Sidewalk Snow Removal

The City of St. Catharines delivers snow and ice clearing to three subsets of the sidewalk network: sidewalks that exist on bridge overpasses; single-width sidewalks that directly abut travelled lanes (such as where there is no area for snow storage) and sidewalks abutting municipally owned lands (such as parks, facilities). Sidewalk winter maintenance on the balance of the network is delegated, in accordance with By-law 2008-315, to the adjacent property owners.

The City also has a program to provide sidewalk snow removal for seniors or individuals with physical disabilities.

View our map identifying the sidewalks the City conducts snow removal

When will the sidewalks be cleared?

The same City staff that plow your roads, also take care of the sidewalks. Therefore, most sidewalk operations do not begin until plowing of the main roads has been completed. From a practical point of view this avoids pushing snow from the road onto previously cleared sidewalks. All efforts are made to ensure sidewalks are cleared 48 hours after the end of a snowfall, but generally clearing begins within 24 hours.

In general, the first priority for the City’s sidewalk tractors is the Downtown core, and as resources are freed up from the roads, tractors are dispatched across the balance of the City. The specific order of deployment will vary based on each snowfall event and prevailing ground conditions.

Community staircases and school crossing guard locations are the priority for manual snow removal.

Property Owners

If you are a property owner in the City of St. Catharines, it is your responsibility to clear the full width of sidewalks. You must clear to bare pavement the front of, beside of and at the rear of your property within 24 hours after a snow or ice event.

Report an unclear sidewalk

If you believe a street or sidewalk has not been cleared to meet our service response targets, please fill out our Snow Removal Reporting Form. We will review after priority snow-removal efforts have been completed.

Snow Removal Reporting Form

Fines for not clearing sidewalks

If you do not clear your sidewalks within 24 hours, property owners will be fined for every meter of sidewalk that is not clear. View our current Rates and Fees for the most up-to-date rate for clearing.

The City’s by-law department will follow up to clear the snow and ticket as required. An owner will be given notice to clear within 12 hours of the City of St. Catharines by-law visiting the property. View our Sidewalk Snow Removal By-Law to learn more.

Snow removal assistance program

The City will help remove snow from your sidewalk with you are a senior or person with physical disabilities and own a property in the City. The service consists of snow removal from City sidewalks fronting and abutting your home. This is not for removal of snow from windrows created by snowplows, driveways, or any walkway to a home.

This program does not cover driveway clearing or the snow that is built up at the end of the driveway or private walkways.

How to apply

Any homeowner can apply to be on the program, but they must reside on that property. Complete our Sidewalk Snow Removal Application Form to enrol in the program. This form must be filled out by the homeowner and signed by a doctor.

This clearing program is run in conjunction with a city approved organization. There are currently upwards of 650 applicants on the list, so time of completion varies based on volume of snow.

Please submit your application by the last Friday of November.

Property damages

If you believe a city vehicle is responsible for damage on your property after a snowfall, please submit a claim for property damage in writing to:

City of St. Catharines

PO Box 3012, 50 Church St.

St. Catharines, ON, L247C2

You must describe:

What was damaged
How it happened
Date and time of occurrence
Names of contractor / equipment / operators (where possible)

Sidewalk snow removal tips

To make it easier to clear snow on your sidewalk, you can:

Shovel as soon as possible after a snow fall
Spread salt onto the sidewalk to prevent snow from sticking to the concrete
Spread sand in low temperatures (below -12 degrees Celsius) to allow for traction until the temperature rises enough for salt to be used.

Snow removal around bus shelters

The St. Catharines Transit Commission is responsible for clearing snow around bus shelters. Contact the commission at info@yourbus.com or call 905.687.5555.

Snow removal around Canada Post mailboxes

Canada Post is responsible to clear snow around their post boxes and community mailboxes. You can request snow clearance online via the Canada Post website.

Friendly reminder from the Accessibility Advisory Committee

Winter can be a difficult time for persons with disabilities to get around the community. People who use mobility devices along the sidewalks, accessible parking spaces and connecting pathways when snow and ice are on the ground. Your attention to the clearing of snow and ice, and in keeping these areas safe and accessible is greatly appreciated.