If you’re new to the Calgary area, winter is obviously one of the harshest times of year for a commercial office space. When it comes to keeping outdoor areas safe and free of snow throughout the winter months, certain snow and winter bylaws must be considered.
At Regency Cleaning, our services include comprehensive snow removal during the winter season. While we are very familiar with the municipal regulations governing snow removal and sidewalk safety, we feel that our clients should be familiar with some of these bylaws as well.
How Much Time Do You Have to Remove Snow?
According to the City of Calgary’s website, all snow and ice must be effectively removed from City pathways and sidewalks within 24 hours after snow stops falling. Even if you are renting a commercial building space, you’ll be responsible for ensuring the clearing of adjacent sidewalks and pathways within the specified time frame.
Degree of Removal
All snow and ice must be removed down to the bare surface of the pathway or sidewalk, according to City regulations. In addition, the owner of land adjacent to a sidewalk or pathway is responsible for removing snow and ice to a minimum of 1.5 metres from the edge of the sidewalk or pathway closest to their property.
Warnings
If you fail to remove snow and ice from sidewalks or pathways near your commercial space within 24 hours, you risk receiving a Warning Notice from the City. In this case, City officials will schedule removal of snow and ice and the property owner will subsequently be billed accordingly. Failure to reimburse the city for the costs of removal will result in these costs being added to the owner’s commercial property taxes.
City Priorities
In their snow and ice removal efforts, the city prioritizes different areas based on four distinct categories. Their first priority is typically the Olympic Plaza, the Stephen Avenue and Barclay Malls, and overpasses, steps, and bus pads. From there, the city prioritizes sidewalks and wheelchair ramps adjacent to majors, collectors, and bus routes, specifically where sidewalks do not abut private property.
The city’s third priority is to deal with all bus stops before moving on to their fourth, and final, priority, which consists of handling any safety complaints related to walkways and lane approach aprons.
The Need for a Private Removal Service
As you can imagine, the city has enough on its’ plate without having to clear private property, and bill for their services. That’s why commercial building owners in Calgary typically hire a third-party snow removal service to keep the area surrounding their office space safe and free of snow and ice.
At Regency Cleaning, we offer comprehensive snow removal services so that you don’t have to worry about employees slipping and falling on their way into work in the morning. We will work with you to customize your service plan as you see fit. If you’re looking for a reliable company to handle snow and ice removal around your commercial office space this winter, please don’t hesitate to give us a call to discuss your needs at 403-520-7788 today!
