Sidewalks, Driveways and Snow
In Lethbridge you’re responsible for clearing the public sidewalk next to your property within 24 hours of snowfall. Here’s what the City’s bylaw says, why our sidewalks get so icy after a chinook, how to shovel without hurting your back or heart, which ice melts do what, and how to look after concrete the rest of the year.
On this page
Lethbridge sidewalk snow rules
Under the City of Lethbridge’s Snow Removal Bylaw (Bylaw 4865), the owner or occupant of a property next to a public sidewalk must clear away snow, ice and other obstructions from that sidewalk within 24 hours. The City’s sidewalk snow removal page puts it simply: residents and business owners are responsible for clearing the sidewalk adjacent to their property within 24 hours of snowfall.
- Who: the owner or the occupant. If you rent, sort out with your landlord who does it; the bylaw can apply to either.
- Corner lots: the bylaw covers the sidewalk along the “front and flank” of a property, which means a corner lot is responsible for both sides that border a sidewalk.
- Penalties: if a sidewalk isn’t cleared, the City may first issue a notice. The bylaw sets fines that go up for a second and third offence in a calendar year; check lethbridge.ca for the current amounts.
- Roofs and eaves: the bylaw also requires owners to remove snow or ice on roofs, eaves or awnings near a street that is a danger to people walking below.
- Reporting: report an uncleared sidewalk through the City’s online form, by calling 311, or in person at Regulatory Services on the first floor of City Hall.
Where to put the snow
The City asks residents to shovel sidewalk and driveway snow onto yards and boulevards where possible, instead of onto alleys and roads. Snow pushed into the street narrows lanes, refreezes into ruts and gets thrown back by the plow. For any specific rule about snow in the street or windrows, check lethbridge.ca or call 311.
Free sand: the City offers free sand for icy sidewalks at the North Lethbridge and West Lethbridge Recycling Stations. Bring your own bucket and shovel.
What the City clears
The City clears more than 215 km of sidewalks and pathways on a priority system: City buildings first, then sidewalks around schools and regional trails, then park pathways, and finally other public sidewalks that don’t front homes or businesses. The sidewalk in front of your house is your job.
Bylaws and fines can change. For the current rules, check lethbridge.ca or call 311.
Why our sidewalks get so icy
Lethbridge doesn’t get as much snow as many Canadian cities, but it gets something worse for sidewalks: melt and refreeze. A chinook can push the temperature well above zero for a day or a week in the middle of winter. Snowbanks and packed snow on the walk melt into slush and puddles in the afternoon sun, then freeze hard overnight when the chinook ends or the sun goes down.
- Packed snow turns to ice. Snow that’s walked on and not shovelled gets compressed, partly melts, and refreezes into a glassy sheet. Shovelling soon after snowfall prevents most of this.
- Meltwater runs across the walk. Downspouts that empty onto a driveway, and snowbanks piled on the uphill side of a sidewalk, send water across the concrete to freeze at night.
- Shade stays frozen. North-facing walks and the shadows of houses and fences don’t get the afternoon sun, so ice lingers there for weeks.
- Wind polishes it. Our strong winds blow loose snow off icy patches, leaving bare, slick ice.
What it means for you: clear the sidewalk right down to concrete soon after it snows, before it’s packed. Pile snow on the downhill side of the walk where you can, and point downspouts away from walks and driveways (an extension or splash block onto the lawn helps). During a chinook, keep an eye out for melt running across the walk, and sand it before it freezes that evening.
Chinook coming? Watch the temperature and wind on the forecast page, and plan to sand when the forecast shows temperatures dropping back below zero. Learn how chinooks work in Weather School.
Shovelling safely
Shovelling is hard work. Lifting heavy snow, in the cold, often first thing in the morning, puts real strain on the heart, and doctors see more heart attacks after big snowfalls. People with heart disease, those who don’t usually exercise, and middle-aged and older adults are most at risk.
Stop and get help if you feel chest discomfort or pressure, pain spreading to the shoulders, neck, jaw or arms, shortness of breath, light-headedness, heavy sweating or nausea while shovelling. Call 911. If you have a heart condition or haven’t been active, ask your doctor before taking on heavy snow, or arrange for someone else to do it. See our first aid page.
Technique and pacing
- Warm up with a few minutes of walking and stretching before you start.
- Shovel early and often. Fresh snow is lighter than snow that’s been sitting or packed down. In a long storm, do it in two or three rounds.
- Push, don’t lift, wherever you can, especially with heavy, wet spring snow.
- When you must lift, take small loads, bend your knees, keep the load close to your body and lift with your legs. Turn your feet to face where you’re throwing; don’t twist your back.
- Take breaks, drink water, and don’t rush.
- Dress in layers and wear boots with good grip. Ice cleats over your boots help a lot on our chinook ice.
Shovel or pusher?
