Does the City of Toronto clear my sidewalk?

When 2 cm or more falls, yes: City crews plow nearly all public sidewalks. When less than 2 cm falls, Chapter 719 makes it your job within 12 hours. We leave the sidewalk out of Toronto quotes so you are not paying for what the City does.

How fast do I have to clear my own driveway and steps in Toronto?

Within 24 hours of a snowfall under section 719-4.1 of the Municipal Code. A seasonal contract exists so you never have to think about that clock.

Can you pile snow on the road at the end of the driveway?

No. Moving snow from private property onto a road, sidewalk or bike lane is prohibited under 719-5 and currently carries a $610 fine. Snow stays on your property, stacked where we agree at the site check.

Residential street in Toronto after snowfall

City of Toronto

Snow Removal in Toronto

Toronto is the one GTA city where the sidewalk is mostly not your problem any more. Since 2022 City crews plow nearly every public sidewalk once 2 cm falls. Your driveway, walk and steps are still yours, and Chapter 719 puts a clock on them.

Get a seasonal price Get a seasonal price

Flat seasonal price, confirmed before the first snow.

The Toronto sidewalk rule and your quote

Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 719 sets two clocks. Snow and ice on private property, meaning steps, landings, walks, driveways, parking spaces and ramps, must be cleared within 24 hours of a snowfall (section 719-4.1, added June 2022). The public sidewalk beside your building is only your job when less than 2 cm falls, and then within 12 hours of the snow stopping; at 2 cm or more the City plows it, roughly 98 percent of sidewalks citywide. Pushing snow onto a road, sidewalk or bike lane is a separate offence under 719-5 with a current set fine of $610 including the victim surcharge. Our Toronto quotes therefore leave the sidewalk out by default and price the driveway, walk and steps.

The properties we see most in Toronto

Toronto driveways are the smallest in the GTA and the hardest to reach: mutual drives shared between semis in the old wards, single-car pads squeezed beside a front porch, and laneway garages behind the house where the plow never goes. Steps to a raised front door are the norm from the Danforth to Bloor West. The City clears a three-metre opening in plow windrows on eligible residential streets, so a Toronto contract is mostly about shovel work, steps and the mouth of a mutual drive rather than a wide apron.

Neighbourhoods we quote

Downtown and the waterfront
East York and the Danforth
Leaside and Davisville
The Annex and Bloor West
Junction and Roncesvalles
Riverdale and Leslieville
Midtown and Yonge–Eglinton

Services in Toronto

Toronto, answered

Does the City of Toronto clear my sidewalk?: When 2 cm or more falls, yes: City crews plow nearly all public sidewalks. When less than 2 cm falls, Chapter 719 makes it your job within 12 hours. We leave the sidewalk out of Toronto quotes so you are not paying for what the City does.
How fast do I have to clear my own driveway and steps in Toronto?: Within 24 hours of a snowfall under section 719-4.1 of the Municipal Code. A seasonal contract exists so you never have to think about that clock.
Can you pile snow on the road at the end of the driveway?: No. Moving snow from private property onto a road, sidewalk or bike lane is prohibited under 719-5 and currently carries a $610 fine. Snow stays on your property, stacked where we agree at the site check.