The Snow Clearing (Downtown) By-law provides that downtown businesses are responsible for removing all snow and ice from sidewalks in front of, alongside or at the rear of the building, premise or vacant lot before 10am, seven days a week.
Geographic Boundaries
Every owner or occupant of a building or premise adjoining any portion of the below street sections shall clear away and removal all snow and ice from the sidewalks in front of,
alongside or at the rear of the building before 10am of each and every day of the year:
- Dunlop Street East from Poyntz to Bayfield
- Dunlop Street West from Bayfield to High
- Mulcaster Street from the foot of Mulcaster at Lakeshore to Collier
- Owen Street from Dunlop E to Worsley
- Clapperton Street from Dunlop E to Collier
- West side of Bayfield Street from Simcoe to Ross
- East side of Bayfield Street from Simcoe to Worsley
- Maple Avenue from Simcoe to Ross
- Mary Street from Simcoe to Dunlop W
- North side of Simcoe Street from Bayfield to Fred Grant
- South side of Simcoe Street from Fred Grant to Dunlop E
- West side of Fred Grant Square from Simcoe to Dunlop E
- South side of Ross Street from Bayfield to Maple
- Collier Street from Bayfield to Mulcaster
Every owner of an unoccupied building or premise, or of a vacant lot adjoining any portion of the streets described above shall clear away and remove all snow and ice from the sidewalks in front of, alongside or at the rear of the building, premise or vacant lot before 10am of each and every day of the year.
Enforcement
By-law Enforcement officers commence patrols at 10am and provide warning notices to those who have not complied with the by-law. Those businesses or property owners must have the snow and/or ice cleared within 1 hour or a municipal contractor will clear the area, and the costs will be charged back to the property owner. The cost of the clearing and removal of any snow and ice is outlined in the provisions of the City's Fees By-law, as updated from time to time.
If there is 10+ cm on the sidewalk between 4am to 5am, City crews will attend to the sidewalks with a machine to assist. Due to the time of this snow removal, further snow or ice may have accumulated and business owners are still expected to ensure their sidewalks are free of snow and ice by 10am.