Sidewalk Snow Clearing | City of Hamilton

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How to File

By-law Complaint for Snow

If a property owner or occupant doesn't clear their snow or ice of sidewalk within 24 hours after the end of the snow event, you can call us to file a complaint.

Call 905-546-2489

Complete an Online Complaint Form

Your Responsibilities for Clearing Snow/Ice

The City of Hamilton’s Snow and Ice By-law No. 03-296 requires property owners and/or occupants to clear snow and ice within 24 hours after the end of a snow event from:

sidewalks adjacent to their property
roofs that overhang the City sidewalk

Snow clearing will be activated when accumulation is 5 cm or greater and cleared to a snow packed end condition with de-icing material as needed.

Help a neighbour, friend or family and assist those who are not able to clear the snow.

Where You Shouldn't Place Snow/Ice

For safety reasons, when clearing snow and ice, property owners and occupants must ensure that the snow and ice is not placed:

Immediately beside or blocking access to a fire hydrant
In such a manner that it would block drainage to any drain, sewer catch basin or culvert
On a road or boulevard as it could interfere with traffic, cause an accident and can result in a ticket (By-law #86-77)

As snow and ice builds up on the street, clearing the area around catch basins (sewer grates), curbside gutters and drainage ditches will help to prevent flooding and property damage.

Consequences for Violations

Failure to remove and clear snow and ice may result in one or all:

A Notice to Comply issued (A “Notice to Comply” is a document provided to the property owner/occupant that gives direction on what actions need to be taken)
Charges up to $5,000 under the Provincial Offences Act, in addition to other court proceedings necessary to obtain compliance
Fee for inspection costs added to your property taxes
The City removing the snow and the costs being added to the property taxes

Property owners of vacant properties are responsible to ensure sidewalks are cleared of snow and ice.

When clearing your driveway, consider the direction of travel of the snow plow. Move snow to the side of your property that the plow finishes on so less snow will be spread back across the driveway.
Do not blow or place snow onto the roadway. Blow or place snow onto the boulevard or your own front/ side yard.
Keep children off snow banks to prevent them from slipping into the path of vehicles and equipment. Do not let children tunnel into snow banks. The snow can collapse or be pushed back by snow plows.
On your waste collection day, make sure your garbage container, blue boxes and green cart are visible. Do not place items on top of snow banks or behind snow banks where the waste collectors cannot see them.
If it is windy on your garbage day, secure your recyclables so that items do not blow away. Place heavier items on top of lighter items. (For example, place magazines or catalogues on top of loose paper). This prevents litter on your neighbourhood streets and properties when the snow melts.
Keep your vehicles off the road during and immediately following a snowfall. This ensures thorough ploughing of roadways and prevents your vehicle from being plowed in.

City Responsibilities for Sidewalks

The City currently clears 397 km of sidewalks across Hamilton including: sidewalks adjacent to municipally owned property, private lots which do not face the road (reverse frontage lots), Ancaster, and sidewalks adjacent to school property, owned by the Public School Boards, in conjunction with City of Hamilton By-law No. 03-296 on a charge-back basis.

The implementation of service enhancements will add 469 km of sidewalk, bringing the total amount where sidewalk snow clearing activities will be conducted to 866 km.

COMING IN WINTER 2022/2023
Beginning in November 2022, the City will implement a level of service enhancement for sidewalk snow clearing along Priority 1 roadways as well as Priority 2A roadways where transit operates and all transit stops. This level of service enhancement will further aid residents in accessing transit options City-wide during the winter months.

Enhanced Service Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Background & Timeline

Property Damage or Injury

Residents are invited to view the City’s interactive Sidewalk Snow Clearing Map to see which areas across Hamilton are included as part of the upcoming service level enhancements.

Winter Sidewalk Snow Clearing Map

See which roads classify as transit routes and are therefore included as part of the upcoming level of service enhancement.

What are Priority 1 and Priority 2A roadways?

Roads are plowed based on priority. The first priority is main routes and escarpment crossings. The second priority is collector roads and the third priority is neighbourhood streets.

