A Brief Glimpse On The Calgary Snow Removal Bylaws

 In all of Canada, Calgary has some of the tightest regulations for snow removal. In order to avoid penalties, property owners are required to remove snow and ice from public areas. Luckily, you can dump snow and ice that has been cleared from public land onto the road; however, the Calgary snow removal team advises against obstructing access points or crosswalks. This technique has the obvious benefit of allowing the City of Calgary to allocate more funds to other snow removal initiatives. 

The City of Calgary regularly carries out these rules. The following details are crucial to keep in mind: 

• After the snowfall ends, the snow needs to be removed within 24 hours.
• After the snowfall stops, there are no longer any noise limits on snowblowers and other snow-clearing machinery for 48 hours.
• The frequency of your fines will determine the total cost of each fine, which increases with time.

Which Areas Remain Under the Owner's Responsibility?

Calgary homeowners and property owners are accountable for removing snow and ice from public paths that border their own private properties. As a homeowner, you have to remove snow from your personal paths and drives.  Snow that has been removed from public spaces can be shoveled onto the street. Furthermore, snow that has been removed from your own property needs to be removed from another location on your land.

Which Areas Are Under the City's Authority?

The majority of other locations fall under the purview of the City, including pedestrian overpasses, priority roadways, walkways bordering city assets, and more. However, there are a few things that the City will not undertake. For example, they will not plow back alleyways or clear residential roads to bare pavement. 

Public organizations like Canada Post are required to shovel snow from the area surrounding communal mailbox pads as part of their assigned duties. In Calgary, both public and private schools are in charge of shoveling snow off the surrounding property.

Rules Associated With Snow Clearing

As previously mentioned, property owners are required to remove snow within 24 hours of a snowfall. Fines may result from failure to comply. Among these penalties are:

• Get Your Sidewalk Clear

It is mandatory for every landowner to make space for the pavement next to their property. Theoretically, it is the responsibility of the houses next to one another to clear the sidewalk of snow all the way up to the property line that faces the street.

• After the snowfall ends in a day: 

For any public sidewalk that borders your property, clear all snow and ice to the ground.

Clear the pavements that border your property of snow to a minimum of 1.5 metres in width. 

• Extra Guidelines: 

On your own land, pile snow from your personal driveway or path.

Snow can be shoveled onto a road from a public pavement or route.

• Limitations on Noise: 

Restrictions for snow removal equipment are waived 48 hours after the storm ends.

This covers snow plow vehicles, blowers, skid steers, and other machinery.

Restrictions are reinstated if snowfall lasts longer than 48 hours.

What Is Your Responsibility?

In Calgary, it is your duty as a homeowner to remove snow from the following areas: 

• Sidewalks that run alongside your property (at least 1.5 metres wide)

• Pathways and pavements bordering any rental properties you own

• It's optional to clear the snow that the plows have made, known as windrows.

Amount Of Penalty Issued By The City

If the bylaw is broken and subsequent notices from The City are not followed, the following consequences could occur: 

An invoice to you from The City for pavement clearance on their account. Minimum flat rate of $150 plus administration charge and GST. If the money is not paid in the allotted period, it will appear on your yearly property tax bill. For your first offense, you will be fined $250. Repeat offenders will pay double the initial fine and an additional $750 if they commit another offense within a year.

Bottomline

Although there are tight guidelines for snow removal in Calgary, you don't have to freak out. Refrain from listening to your neighbor's complaints about the snow and ice on your land. During the whole winter, hire a reputable lawn care Calgary service provider to ensure that your garage door, sidewalks, and pathways are free of snow within hours of it falling.