Before Burnaby’s first snow: who clears the sidewalk and when

What to know before setting out

Work out who will clear each sidewalk before a forecast turns into a morning rush. This includes multi-family and business properties, not just detached houses. Ask the building manager which route the contractor covers.

Pile cleared snow on the property or boulevard, not the road. Leave a metre between collection bins and cars or snowbanks so collection has room. Snow clearing is easier to arrange when tools and help are ready before the event.

The reporting page says requests made during active snowfall will be closed without action. Give a location, condition and useful detail after the allowed period instead of expecting the report form to be an emergency snow service. The city’s wording differs slightly between pages, so do not turn it into a claim that every flake must be gone during a continuing storm.

Source: City of Burnaby: resident snow responsibilities

Source: City of Burnaby: report an uncleared sidewalk

Before you leave

• Agree on responsibility and have a shovel and suitable de-icer ready.
• Plan a different trip if the usual hill or drive is unsuitable.
• Clear sidewalks and keep snow out of the road.
• Use the report form only after snowfall and the stated deadline.

Source: City of Burnaby: resident snow responsibilities

Source: City of Burnaby: report an uncleared sidewalk

A narrow clear path can still be a difficult path

The January 2024 discussion disagreed about forecasts and road preparation. Some drivers with winter tires still described trouble on hills. These are dated experiences, but they make early planning more useful than relying on a mild-weather routine.

A December 2024 sidewalk discussion described crowded narrow routes, missing links and places where walkers had to go single file. Other replies credited recent work at corners and bus stops. That was a wider debate about walking infrastructure, not a current snow-clearance report. It helps explain why a small extra obstruction matters to someone using a walker, wheelchair or stroller.

Snow clearing is one part residents can act on. Removing only enough snow for one person to squeeze through may leave the next person struggling at a corner or driveway. The city's deadline applies to owners and occupiers, while the practical aim is a usable route that connects with the next property.

Source: Burnaby: How is the city this unprepared?, 2024-01-12

Source: Letter: I deserve safer sidewalks to and from my Burnaby home

Source: Snow Removal Burnaby

Make arrangements before the first forecast

If you will be away or unable to clear snow, agree on help in advance. Tell the person which sidewalk sections belong with the property and where cleared snow can be placed. The city says to keep it on your property rather than push it onto the road, and to leave a metre around collection bins. That avoids solving the sidewalk problem by creating a road or collection problem.

The 10 am deadline applies daily, including holidays. Put it into the morning plan rather than assuming the obligation starts only on workdays. For a report about someone else's uncleared sidewalk, the city form asks users to wait until the day after snowfall; it is not a live dispatch tool during an active storm. Describe the location and obstruction clearly. A general complaint about winter conditions is less useful than an address and the precise section people cannot pass.

Source: City of Burnaby: resident snow responsibilities

Source: City of Burnaby: report an uncleared sidewalk

Arrange help before the weather changes

A resident who cannot manage snow clearing needs a plan before a storm, not only a reminder after the deadline. Agree on help with a neighbour, household member or building manager and identify which sidewalks are included. Keep that arrangement separate from a city complaint. Reporting an uncleared path can record a problem, but it does not create an immediate private snow-clearing service for the person making the report.

Source: City of Burnaby: resident snow responsibilities

Source: City of Burnaby: report an uncleared sidewalk

Source: Burnaby: How is the city this unprepared?, 2024-01-12

Questions people ask

Who has sidewalk responsibility?

Owners or occupiers of the listed residential, business and institutional properties.

Source: City of Burnaby: resident snow responsibilities

Does the rule include apartment properties?

Yes, multi-family properties are included.

Source: City of Burnaby: resident snow responsibilities

What time must Burnaby sidewalks be cleared?

No later than 10 am, including holidays.

Source: City of Burnaby: resident snow responsibilities

When can I report an uncleared sidewalk in Burnaby?

It says the day following snowfall and asks users to report after the snowfall event.

Source: City of Burnaby: report an uncleared sidewalk

Should I report while snow is still falling?

No. The form says those requests will be closed without action.

Source: City of Burnaby: report an uncleared sidewalk

Can I shovel snow onto the road?

No. Pile it on the property or boulevard.

Source: City of Burnaby: resident snow responsibilities

How much room should bins have?

The city asks for one metre between bins and cars or snowbanks.

Source: City of Burnaby: resident snow responsibilities

What room should I leave around garbage bins after snow?

Leave one metre between bins and cars or snowbanks, following the city’s snow guidance.

Source: City of Burnaby: resident snow responsibilities

What location detail helps a sidewalk report?

The address, or clear landmarks if the address is unknown.

Source: City of Burnaby: report an uncleared sidewalk

Can I attach a photo to the report?

Yes. The city form allows photos under its stated upload rules.

Source: City of Burnaby: report an uncleared sidewalk