidewalks Bordering Your Property
Winter is here, and more snowfall is in the forecast for this weekend. To help ensure winter operations run smoothly and efficiently, the City of Calgary is reminding you that shovelled snow does NOT belong on the road. In fact, it’s against the law to place it there.1 Under the Calgary Traffic Bylaw 26M962, shoveling snow or ice onto the road is illegal. This also applies to your contractors! If you have hired a contractor to plow your laneway or sidewalk, ensure they are licensed with the City and that they do not leave snow on the road from their removal.
The City of Calgary plows and salts main road sidewalks, residential sidewalks, crosswalks, school crossings, and pathways within parks; however, the sidewalks in front of houses and along your property are your responsibilities as a homeowner to salt and clear. The City’s Snow and Ice Control Policy3 states you are responsible for removing snow and ice from sidewalks that border your property to ensure your neighbors can walk safely on a clear path without fear of slipping on ice or snow. A fine of up to $500 may be issued to those who do not comply with the bylaws.
Working Together to Ensure Snow Operations Run Smoothly
Winter operations are a shared responsibility. You play an important role in helping the City clear snow and ice. With more snow in the forecast, be sure to follow these tips:
- Keep parked cars off the street while snowplows are out to assist the City in ensuring streets are cleared properly and safely. On-street parking is not permitted at any time when snowplows are clearing the streets. Crews cannot effectively clear roads and laneways with cars parked along them. As outlined in the City’s Parking Bylaws, on-street parking that interferes with snow-clearing operations is prohibited. Vehicles found in violation may be subject to a fine or towed at the owner’s expense.
- Remove anything from your property that may interfere with or be hazardous to plow crews. This includes landscaping features, such as fencing, basketball nets, decorative stones, pots, bird baths, furniture, and more. These items should not be within 30 centimeters of a sidewalk or one meter of a street curb.
- Stay off the roads during a heavy snowstorm unless travel is essential. You can also use Calgary Transit to get around the city during inclement weather.
- Clean snow off all vehicle surfaces before driving and keep a safe distance from snowplows and salting equipment.
- Set waste bins back from the curb approximately one meter on the right-hand side of your driveway, where possible (when facing the home). They should never be placed on top of or behind snowbanks.
- Keep fire hydrants clear and accessible (one meter all around). Blocked, concealed, or difficult-to-access fire hydrants can slow down emergency fire response. Citizens who have a fire hydrant on their property or City property adjacent to theirs are responsible for ensuring the hydrant is always visible and unobstructed.
- Help keep catch basins clear of snow and ice to prevent flooding during temperature fluctuations, if it’s safe to do so.
By following these guidelines, you can help ensure that winter operations run smoothly and efficiently in Calgary. Let’s work together to keep our sidewalks safe and our streets clear this winter.
Picture Credit
Mitchell Smith, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Citations
- Clear Snow and Ice from Sidewalks Bordering Your Property – Don’t Shovel It Onto the Road Link: City of Calgary Blog Post ↩︎
- Calgary Traffic Bylaw 26M96 Link: Calgary Traffic Bylaw 26M96 ↩︎
- City of Calgary Snow and Ice Control Policy Link: City of Calgary Snow and Ice Control Policy ↩︎
