Snow and ice on the sidewalk: who Toronto says has to clear it

First snowfall is usually weeks away, but winter is when a building's maintenance habits get tested in public. Before you sign a lease or make an offer, it's worth knowing who is actually responsible for the sidewalk — and where to look if a property has a track record.

What the City says

The City of Toronto's sidewalk clearing page (updated July 2026) lays out the basics:

• Public sidewalks: when snowfall is under 2 cm, residents and businesses are responsible for the sidewalk next to their property, within 12 hours of the end of the snowfall. At 2 cm or more, the City handles it.
• Private property: driveways, parking spaces, steps, and ramps should be cleared within 24 hours after snowfall ends.
• Fines: pushing snow onto a sidewalk, road, or bike lane is prohibited — the City lists a $500 fine plus a $110 victim surcharge.
• Reporting: call 311 to report an owner who hasn't cleared a sidewalk or private property.

The City also says it now clears roughly 98% of sidewalks citywide, including direct service for seniors and people with disabilities, with no separate assistance program needed.

Timelines and fine amounts can change. Confirm on toronto.ca before relying on them.

Tenant or landlord?

The City's page doesn't spell out who, between a landlord and a tenant, carries the duty. Generally, the property owner is the one the City looks to, and in an apartment building that means the landlord or property manager. Your lease may say something different for a house or a basement unit — so ask, and get the answer in writing.

Why this belongs in your due diligence

One missed shovelling won't tell you much. A pattern will. Snow and ice complaints go through 311 and can show up as bylaw investigations, alongside maintenance complaints about stairs, railings, and lighting — the things that cause real falls.

• Check the investigation history for repeated complaints in winter months.
• Look for escalation. A complaint that becomes an Order to Comply means the polite phase didn't work. See Bylaw investigations: the paper trail before an order.
• Ask about the plan. Who clears the walkway? Is there a contractor? Who do you call after hours?

Questions to ask before you commit

• Who is responsible for clearing the walkway, steps, and driveway in writing?
• Is there salt or sand provided, and where is it stored?
• Are the entrance lights and handrails in working order now, before the dark months?
• Has the building had maintenance complaints or orders in past winters?

Check the record

Pull up any address's bylaw investigations and orders & violations to see what the City has on file, or start with the property snapshot. If you've already moved in, monitor the address so a new complaint or order lands in your inbox.

Investigation and order records come from City of Toronto open data via PropertyMonitorTO.