Under section 67 of Calgary’s Street Bylaw, you must clear snow and ice from the public sidewalks bordering your property, down to the bare surface, within 24 hours of the snowfall ending. Fines are $250 for a first offence, $500 for a second, and $750 for a third within 12 months.
Every winter we meet Calgarians who genuinely didn’t know the sidewalk in front of their house is their responsibility. It’s City property, after all. Doesn’t matter: the bylaw puts the shovel in your hands. As a family business that clears sidewalks for a living, we’ve read the rules closely, so here’s what the bylaw actually says, what it costs to ignore, and what your options are.
What exactly does Calgary’s snow bylaw require?
The City of Calgary’s Street Bylaw (section 67) requires property owners to remove snow and ice from public sidewalks bordering their private property within 24 hours of a snowfall ending. Two details trip people up:
- “Down to the bare surface.” A quick scrape that leaves a packed layer doesn’t count. The concrete needs to show. After a Chinook melt-and-refreeze, that packed layer turns to ice, which is exactly what the bylaw is trying to prevent.
- The clock starts when the snow stops. Not when it starts falling, and not when you first notice it. If it stops snowing Tuesday at 6 p.m., your deadline is Wednesday at 6 p.m.
Corner lots get the short straw here: you’re responsible for every metre of public sidewalk touching your property, on both streets.
What are the fines for not shovelling in Calgary?
Calgary moved to straight fines a few years back, and they escalate for repeat offences within a 12-month period. Here’s the current structure, straight from the City:
| Offence | Cost |
|---|---|
| First offence | $250 |
| Second offence (within 12 months) | $500 |
| Third and subsequent offences (within 12 months) | $750 |
| City clears it for you | Minimum $150 flat rate + GST + administration fee |
| Scoop, Cut N’ Shovel year-round subscription (incl. daily snow removal & ice management) | $179.99/month |
| Typical Calgary per-visit clearing (market range) | $35–$85/visit |
Worth letting that sink in: one missed sidewalk costs more than a full month of professional service that also handles your driveway, your ice, and (in our case) your lawn come summer. Two missed sidewalks in one winter costs $750. The math has never favoured procrastination less.
How does enforcement actually work?
It’s complaint-driven. A neighbour, a letter carrier, or anyone walking by can report an uncleared sidewalk to 311, and Calgarians file thousands of these complaints every winter. A bylaw officer then comes out to inspect. If your sidewalk isn’t cleared, you can be fined, and if it stays uncleared, the City can send a crew and bill you for the work on top of everything else.
The practical takeaway: you’re not playing odds against a patrol schedule. You’re playing odds against every person who walks past your house, including the ones pushing strollers through your snowdrift.
Why does the City care so much about sidewalks?
Because falls on icy sidewalks send Calgarians to the hospital every single winter, and seniors and people using mobility aids get hit hardest. A wheelchair can’t power through 10 cm of packed snow. An icy patch that’s a minor slip for you can be a broken hip for the retired neighbour two doors down. We clear a lot of sidewalks for exactly that reason: adult kids who book service for their parents’ place so nobody has to worry.
What are your options for staying compliant?
Do it yourself. Free, good exercise, entirely legitimate. The catch is the 24-hour window doesn’t pause for business trips, night shifts, bad backs, or a week in Mexico in February. Every absence needs a backup plan.
Pay per visit. Typical Calgary rates run $35–$85 a visit. Good for the occasional big dump, but you still have to notice the snow, book the service, and hope they get to you inside your window.
Put it on autopilot. Our year-round maintenance subscription is $179.99/month and includes daily snow removal and ice management, so your sidewalks are cleared to bare pavement without you tracking a single forecast. Same subscription covers spring clean up, summer cuts with trimming and edging, and fall clean up. One bill, zero bylaw anxiety, all year.
We’re a Calgary family business, so if you just want a one-time dig-out after a storm, we do those too ($90–$277 depending on the job). Call or text Alex at 403-818-5973 or see everything we offer on our services page.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to clear my sidewalk in Calgary?
24 hours from when the snowfall ends, under section 67 of the Street Bylaw. Sidewalks must be cleared down to the bare surface, not just scraped.
How much is the fine for not shovelling in Calgary?
$250 for a first offence, $500 for a second, and $750 for a third or subsequent offence within 12 months. The City can also clear it and invoice you a minimum of $150 plus GST and an admin fee.
Am I responsible for the City-owned sidewalk in front of my house?
Yes. Calgary’s bylaw makes property owners responsible for public sidewalks bordering their property, including both frontages on corner lots.
Who clears sidewalks if I’m away for the winter?
The bylaw still applies while you’re away, so you’ll need a neighbour, family member, or a service. Scoop, Cut N’ Shovel’s $179.99/month subscription includes daily snow removal and ice management so travel never becomes a bylaw problem.