Snow pusher
A wide, curved blade for pushing snow off the walk or driveway without lifting. Ideal for light, dry snow and for clearing early in a storm. Easy on the back.
Lifting shovel
A smaller, lighter blade for scooping and tossing onto a bank. Choose a lightweight one with a handle long enough that you don’t stoop. A bent or adjustable shaft can reduce bending.
Ice scraper or chipper
A flat steel blade on a long handle for breaking up packed snow and thin ice. Work at a low angle and let the weight do the work.
Snowblowers
- Single-stage machines scoop and throw snow in one motion with an auger that touches the ground. They’re lighter and suit smaller driveways and modest snowfalls, but don’t handle deep, packed or icy snow well, and aren’t meant for gravel.
- Two-stage machines use an auger to gather snow and a separate impeller to throw it. They handle deeper and heavier snow, including the windrow the plow leaves at the end of the driveway, and the auger sits above the ground so they can be used on gravel.
- Corded and cordless electric models are quieter and need little upkeep; gas models have more power for big areas and heavy snow.
Never clear a jam with your hands or feet. Wet, heavy snow clogs the chute often. Even with the engine off, the auger and impeller can hold stored tension and spin when the clog is freed. Shut the engine off, wait for all moving parts to stop, and use the clearing tool or a stick. Also: keep children and pets well away while it’s running, aim the chute away from people, cars and windows, never run a gas machine in a closed garage, and refuel only when the engine is off and cool. Read your machine’s operator’s manual.
Ice melt compared
Ice melts work by dissolving into the thin film of water on ice and lowering its freezing point, so the ice turns to brine. Each type has a different working range and different side effects. Temperatures below are rough lowest practical working temperatures; all work faster and better in milder cold.
| Type | Works down to (roughly) | Concrete | Lawns and plants | Pets | Environment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sodium chloride (rock salt) | About −9°C | Can cause surface scaling, especially on poor-quality or young concrete. Corrodes steel, cars and rebar. | The most damaging: burns grass along walks and harms the roots and needles of trees and shrubs. Sodium also makes clay soil tighter. | Irritates paws; upsets the stomach if licked or eaten. | Chloride runs off into storm drains and waterways and stays there. |
| Calcium chloride | About −29°C | Can cause scaling, though generally less damaging to concrete than rock salt. Corrosive to metal. | Somewhat less harmful than rock salt, but still damaging in quantity. | Can irritate paws and cause mouth sores if eaten. | Chloride runoff, as above. |
| Magnesium chloride | About −23°C | Can cause scaling. Like all chlorides, promotes corrosion of metal and reinforcing steel. | Less harmful than rock salt. | Often marketed as gentler on pets, but can still upset the stomach. | Chloride runoff, as above. |
| Potassium acetate | About −26°C | Chloride-free, so less corrosive to metal and rebar. Still keep it off concrete less than a year old. | Usually gentler on plants than chlorides. | Keep pets from eating it, as with any ice melt. | No chloride runoff, but it still washes into waterways. Usually costs more. |
| Sand, grit or traction aid | Doesn’t melt anything; gives grip at any temperature. | No chemical effect. Can scratch floors when tracked indoors. | No harm; sweep it off the lawn edges in spring. | Safe on paws. | Washes into storm drains and must be swept up in spring. |
Temperatures are approximate and vary by product, sun and how thick the ice is.
Never use fertilizer as ice melt. Deicers containing ammonium nitrate or ammonium sulphate can badly damage concrete surfaces. Read the back of the bag, not just the front; “safe” claims often depend on conditions in the fine print.
Use as little as you need
- Shovel first. Ice melt is for the thin layer you can’t shovel, not for melting snow. Don’t put it on top of snow.
- Spread it thinly and evenly. A little goes a long way: University of Minnesota Extension suggests about one coffee mug (roughly 350 mL) of salt is enough for about 90 m² (1,000 sq ft), with gaps of several centimetres between grains.
- Use sand when it’s very cold. Below about −10°C rock salt barely works; sand gives grip right away.
- Sweep up leftovers once the ice is gone, so they don’t wash onto the lawn or into the storm drain.
- Keep it off plants. Don’t pile salty snow on flower beds, hedges or around trees. Plant salt-sensitive shrubs and evergreens back from the edges of walks and driveways.
For pet owners: wipe your dog’s paws with a damp cloth after winter walks, keep pets from eating treated snow or licking salty paws, and store ice melt where pets can’t get into it. Booties or paw wax help sensitive dogs. Call your veterinarian if a pet eats ice melt.
Looking after concrete
New concrete
Concrete keeps curing and gaining strength for months after it’s poured, and young concrete is most vulnerable to freeze-thaw damage and salt. Don’t use any ice melt on concrete less than one year old. Use sand for traction during its first winter, and shovel promptly so meltwater doesn’t sit on the surface.
