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Snow clearance in Kitchener–Waterloo

Snow removal firms and roofers.

11 pros in Kitchener–Waterloo

In Kitchener, snow clearance is partly a matter of bylaw. Property owners must clear snow and ice from the sidewalks around their property within 24 hours of a snowfall and keep them at bare pavement. If a complaint leads a bylaw officer to find the sidewalk not clear, you get another 24 hours, after which the City may hire a contractor and add the cost to your property tax bill. Parking on city streets is also not allowed during a snow event, and officers actively enforce it. Waterloo Region has also seen heavy ice: the December 2013 storm cut power to more than 50,000 hydro customers. So when you hire, ask whether the service covers sidewalks as well as the driveway, and how fast the crew responds after a snowfall, since your 24 hours start then. Ask where they put the snow, so it does not end up on the street, and get the terms for each visit or for the season in writing. If you need extra support, ask the City about its assisted clearing programme first.

Source: CBC News (source, opens in a new tab)

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What to know in Kitchener–Waterloo

  • At its peak, the 2016 ice storm in Waterloo Region put about 31,000 hydro customers out of power. That included 7,000 in Cambridge and North Dumfries, 8,000 in Kitchener and Wilmot, and 16,000 in Waterloo, Wellesley and Woolwich.

    CBC News (source, opens in a new tab)

Before you hire

  1. Put it in a written contract: the work, price, deposit, start and finish dates, warranty, permits and clean-up. Paying cash to skip it leaves you no recourse.

    Source: ised-isde.canada.ca (source, opens in a new tab)

  2. Ask about liability insurance and workers’ compensation cover before anyone works on your roof or property.

    Source: ised-isde.canada.ca (source, opens in a new tab)

  3. Get written quotes from at least three contractors for the same work, and check references from recent clients.

    Source: ised-isde.canada.ca (source, opens in a new tab)

Questions about hiring in Kitchener–Waterloo

How soon do I have to clear my sidewalk in Kitchener?

You must clear snow and ice from the sidewalks around your property within 24 hours of a snowfall and keep them at bare pavement. If an officer finds it not clear after a complaint, you get another 24 hours. After that the City may hire a contractor and add the cost to your tax bill. City of Kitchener (source, opens in a new tab)

Can my contractor leave a vehicle on the street while plowing?

Plan around the rule that you cannot park on city streets during a snow event. Bylaw officers actively enforce it in Kitchener. Ask any contractor where equipment will be kept while working, and make sure your own vehicles are off the street before a storm. City of Kitchener (source, opens in a new tab)

What should a snow removal quote or contract include?

Ask for the areas covered, such as driveway, walkway and sidewalk, and what snowfall triggers a visit. Get the response time after a storm, where snow will be piled, how it is billed, and the contractor's proof of liability insurance. Put everything in writing before the season starts.

Is there help with clearing if I cannot do it myself?

Kitchener has an assisted sidewalk and windrow clearing programme for residents who need extra support. For each approved client, the City or its contractor clears the sidewalk and the windrow at the end of the driveway within 24 hours after a snowfall of more than 2.5 cm. City of Kitchener (source, opens in a new tab)

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