Calgary property owners must clear snow and ice from every public sidewalk bordering their property down to the bare surface within 24 hours after snowfall ends. For a qualifying public pathway that runs parallel and directly adjacent to a street, clear at least 1.5 metres of its width to the bare surface within the same period. These requirements come from the City of Calgary’s snow and ice bylaw guidance and Street Bylaw 20M88, section 67.
This guide was checked against those City sources on September 14, 2026. It is a practical summary for Calgary homeowners and residential landlords, not legal advice or a substitute for the bylaw.
How Calgary’s 24-hour snow-clearing clock works
The 24 hours begin when the snowfall ends, not when it starts. The legal standard covers both snow and ice, and the required result is the bare surface rather than only a narrow track through the accumulation.
Start by identifying every public sidewalk that borders the property. Also identify any bordering public pathway that runs parallel and directly adjacent to a street; for that type of pathway, the minimum cleared width is 1.5 metres. The recorded City sources do not state a special corner-lot rule or exemption, so the useful approach is to assess every bordering sidewalk and qualifying pathway instead of assuming that only one side matters.
An engineered walkway—a thoroughfare between private properties—is different. The City says no one is required to clear an engineered walkway, and section 67 applies to public sidewalks and pathways that run parallel and directly adjacent to a street. The distinction matters when deciding which nearby route falls within the property owner’s snow-clearing obligation.
Where shovelled snow may go
The placement rule depends on where the snow came from. Under the City’s explanation of the bylaw:
- Snow removed from a private driveway or private walkway must stay on the owner’s property.
- Snow removed from a public sidewalk or public pathway may be placed in another public space, such as a road.
Separate from that formal placement rule, the City gives good-neighbour guidance. It asks residents not to pile shovelled snow where it blocks road access, in a crosswalk, on a storm drain or in a neighbour’s yard. That is City guidance for considerate placement; it should not be confused with the bylaw wording above.
What happens after a missed deadline
The City describes two different financial consequences: a fine issued to a property occupant and an invoice issued to an owner after City-arranged clearing. They are not the same charge.
Fines for an occupant
According to the City’s snow-bylaw page, a property occupant may receive a $250 fine for a first offence, $500 for a second offence, and $750 for a third or further offence within 12 months. Repeat offences may require a court appearance. The City also says unpaid fines are collected by Alberta Registry Service when a driver’s licence or vehicle registration is renewed.
Notice, City clearing and an owner invoice
If an owner does not clear the sidewalk after receiving a City notice, the City clears it and invoices the owner. The City states that the invoice is a minimum of $150 plus GST and an administration fee. An unpaid invoice is added to the owner’s property tax bill.
Because the fine applies to an occupant while the clearing invoice applies to an owner, a rental property can involve different people and different consequences. Keeping the clearing arrangement explicit helps avoid a missed handoff, but it does not transfer the owner’s responsibility under the City’s guidance.
Responsibility at a rental property
A residential landlord who owns the property but lives elsewhere remains responsible for ensuring that bordering public sidewalks and qualifying pathways are cleared, regardless of who performs the work. A tenant, contractor or other person may do the physical clearing, but the City’s guidance leaves responsibility with the property owner.
For a practical winter plan, identify the surfaces covered by the rule, decide who will check when snowfall has ended, and make sure there is a backup if the usual person cannot clear within the 24-hour window. The legal target remains the same: snow and ice removed to the bare surface, with at least 1.5 metres cleared on an applicable pathway.
What the City clears—and what it does not
The City’s responsibilities are not a blanket service for every sidewalk or access point. Its snow-bylaw page says the City does not clear residential back lanes, sidewalks bordering private homes or businesses, or engineered walkways between homes. Schools are responsible for sidewalks beside their property, and Canada Post is responsible for snow around community post office boxes.
For homeowners, the key distinction is the property boundary and the type of route. A public sidewalk bordering a private property, or a qualifying public pathway beside it, falls within the owner-clearing rules summarized above. An engineered walkway between private properties does not carry the same section 67 clearing requirement.
Do homeowners have to clear windrows?
No. On its snow-bylaw page, the City says it does not clear windrows left across driveways or parking spaces and that property owners are not required to clear them. Owners may remove a windrow when they need access, but that choice should not be described as a snow-bylaw duty.
This point is narrower than the obligation for bordering public sidewalks and qualifying pathways. Clearing a windrow for access does not replace the separate requirement to clear the covered sidewalk or pathway within 24 hours after snowfall ends.
How snow and ice complaints work
The City accepts snow-bylaw complaints through 311 or its online reporting channel. A complaint may be submitted only after 24 hours have passed since the last snowfall, and anonymous complaints are not accepted. Before reporting, use the snowfall-end time rather than the time snow first started when assessing whether the 24-hour period has elapsed.
Practical help available from the City
The City’s Snow Angels program encourages residents to help neighbours who cannot shovel. The City does not match residents with volunteers and does not provide its own shovelling service through that program.
During winter, the City also makes a free sand-salt mixture, called pickle, available at City sandbox locations. It is for individual use, available on a first-come, first-served basis, and supply is not guaranteed.
Homeowner snow-clearing checklist
- Note when the snowfall ends; that is when the 24-hour period starts.
- Identify every public sidewalk bordering the property.
- Identify any bordering public pathway that runs parallel and directly adjacent to a street.
- Remove both snow and ice to the bare surface.
- On a qualifying pathway, clear at least 1.5 metres of width.
- Keep snow from a private driveway or walkway on your own property.
- When moving snow from a public sidewalk or pathway, follow the City’s placement rule and good-neighbour guidance.
- For a rental property, confirm who will clear and who will provide backup while recognizing that the owner remains responsible.
- Do not mistake an engineered walkway or a windrow for a surface the snow bylaw requires an owner to clear.
Official source note
Rules and amounts in this guide are attributed to the City of Calgary and were checked on September 14, 2026. For the City’s current summary, complaint instructions and enforcement details, read Bylaws related to snow and ice. For the governing wording, see Street Bylaw 20M88. Check the official sources for later changes.
Want help with residential snow clearing?
Readers who want help keeping up with residential snow clearing in Calgary can check Omnia’s residential snow-removal service and request a residential snow-removal quote.