When cold weather is forecasted, our essential workers in Engineering services begin planning consistent and coordinated efforts for snow and ice treatments on priority routes around the city.
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We have over 100 vehicles and equipment for snow and ice treatment along with 3000 tonnes of salt at our yards, and hundreds of personnel available to deploy as required.
Our priority locations for snow and ice treatment are:
- Major roads
- Bus routes
- Emergency access routes (including five major hospitals and two health care facilities)
- Bridges and viaducts (roads, sidewalks, and staircases)
- School routes
- Four key pedestrian pathways
- False Creek Seawall (from Burrard Bridge south side to north side)*
- Coal Harbour Seawall (from Burrard St to Alberni St)
- Arbutus Greenway
- Central Valley Greenway*
*Sections of these routes are adjacent to private property and are cleared by the property owner as per the Street and Traffic By-law
- 16 most-used bike routes
- Arterial bus stops and corner ramps
The following are not included in our snow response:
- Residential side streets (excluding locations on priority routes)
- Sidewalks adjacent to non-City owned property
- Laneways (unless required for City collection operations)
We'll treat locations as resources allow to reduce further impact.
The Vancouver Park Board
The Vancouver Park Board’s snow and ice control schedule ensures major park access roads, primary parking areas, and perimeter and direct internal park pathways in the downtown area are maintained.
Shovel your sidewalk
Vancouver property owners and occupants are responsible for removing all snow and ice from the full width of sidewalks in front of and, if on a corner lot, alongside their property each day by 10am when there is snow on the sidewalks or freezing temperatures.
Note If you don't clear snow and ice by 10am the next day after snowfall, you may get a $250 fine. If snow and ice stays there for over 24 hours, the fine could be $750.
To keep our sidewalks and streets safe for people walking, cycling, and driving:
- Shovel snow onto your property, away from the road and sidewalk by 10am every day
- Clear storm drains of leaves and snow to prevent flooding
- Ask someone to clear your sidewalk if you're away or unable to or request a Snow Angel
Owners and occupants who fail to remove snow and ice according to Traffic By-law 2849, section 76 may be subject to escalating tickets, fines, or both.
There is no requirement in the by-laws for snow to be cleared from private property, whether residential or commercial.
Important note On March 31, 2021, City Council approved recommendations to increase the priority for pedestrians during winter weather including:
- Establishment of Winter Priority Sidewalks designation
- Improvements to section 76 of Traffic By-Law 2849, to support increased safety and compliance
- Formalization of a Snow and Ice Treatment Policy PDF file (110 KB), which communicates the expected level of snow and ice treatment the City will provide during winter weather conditions
Review the Council report PDF file (379 KB), the Snow and Ice Treatment Policy PDF file (110 KB), and Traffic By-law 2849, section 76 below for more information.
