Home › Blog

Calgary's Sidewalk Snow Bylaw: What You Must Clear, and By When

GG Calgary · October 28, 2026

The first real snowfall of the season always brings the same question: how long do I actually have to get the sidewalk done? In Calgary, the answer is clear, and it applies to almost everyone who owns property in the city. This guide covers what the rule says, who it applies to, where the snow is allowed to go, and how to keep your home or business on the right side of it all winter.

Everything below is based on the City of Calgary's own page, Bylaws related to snow and ice, which summarizes section 67 of the Street Bylaw. Rules can change, so it's worth checking that page for the latest version.

The short version: 24 hours, down to bare pavement

Under section 67 of Calgary's Street Bylaw, property owners must remove snow and ice from the public sidewalk bordering their property down to the bare surface within 24 hours of a snowfall ending.

Two details in that sentence matter more than people expect:

• "Down to the bare surface." A quick pass that leaves a packed, icy layer doesn't meet the standard. The goal is sidewalk you can see, not a thin crust of snow that turns into a skating rink by evening.
• "Of a snowfall ending." The clock starts when the snow stops, not when it starts. If it snows lightly for two days, the 24 hours begins after the last of it falls. The City's bylaw FAQ notes that it uses Environment Canada reporting to decide when a snowfall has ended.

Pathways count too

Many Calgary properties border a pathway rather than a standard sidewalk. The City's rule covers these as well. If a public pathway runs parallel and next to a street beside your property, you must clear a minimum width of 1.5 metres, down to bare surface, also within 24 hours of the snowfall ending. This applies whether the pathway sits right against the street or is separated from it by a grass boulevard.

If you're not sure whether the strip beside your home counts, look at how it runs. A pathway that parallels the street is generally covered. The City also notes that nobody is required to clear walkways between homes.

Who is responsible: owners, occupants and landlords

The rule is written for property owners, but the City makes a few practical points about who answers for what:

• Homeowners are responsible for the sidewalk and pathway bordering their property.
• Businesses and commercial owners follow the same rule. The City's FAQ says commercial and residential owners are both responsible for their sidewalks.
• Landlords who live elsewhere are still responsible for making sure the sidewalks beside their rental properties are cleared, no matter who actually does the shovelling.
• Occupants can be fined if the sidewalk isn't cleared in time, while the owner is the one who receives any City invoice for clearing.

For property managers and owners of rental homes, it's worth putting snow clearing in writing. Whether a tenant, a caretaker or a contractor handles it, you want a clear answer to "who is clearing this, and when?"

Where you can (and can't) put the snow

This is where a lot of well-meaning people get tripped up. The City's rules are:

• Snow from your private driveway or walkway stays on your property, for example on your front lawn.
• Snow from the public sidewalk or pathway may be shovelled onto other public property, such as the road.

The City also asks residents, in the spirit of being good neighbours, not to pile snow on a road in a way that blocks access, into a crosswalk, on top of a storm drain, or into a neighbour's yard. Keeping storm drains clear is especially helpful in Calgary, where a Chinook can turn a snowbank into running water in an afternoon.

What about windrows and the City's own sidewalks?

The ridge of snow a City plow leaves at the end of your driveway is called a windrow. According to the City, it does not clear windrows, and you can clear them when it suits you. The City says its crews try to keep them small, and that it reduces windrows at 500 crosswalks and wheelchair curb ramps within 72 hours of a snowfall ending.

The City clears sidewalks that border City-owned property, designated pathways and other high-use public areas. If the sidewalk in front of your home or business borders private property, it's yours to clear.

What happens if the sidewalk isn't cleared

Enforcement usually starts with a complaint. Residents can report a private sidewalk that hasn't been cleared within 24 hours through 311. Complaints can't be filed until 24 hours have passed since the snowfall ended.

From there, the City's process generally looks like this:

1. A bylaw officer inspects the sidewalk.
2. If it isn't cleared, the owner gets a notice with a deadline to clear it.
3. If the notice isn't acted on, the City has the sidewalk cleared and invoices the property owner. Unpaid invoices can be added to the property tax bill.
4. Separately, the occupant may be fined, with higher fines for repeat offences within 12 months.

The City lists the current invoice and fine amounts on its snow and ice bylaw page. The simplest way to avoid all of it is to have a plan before the first storm.

Making the 24-hour rule easy

A 24-hour window sounds generous until it snows overnight on a work day, or you're away for a long weekend, or your commercial property has a long frontage on two streets. A few habits help:

• Clear in stages during long snowfalls. Shovelling a few times during a heavy storm is far easier than tackling one deep, packed layer at the end.
• Get to bare pavement early. Snow that gets walked on packs into ice quickly, especially when temperatures swing.
• Use traction or ice control where needed. On slopes, steps and shaded spots, a light application of sand or an ice-control product helps keep the surface safe after clearing.
• Plan for travel. If you'll be away, arrange for a neighbour or a service to take care of it.
• Commercial owners: walk your whole frontage. Corner lots, side streets and pathways along the edge of a property are easy to miss.

Why it matters beyond the bylaw

Uncleared sidewalks force people with strollers, wheelchairs and walkers onto the road, and icy patches are a real hazard for older neighbours. For businesses, a clear, safe front walk is also the first impression customers get, and it reduces slip-and-fall risk on your property.

Need a hand keeping up this winter?

GG Group offers residential and commercial snow removal across Calgary, including sidewalks, driveways, walkways and parking lots, with ice control when you need it. If you'd rather not watch the clock after every snowfall, we're happy to talk about a plan that fits your property.

Email service@ggcalgary.ca with the subject "Snow removal quote", or call (403) 474-9100.

Frequently asked questions

How long do I have to clear my sidewalk in Calgary? You have 24 hours after a snowfall ends. The City says sidewalks bordering your property must be cleared of snow and ice down to the bare surface within that window.

Do businesses have to follow the same rule as homeowners? Yes. The City's snow and ice rules apply to commercial and residential property owners alike. Landlords who live elsewhere are still responsible for the sidewalks next to their rental properties.

Can I push snow from my driveway onto the road? No. Snow from your driveway or private walkway has to stay on your own property, such as your front lawn. Snow from the public sidewalk or pathway can go onto other public property, like the road.

Source: City of Calgary, Bylaws related to snow and ice (Street Bylaw, section 67). Checked October 2026.