Published 19 September 2026 · By Jatin Dua, Broker of Record, RE/MAX Quantum Realty
Toronto property owners must clear snow and ice from the sidewalk in front of their property within the time set by the bylaw, even where the City’s machines run, and the windrow across your driveway is yours unless you qualify for the City’s assistance service. Slip-and-fall claims have a short notice period, so keep a record of when you cleared and salted.
Winter brings the same three questions every year: who shovels, how fast, and who is liable if someone falls.
Sidewalks
Toronto operates mechanical sidewalk clearing across much of the city, but homeowners are still responsible for clearing snow and ice from the sidewalk in front of their property within the time the bylaw sets after a snowfall ends. Where the machines can’t reach, the responsibility is entirely yours. Do not shovel snow from your driveway onto the road: that is a separate offence.
Windrows and driveways
The snow ridge a plow leaves across your driveway is yours to clear in most of the city. The City runs a windrow clearing service for eligible seniors and people with disabilities who apply and qualify; applications typically open in the autumn.
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Parking during a snow event
When the City declares a major snow storm condition, parking restrictions apply on snow routes and vehicles can be ticketed and towed so plows can get through. Check the City’s alerts before leaving a car on the street overnight after a big storm.
Liability if someone falls
Ontario law sets a short notice period for claims about injuries caused by snow or ice, and both occupiers and contractors can be on the hook. Practical protection looks like this:
- Clear and salt promptly, and keep doing it through freeze-thaw cycles.
- Keep a simple log of when you cleared and salted.
- If you hire a contractor, get their insurance certificate and keep the contract.
- Make sure your home or landlord insurance liability limit is adequate.
Renters, landlords and condos
In a rental, responsibility for snow clearing should be set out in the lease, and a landlord cannot simply offload maintenance obligations they are required to meet. In a condo, the corporation clears common elements, but exclusive-use areas such as a townhouse porch may be the owner’s job. Check the declaration.
The takeaway
Clear promptly, salt through freeze-thaw, keep a log and check your liability limits; in a rental or condo, confirm in writing who is responsible.
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Frequently asked questions
Do I have to shovel the sidewalk in Toronto?
Yes, property owners are responsible for clearing the sidewalk in front of their property within the timeframe set by the bylaw, even where the City’s machines operate.
Who clears the windrow at the end of my driveway?
The homeowner, except for eligible residents accepted into the City’s windrow service.
Can I be sued if someone slips on my walk?
Yes. Ontario law also requires written notice of such claims within a short period, so keep records of your clearing.
Who shovels at a rental property?
Whatever the lease says, within the landlord’s maintenance obligations under Ontario law.
Sources
- City of Toronto — winter maintenance — sidewalk clearing, windrows and snow routes
- Occupiers’ Liability Act — notice requirements for snow and ice claims
Related reading
- Selling a House in Winter in Toronto: Pros, Cons and a Checklist
- Landlord Insurance in Ontario: Coverage, Gaps and What It Costs You to Skip
- Mould in a Home in Ontario: Buyer Checks, Seller Duties and Real Fixes
- Condo Boards and AGMs in Ontario: How Decisions Get Made and How to Have a Say
About the author — Jatin Dua, Toronto and GTA real estate broker
I am Jatin Dua, Broker of Record and co-founder of RE/MAX Quantum Realty Inc., Brokerage, Unit 101, 799 The Queensway, Etobicoke. I work with buyers and sellers across Toronto and the GTA, with deep local knowledge of the west end. Four-plus years of active GTA transactions and over $100 million in sales volume. Every market figure here comes from TRREB’s published tables and every rule from RECO or Ontario legislation, so you can check all of it without asking me.
Reach me at connect@jatindua.com or 833-330-1925, or book a call.