Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 719, Snow and Ice Removal — full text

This is the exact embedded text of the captured official document. Snapshot 9b935ea5fb05 · verified 2026-06-10 · original document · archived snapshot · unofficial consolidation, the official version is held by the municipal clerk.

TORONTO MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER 719, SNOW AND ICE REMOVAL 719-1 June 16, 2022 Chapter 719 SNOW AND ICE REMOVAL § 719-1. Definitions. § 719-2. Time limit for removal of snow and ice from sidewalks. § 719-3. Removal from sidewalks by city; recovery of costs. § 719-4. Removal from structures. § 719-4.1. Removal from steps, landings, walks, driveways, parking spaces, ramps, and yard - private property. § 719-5. Moving snow onto streets. § 719-6. Offences. § 719-7. Use of the word "highway." § 719-8. Transition [HISTORY: Adopted by the Council of the City of Toronto 1999-07-29 by By-law No. 530- 1999. Amendments noted where applicable.] General References Traffic and parking - See Ch. 950. Highway Traffic Act - See R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8. Municipal Act - See R.S.O. 1990, c. M.45. § 719-1. Definitions. As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated: BUILDING - Includes the land and premises appurtenant to the building. § 719-2. Time limit for removal of snow and ice from sidewalks. A. Every owner or occupant of any building must, within 12 hours after any fall of snow, rain or hail has ceased, clear away and completely remove snow and ice from any sidewalk on any highway in front of, alongside or at the rear of the building. B. After the removal of snow and ice, if any portion of the sidewalk becomes slippery from any cause, the owner or occupant must immediately and as often as necessary apply to TORONTO MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER 719, SNOW AND ICE REMOVAL 719-2 June 16, 2022 the sidewalk ashes, sand, salt or some other suitable material so as to completely cover the slippery surface. C. Subsection A does not apply to an owner or an occupant of a building where, pursuant to City of Toronto policy, the City of Toronto has undertaken the responsibility to clear away and completely remove snow and ice from the sidewalk on the highway in front of, alongside or at the rear of the building at that location. [Added 1999-11-25 by By-law No. 776-1999] § 719-3. Removal from sidewalks by city; recovery of costs. A. Where snow and ice resulting from any fall of snow, rain or hail has not been removed from a sidewalk situated on a highway in front of, alongside or at the rear of any occupied or unoccupied building or vacant lot, within 12 hours after the fall of snow, rain or hail has ceased, the General Manager of Transportation Services for the City of Toronto or designate or successor may, at the expense of the owner of the building or vacant lot, clear away and remove the snow and ice, including the remediation of any slippery sidewalk. [Amended 2020-12-18 by By-law 1162-2020] B. The General Manager of Transportation Services for the City of Toronto or designate or successor must keep an account of all expenses incurred in doing the work and of the building or vacant lot in respect to which the work was done. [Amended 2020-12-18 by By-law 1162-2020] C. The expenses incurred in doing the work may be collected or recovered from the owner of the building or vacant lot in any manner, including the manner provided by section 386 of the City of Toronto Act, 2006. [Amended 2020-12-18 by By-law 1162-2020] § 719-4. Removal from structures. A. The owner or occupant of any building which fronts or abuts on or is erected near to a highway, from which snow or ice may fall upon the highway, must, whenever snow or ice accumulates upon any portion of the building to an extent that is dangerous to the public using the highway, sidewalk or lane way, cause the snow or ice to be immediately removed from the building. B. The owner or occupant must take proper care and precaution for the warning and the safety of the public using the highway, sidewalk and lane way, during the removal of the snow and ice. § 719-4.1. Removal from steps, landings, walks, driveways, parking spaces, ramps, and yard - private property. [Added 2022-06-16 by By-law 594-2022] A. As used in this section, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated: TORONTO MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER 719, SNOW AND ICE REMOVAL 719-3 June 16, 2022 OCCUPANT - Any person or persons over the age of 18 years in possession of the property. OWNER - Includes: (1) The person for the time being managing or receiving the rent of the land or premises in connection with which the word is used, whether on the person's own account or as agent or trustee of any other person, or who would receive the rent if the land and premises were let; and (2) A lessee or occupant of the property who, under the terms of a lease, is required to repair and maintain the property in accordance with the standards for the maintenance and occupancy of property. PROPERTY - A building or structure or part of a building or structure, and includes the lands and premises appurtenant thereto and all mobile homes, mobile buildings, mobile structures, outbuildings, fences and erections thereon whether heretofore or hereafter erected, and includes vacant property. YARD - The part of the lot unoccupied by the main building and includes vacant land. B. The owner or occupant of a property must clear steps, landings, walks, driveways, parking spaces, ramps and similar areas of a yard of snow and ice within 24 hours of a snowfall in order to provide safe access and egress for persons and vehicles. C. The owner or occupant must take proper care and precaution for the warning and the safety of the public during the removal of the snow and ice. D. After the removal of snow and ice, if any portion of the steps, landings, walks, driveways, parking spaces, ramps and similar areas of a yard becomes slippery from any cause, the owner or occupant must immediately and as often as necessary apply ashes, sand, salt or some other suitable material so as to completely cover the slippery surface. § 719-5. Moving snow onto streets. No property owner, occupant or other person shall move or permit to be moved snow or ice from private property onto a highway, sidewalk or lane way. § 719-6. Offences. [Amended 1999-11-25 by By-law No. 776-1999] Every person who contravenes any provision of this chapter is guilty of an offence and on conviction is liable to a fine as provided for in the Provincial Offences Act.1 1 Editor's Note: Under section 61 of the Provincial Offences Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. P.33, a person convicted of an offence is liable to a fine of not more than $5,000. TORONTO MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER 719, SNOW AND ICE REMOVAL 719-4 June 16, 2022 § 719-7. Use of the word "highway." The meaning of the word and expression "highway" where used in this chapter shall have the same meanings attributed to the word and expression by the Highway Traffic Act, and amendments and successors thereto. § 719-8. Transition A. Despite this chapter, By-law No. 211-74 of the former Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto, being a by-law "To regulate the use of Metropolitan Roads," Chapter 304, Snow and Ice Removal and § 313-3 of Chapter 313, Streets and Sidewalks, of the Municipal Code of the former City of Toronto, Chapter 223, Snow and Ice, of the Municipal Code of the former City of Etobicoke, By-law No. 701 of the former Borough of East York, being a by-law "For the removal of snow and ice from public sidewalks," By-law No. 1381 of the former Borough of East York, Chapter 838, Snow Clearing - Sidewalk and Chapter 1004, Street, of the Municipal Code of the former City of York, By-law No. 1212-71 of the former Borough of York, By-law No. 3343-79 of the former Borough of York, By-law No. 17117 of the former City of Scarborough, By-law No. 21621 of the former City of North York, being "A By-law to prohibit or regulate the obstructing, encumbering, injury or fouling of highways," and By-law No. 5630 of the former City of North York (collectively referred to as the "other Snow and Ice Removal By-laws") and any and all provisions therein shall remain in force until expressly repealed. B. In the event of any conflict between any one or more of the other snow and ice removal by-laws and this chapter, this chapter shall govern. [Amended 1999-12-16 by By-law No. 891-19992] 2 Editor's Note: This by-law provided that § 719-8B shall be effective on the earlier of: (a) the date that the City Solicitor files a notice in the office of the City Clerk that the City of Toronto has received from the Regional Senior Justice of the Court of Ontario approved set fines for the offences set out in City of Toronto By-law No. 530-1999, as amended, being a by-law "To Provide for Snow and Ice Removal;" and (b) February 4, 2000.