Public Service Announcement

Sidewalk Snow and Ice Removal in the Former City of Halifax

(January 18, 2005)-- Many residents of the HRM including school children, seniors, persons in wheelchairs and those with other difficulties depend on cleared sidewalks for their safe, outdoor mobility. In light of recent snow events, the HRM reminds property owners in the former city of Halifax, with the exception of District 10 Clayton Park West, District 15 Fairview-Clayton Park, and District 16 Rockingham-Wentworth, that they must keep their sidewalks clear of ice and snow.

Part One of By-Law S-300 requires property owners to enable pedestrian traffic by:

• clearing snow and ice from all sidewalks abutting their property. In cases where a residential property has frontage on both the front and the rear, snow and ice must be removed from the front sidewalk where the civic address is posted.

• clearing a path between the sidewalk and any crosswalk. A crosswalk is implied at every intersection whether there are lines painted for the crosswalk or not.

• clearing snow and ice from sidewalk curb cuts so that pedestrian traffic can move through the intersection from one sidewalk to the opposing sidewalk.

Sidewalks must be cleared to bare pavement for a minimum width of three feet. Snow and ice removal must be completed within 12 hours after the end of any snowfall, or six(6) hours after daylight, when the snow has stopped falling during the night.

Property owners in violation of Part One of By-Law S300 will receive a notice advising them that their sidewalk must be cleared within 24 hours. Failure to comply with the notice will result in the HRM removing the snow and ice, and issuing an invoice to the property owner for the cost of the removal. Repeat offenders may be issued a Summary Offense Ticket (SOT) of $215.00 or greater.

To register a sidewalk snow and ice removal complaint, please call the HRM Corporate Call Center at 490-4000.

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John O’Brien
Corporate Communications Officer
(902) 490-6531