With the first snow of the season hitting the city this week, there’s a risk of being given a hefty bill. But don’t worry, here’s everything you need to know about Calgary’s snow shovelling fines.
According to the City of Calgary bylaws, property owners must clear the sidewalks adjacent to their homes within 24 hours of the last snowfall.
If they fail to do so, they may be on the hook for a minimum of $150 for the city to clear the area for you — though a first-time offence can also carry a fine as high as $250.
Repeat offenders will see a $500 fine for a second offence and a $750 fine for a third offence, and each one after 12 months.
Given that the city has already had its first snowfall of this year’s winter, you might want to keep an eye on your sidewalk as the weather starts to get colder.
The rule comes from the City of Calgary Street Bylaw section 67, stating that “The owner or occupant of a private parcel of land adjacent to a sidewalk or pathway that runs in front of the property or along the side of the property where:
(a) Such sidewalk or pathway runs parallel to and directly adjacent to a street
(b) Such sidewalk or pathway runs parallel to and adjacent to a street, where the pathway or sidewalk and street are separated only by a grassed or otherwise covered boulevard
… shall remove ice and snow from that portion of the sidewalk or pathway adjacent to the parcel so that the sidewalk or pathway is cleared to the bare surface within 24 hours after the ice and snow has been deposited.”
And if you fail to do your civic duty? Well, depending on how many complaints you get, the City of Calgary will eventually come around to clear it for you – at a minimum flat rate of $150, a hefty price to pay to get out of a few minutes of work.
It should also be noted that anyone who paid the big bucks to get themselves a piece of motorized snow-clearing equipment can use it at any time within 48 hours after snowfall ends—with no worries about noise complaints during that grace period.
Of course, there are people who are incapable of doing the shovelling themselves, and the city offers a few community-based snow removal programs to help you out if you need it.
You could always give the kid down the street a $10 ($20?) bill to clear the sidewalk, driveway, and walkway, but we’ll leave those negotiations in your hands.
If you do notice a portion of the sidewalk that may not have been cleared in the 24 hours after a snowfall, you can call 3-1-1 to report the property… or do a neighbourly good deed by pulling out that shovel – it’s entirely up to you!