Bylaws related to snow and ice

Calgary winters are safer and more manageable when everyone pitches in to clear snow and ice. While The City does its part clearing roads, designated pathways, sidewalks and other high-use public areas, section 67 of the Street Bylaw requires Calgary property owners to:

• Remove snow and ice – down to the bare surface – from public sidewalks bordering their private property within 24 hours of a snowfall ending.
• Remove a minimum width of 1.5 meters of snow and ice – down to the bare surface – from a public pathway bordering their property, also within 24 hours of a snowfall ending. Applicable pathways run parallel and adjacent to a street, with or without separation between the pathway and street (e.g. a grass boulevard).
• Pile snow from their private driveway or walkway on their property (e.g. front lawn). Snow from a public sidewalk or pathway may be shoveled onto another public property, such as a road.

See below for further details and penalty information. Or download the Street Bylaw (Section 67) for the full set of regulations for snow and ice control

There is a night-time snow clearing relaxation that allows the operation of an engine-powered snow clearing devices for commercial and non-commercial removal of snow and ice from streets, parking lots and sidewalks.

Bylaw exemption details:

• The relaxation begins with the start of the snowfall (or rain/freezing rain) and ends 48 hours after it has stopped. This means anyone is allowed to operate a motorized snow clearing device (including leaf and snow blowers) during this time.
• The purpose of this relaxation is to ensure walkways, parking lots, and streets are cleared to reduce likelihood of accidents and/or injury and to improve accessibility.
• Use of this equipment is always allowed during the day. Outside of the relaxation, night use of snow clearing equipment is not permitted.

For more information, download the Community Standards Bylaw​ (Sections 31.1(e) and 31.1(2)).

Property owners/occupants who do not comply with the bylaw and subsequent notices issued by The City may be subject to:

• An invoice to the property owner from The City for clearing the sidewalk on their behalf. The cost is a minimum flat rate of $150 plus GST and an administration fee. The amount will be added to the owner's annual property tax if not paid by the invoice due date.
• A fine of $250 to the property occupant for a first offence. Repeat offenders may be fined $500 for a second offence and $750 for a third offence, and each offence after that within 12 months. Tickets issued to repeat offenders may require a court appearance. The Alberta Registry Service will collect unpaid fines at the time of license or registration renewal.

If you know of a snow and ice bylaw infraction and would like to report it, please call 311 (from within Calgary) or 403-268-CITY (2489) (from outside Calgary), use the 311 app or online below.

To help us respond faster, please be ready with the following information:

• Your name and address.
• A primary and alternate phone number.
• The address and exact location of the property for which you wish to register a complaint.
• A brief and concise description of the complaint.
• Note: 24 hours must have elapsed since the last snow fall within the City of Calgary before you can submit a complaint.

This information will remain confidential. No anonymous complaints will be accepted - you must identify yourself with the 311 service representative. To report other snow/ice issues, please visit our Snow and ice concerns page.

Learn more about filing a bylaw complaint and the process.