Residential Snow Removal: Driveways and Walkways, All Season
A residential snow removal contract covers clearing the driveway and walkways of a house, duplex or small multiplex for the whole winter, so you are not out with a shovel before work. A crew plows or blows the snow after each qualifying snowfall, clears the path to the front door, and may treat steps and walks with salt. You pay one seasonal price, or per visit if you prefer.
Describe the job and add your city. Free to request, no obligation.
The details in the agreement matter more than the plow. Check how much snow triggers a visit, which areas are included (driveway only, or also the front walk, back door and stairs), when the contract begins and ends, and where the snow will be piled. In Québec, seasonal contracts commonly run from mid-November to mid-April, and many municipalities do not allow snow to be pushed onto the street.
Small multiplexes add their own questions. A plex with several entrances, a shared driveway and balconies or exterior stairs needs a clear list of what is cleared and who is responsible for each part. The more specific the agreement, the fewer disagreements in February.
What the work includes
- Plowing or blowing the driveway after each snowfall that reaches the trigger depth
- Clearing the front walkway, steps and path to the door
- Clearing back doors, side paths and exterior stairs if listed
- Salt or grit on icy walkways and steps when agreed
- Piling snow in a spot you approve, away from garage doors and gas meters
- Care around cars, edges, fences, hedges and landscape lights
- A set start and end date for the season
- Optional extra visits after a storm or when drifting returns
Reasons to sign up for a seasonal contract
Shovelling before work every morning in the winter
A long or sloped driveway that is hard to clear by hand
A duplex or small multiplex where several households need clear entrances
Travel or work that keeps you away from the property for days
An older or injured household member who should not be shovelling
A past winter of blowing out a back and chasing a contractor who never came
How the work goes, step by step
Describe the property
Give your address, the type of building, the size of the driveway and the paths that need clearing. A photo or sketch helps.
Look at the layout
A local specialist checks access, where snow can go and anything to protect, such as hedges and lights.
Agree on the rules
Trigger depth, areas covered, dates and extra visits are written down.
Written quote
Seasonal and per-visit prices are shown, so you can pick the one that suits you.
Winter service
Visits follow the snowfall, and you can raise issues with the contractor as the season goes.
What changes the price
- Size of the driveway
- A one-car pad is quicker than a long, wide or multi-car driveway.
- Walkways and stairs
- Hand clearing paths, steps and balconies takes more labour than the driveway.
- Trigger depth
- A low trigger gives more visits per season, so a higher price than a deeper one.
- Contract type
- Seasonal flat, per visit and per-push pricing share the risk differently.
- Snow placement
- If snow must be carried or hauled away because there is nowhere to pile it, the work grows.
- Property type
- A duplex or multiplex with several entrances costs more than a single house.
What a good quote spells out
- Trigger depth and whether it applies day or night
- A list of areas cleared: driveway, front walk, back door, stairs and the sidewalk
- Season start and end dates, and what happens with an early or late snowfall
- Where the snow will be piled and how it avoids the street if that is prohibited
- Whether salt or grit is included and how damage to lawn, edges or vehicles is handled
Residential Snow Removal: questions people ask
How much snow triggers a visit on a residential contract?
Whatever the contract states, commonly a few centimetres, about two inches. A lower trigger means more frequent visits and a higher price. Ask whether the contractor also comes back after drifting.
Is a seasonal contract cheaper than paying per visit?
It depends on the winter. A seasonal contract gives a fixed bill and priority on the route, and per visit costs less in a light winter. Many homeowners prefer the fixed price for peace of mind.
Can the contractor push snow onto the street?
Often not. Many municipalities prohibit pushing or blowing snow onto the road or sidewalk, and fines can apply. The agreement should say where snow goes.
Who clears a duplex or small multiplex?
The owner is normally responsible for entrances and shared areas, and a contract can cover them all. Be specific about which doors, stairs and paths are included.
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