In Grande Prairie, Traffic Bylaw C-1166 s. 38.1 requires the sidewalk beside a residential property to be cleared within 24 hours of the most recent deposit of snow or ice. The specified residential fine is $100.
What Grande Prairie's Bylaw Requires
Section 38.1 requires the owner or occupant of a residential property to remove snow and ice from the sidewalk beside the property within 24 hours of the most recent deposit. This includes:
- Snow accumulation from any source, including city plows
- Ice buildup from freeze-thaw cycles
- Packed snow that becomes a slip hazard
"Adjacent" means the sidewalk that runs alongside your property line. Corner lots have two sides to clear. If the city plows push snow onto your sidewalk, you're still responsible for clearing it.
The 24-Hour Clock
The 24-hour clock runs from the most recent deposit of snow or ice. That is the wording in City of Grande Prairie Traffic Bylaw C-1166 s. 38.1.
What Happens If You Don't Comply
- Residential property: $100 fine under s. 38.1
- Snow from a commercial or industrial property placed on a road or other public property: $1,000 fine under s. 37.1A
- Municipal clearing: if you consistently fail, the municipality may clear it and bill the owner
Why It's Harder Than It Sounds
Grande Prairie averages 162.2 cm of snow a year across about 56 days with measurable snowfall, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada's 1991–2020 Climate Normals for Grande Prairie A.
For seniors, shift workers, or anyone with a corner lot, staying compliant through an entire winter is a real challenge.
How a Seasonal Contract Solves It
A seasonal sidewalk clearing plan gives PWW responsibility for clearing the front public sidewalk on each qualifying visit. Service is documented with timestamps for your records.
Grande Prairie property owners remain responsible for meeting the bylaw, and documented service helps show when clearing was completed.
Related: how commercial snow removal contracts work and what they cost