Priority 1 roadways include major arterial roads and escarpment accesses. King Street and Main Street are considered examples of Priority 1 roadways.
Priority 2A roadways are considered primary collector roads. Whitney Avenue and Stinson Street are considered examples of Priority 2A roadways.

Learn more about winter class priorities of streets, residents (LINK)

Come winter 2022/2023, how many kilometers of sidewalks will be cleared as part of the City’s sidewalk snow removing service?

Beginning in winter 2022/2023 the City will clear 866 km of sidewalk, including:

Sidewalks on municipally-owned property
Along reverse frontage lots
Formerly Ward 12 in its entirety
Sidewalks adjacent to school property, owned by either the Public or Private School Board, in conjunction with By-law No. 03-296
All Priority 1 roadways
Priority 2A roadways where transit operates.

Will the City clear snow from sidewalks along all Priority 1 and Priority 2A roadways?

The City will clear snow from sidewalks along all Priority 1 roadways, however, only Priority 2A roadways where transit operates will be cleared.

What is the target completion time for sidewalks on Priority 1 roadways and Priority 2A roadways along transit routes?

Contractors must complete snow removal within 24 hours of the cessation of a winter storm event, or within 24 hours of the cessation of a series of consecutive winter storm events.

What is the target surface condition for plowed sidewalks?

The end condition of plowed sidewalks will be snow packed. De-icing materials will be applied as required depending on weather conditions.

My property doesn’t fall into one of the existing or new service routes? What are my responsibilities as a property owner?

The City of Hamilton’s Snow and Ice By-law No. 03-296 will still require property owners and/or occupants to clear snow and ice within 24 hours after the end of a snow event from:

Sidewalks adjacent to their property
Roofs that overhang the City sidewalk

In early 2020, Council directed staff to explore the challenges and benefits associated with universal sidewalk snow removal across Hamilton. Due to the restrictions of in-person consultation as a result of COVID-19, the City postponed the Sidewalk Snow Clearing Engagement Project until the launch of Engage Hamilton, an online platform used to effectively gather online feedback on City of Hamilton projects, policies and initiatives, in lieu of in-person consultation. Over the course of 2020, staff and Council worked to determine service level changes and timing for the level of service enhancements to take place.

February 2020 - Council directed staff to explore challenges and benefits associated with universal sidewalk snow removal across Hamilton
August to September 2020 - Public engagement window open to public via the Engage Hamilton Sidewalk Snow Clearing Project page
November 2020 - Staff presented engagement results to Council and presented three options for service level changes
April 2021 - Council approved the level of service enhancements under Scenario 2, which involves maintaining sidewalks that are located along all Priority 1 and Priority 2A roadways where transit operates, and directed staff to prepare an implementation plan to proceed
November 2021 - Council approved implementation plan with Forest Ridge Landscaping Inc. as the successful proponent of the Request for Tender Contract using the planned routes provided, to commence in the 2022/2023 winter season
November 2022 - Under the approved level of service enhancement, approximately 469 km of sidewalks will be added, bringing the total amount where snow clearing activities will be conducted to 866 km.

Public Works Committee

https://pub-hamilton.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=295084

If you have experienced property damage or injury which you feel is related to City of Hamilton snow clearing efforts you can make a claim to the City.

Submit a Claim for Injury

You may submit a written claim within 7 calendar days of the incident to:

City of Hamilton
Office of the City Clerk
71 Main Street West
Hamilton, Ontario L8P 4Y5

Your claim must include:

Your name, address and phone number
Date and time of the incident
Location
What damage or injury occurred as a result of the fall

An investigation starts when we receive your claim. You will receive a written reply in the mail to let you know they received your claim. A decision on your claim is made when all of the information has been reviewed. You are advised of the decision as quickly as possible. Payment of a claim is contingent upon legal liability on the part of the City.

To discuss the claims process, contact:
Risk Management Services
Call 905-546-4242 ext. 5742

Date modified

September 01, 2022