Reminder: Failing to shovel snow can lead to hefty fines in Metro Vancouver
Many people across Metro Vancouver will be staying indoors as much as possible until this week's snowstorm subsides – but they could face fines if they neglect to shovel their sidewalks in a timely fashion.
Just how long they have to clear away snow varies by jurisdiction, but the City of Vancouver requires residents to get the job done by 10 a.m. the day after a snowfall.
"Vancouver property owners and occupants are responsible for clearing snow and ice from the full width of sidewalks in front of and, if on a corner lot, alongside their property," reads the city's website.
Failure to do so could result in fines of $250 or more – plus a potential snow-clearing bill, should the city decide to hire someone else to do the work.
People who are away from home or otherwise unable to shovel their own sidewalk can request the help of a volunteer Snow Angel. Snow and ice do not have to be cleared from private property.
Several other municipalities have a 10 a.m. deadline as well, including Surrey, Burnaby, Richmond and the District of North Vancouver – the latter of which just adopted its snow-clearing bylaw earlier this year – but the rules vary in other parts of the region.
The City of North Vancouver and City of West Vancouver both give property owners 24 hours to clear snow and ice from outside their homes and businesses, while Coquitlam gives owners or occupants 10 hours after the snowfall ceases.
Information on snow-clearing requirements are usually available on local government websites.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING | 2 children dead, 6 injured after city bus crashes into daycare in Montreal suburb Laval, driver arrested
Two children are dead and six others are injured after a Laval city bus crashed into a daycare Wednesday morning. The driver of the bus, a 51-year-old man, has been arrested and faces charges of homicide and dangerous driving, police say.

Bank of Canada releases details on interest rate decision for the first time
The Bank of Canada released a summary of its Governing Council meetings on Wednesday, providing the public and financial institutions with more insight into the central bank’s decision to raise its key interest rate on Jan. 25.
DEVELOPING | Netflix Canada begins password sharing crackdown
Netflix Canada is rolling out its long-anticipated plans to crack down on password sharing, saying it will begin notifying Canadian users today by email about limitations.
Awkward moment or conscious message? Political experts weigh in on Danielle Smith-Justin Trudeau handshake
An 'awkward' attempt at a handshake between Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and the prime minister Tuesday is another example of leaders from the western province hesitating before shaking Justin Trudeau's hand, say political experts.
How much Canadians have fallen behind amid high inflation and who's hurting the most
Inflation has eroded purchasing power for many Canadians, but the experience with rapidly rising prices has been far from uniform.
Mama's boys: Killer whale mothers sacrifice for sons into their adulthood, new study shows
The sacrifices female killer whales continue to make for their sons well after they are weaned is negatively affecting their reproductive health, according to new scientific research.
Turkiye-Syria earthquake: How to give to rescue and recovery efforts
In the aftermath of the deadly earthquake that struck Syria and Turkiye, Canadians are donating money and supplies to rescue and relief efforts there. CTVNews.ca rounds up ways you can contribute to charities based in Canada and abroad.
'Crypto king' associate operated parallel Ponzi scheme while living lavish lifestyle, court documents allege
An associate of Ontario’s self-described “crypto king” was operating his own fraud scam parallel to the multi-million dollar Ponzi scheme, court documents allege.
opinion | Before you do your taxes, take note of these tax credits and deductions you may not have known about
Many Canadians are experiencing strains caused by the increased cost of living and inflation. In his exclusive column for CTVNews.ca, contributor Christopher Liew shares some of the top credits and deductions that you may be able to claim on your income tax return to help you save money.