Short answer: yes — in most Ontario municipalities you are legally responsible for clearing snow and ice from the sidewalk in front of your home and from your own property, within a set deadline, or you can be fined. The exact rules and timelines vary by city, so it is worth knowing your municipality's bylaw. Toronto's is a good example, and its deadlines and fines are typical of the stricter end. Here is what to know.
These rules exist because an uncleared walk is a real hazard — and a liability — so they are worth taking seriously.
Toronto's rules: the deadlines
Under the City of Toronto's winter maintenance bylaw:
- Sidewalks: residents and businesses are expected to clear the public sidewalk of snow and ice within 12 hours of the end of a snowfall (for smaller accumulations; the City mechanically clears many sidewalks after larger snows).
- Your own property — driveway, steps, ramps, and landings — must be cleared within 24 hours after snowfall ends, to keep safe access.
The fines
Toronto can issue a fine for failing to clear your property — currently in the range of a $455 penalty plus a $115 surcharge, about $570 total. On top of that, if the City decides a sidewalk is a hazard, it can send crews to clear it and bill you. There are also penalties for improperly storing shovelled snow, such as pushing it onto the road. (Fine amounts and rules can change, so confirm the current figures on the City's page.)
It is also a liability question
Beyond the bylaw fine, if someone slips and is injured on an uncleared walk or driveway on your property, you can be held liable. That civil exposure is often the bigger risk than the ticket, which is why keeping walks clear is not just about avoiding a fine.
Rules vary — check your municipality
Toronto's timelines and fines are not universal. Mississauga, Vaughan, Oakville, and other GTA municipalities each have their own snow-clearing bylaws, deadlines, and sidewalk-clearing arrangements — some clear residential sidewalks mechanically, some do not. Look up your own city's winter maintenance page for the rule that applies to you.
How a snow service helps
The simplest way to stay on the right side of the deadline is to not rely on being home and able to shovel within 12 or 24 hours. A seasonal service clears your driveway, walkway, and steps on schedule after each storm — often before 7 a.m. — which keeps you compliant and safe. How that runs is in our snow removal process, and what to look for in a service is in choosing a snow company. For the broader picture, see our Toronto snow removal guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I legally have to shovel my sidewalk in Toronto?
Yes — residents are expected to clear the public sidewalk within 12 hours of the end of a snowfall, with the City mechanically clearing many sidewalks after larger snows. Your own property must be cleared within 24 hours.
What is the fine for not clearing snow in Toronto?
Currently around $570 in total for failing to clear your property (a $455 penalty plus a $115 surcharge), and the City can also bill you if it has to clear a hazardous sidewalk. Confirm current amounts on the City's site.
How long do I have after it stops snowing?
In Toronto, 12 hours for the sidewalk and 24 hours for your own property. Other municipalities set their own deadlines, so check locally.
Can I be sued if someone slips?
Yes, you can be held liable for injuries on an uncleared walk or driveway on your property. That liability is often a bigger concern than the bylaw fine.
Do these rules apply outside Toronto?
Similar rules apply across most Ontario municipalities, but the deadlines, fines, and whether the city clears sidewalks vary. Check your own city's winter maintenance bylaw.
Want to stay clear of the deadline without watching the clock? Home Bros clears driveways, walkways, and steps across the GTA on a reliable schedule, every property treated like our own. See how our snow removal works and get a quote.