Sealing in fall
A penetrating concrete sealer (silane or siloxane types) soaks into the surface and helps keep water and salt out, which reduces freeze-thaw scaling. Apply it on a dry, warm fall day, at the temperature range on the label, before freeze-up and before the first ice melt goes down. Follow the product’s directions for new concrete, which may ask you to wait for it to cure first. Resealing every few years is typical.
Driveways and drainage
- Shovel off the driveway as well as the walk, so tires don’t pack snow into ice.
- Use a plastic-edged shovel or a pusher on decorative or sealed concrete to avoid gouges.
- Keep downspouts and snow piles draining away from the driveway, walks and the house foundation.
Cracks, heaving and trip hazards
Freeze-thaw cycles, clay soils that swell when wet and shrink when dry, tree roots and settling all move concrete over time. Small cracks let in water, which freezes, expands and makes the crack bigger.
Crack repair basics
- Clean the crack. Scrape out dirt, weeds and loose bits, then sweep or blow it clean.
- Fill narrow cracks (a few millimetres wide) with a flexible concrete crack filler or sealant made for outdoor use. For deeper cracks, push a foam backer rod into the crack first so the filler doesn’t sink.
- Repair wider cracks and broken edges with a concrete patching compound, following the label.
- Do it in warm, dry weather, usually late spring to early fall, so the filler cures before freeze-up.
Heaved slabs and trip hazards
A slab that has lifted or sunk even a couple of centimetres above its neighbour is easy to trip over, especially for seniors, people using walkers, and anyone walking in the dark or on ice. On your own walks and driveway, mark the edge with bright paint until you can fix it. A slab can often be ground down, raised or replaced by a concrete contractor; badly broken sections are usually replaced.
For damaged or heaved public sidewalks, curbs and gutters, use the City of Lethbridge’s “Report a roads or sidewalk problem” form or call 311. Whether the City or the property owner pays for a given repair depends on City policy, so check lethbridge.ca or call 311.
Weeds in cracks
Weeds that root in cracks and joints widen them and hold moisture against the concrete. Pull them when the soil is moist, scrape joints with a crack weeder or an old knife, or pour boiling water carefully over them (keep children and pets well back, wear closed shoes, and pour from a kettle held low). Filling the cracks afterward stops new weeds. More natural methods are on the weed control page.
Helping neighbours
For many seniors and people with health conditions or disabilities, clearing a sidewalk within 24 hours isn’t easy, and an icy walk can keep them housebound. The City encourages residents to be “snow angels” and help elderly neighbours clear their sidewalks.
- Ask first. A quick knock or note to say you’re happy to do their walk after a snowfall is usually welcome.
- Do the whole route: the public sidewalk, their front walk and steps, and a path to the mailbox and garbage carts.
- Leave a bucket of sand by their door (free from the City’s recycling stations) for icy days.
- Check in during cold snaps and after big storms, especially on people who live alone.
If you’re the one who needs help, talk to your neighbours, family or community groups, and check lethbridge.ca or call 311 to ask about any local snow-clearing help. The preparedness page has more on getting ready for winter storms.
Why does salt melt ice? Ice always has a very thin layer of water on top. Salt dissolves into that water and makes salty water, and salty water has to get much colder than fresh water before it can freeze. So the ice under the salt melts into brine. When it gets really cold, though, even salty water freezes, and the salt stops working.
Wonder: why do you think the ocean doesn’t freeze as easily as a lake?
Try this: with a grown-up, put two ice cubes on two plates. Sprinkle a pinch of salt on one and leave the other plain. Check every five minutes: which melts faster? A safe winter job: help spread sand on the walk with a small scoop, and help push light snow with a kid-sized shovel, taking lots of breaks to warm up.
Sources
- City of Lethbridge, Snow Removal Bylaw No. 4865 (sections 3 to 7 and Schedule “A”: 24-hour clearing, front and flank of abutting sidewalk, roofs and eaves, penalties).
- City of Lethbridge, Sidewalk Snow Removal page (24 hours, penalties, reporting, where to put snow, free sand, snow angels).
- City of Lethbridge, Pathway and Sidewalks Snow Removal page (City clearing priorities).
- City of Lethbridge, 311 “Report a roads or sidewalk problem” form.
- Hamilton Health Sciences, “Avoid injury with these snow shovelling tips” (heart warning signs, technique).
- University of Minnesota, Minnesota Local Technical Assistance Program, Smart Winter Salt guide for homeowners: "Deicer type" (lowest practical melting temperatures).
- Government of Alberta, Technical Services Branch, Technical Bulletin "De-icing Concrete" (Issue 1A, 2016) (effects of chloride and acetate deicers on concrete).
- University of Minnesota Extension, “Effects of deicing salts on landscapes” (plant and soil effects, application rates, shovel first).
- ASPCA, “Keeping Pets Safe during Winter: The Dangers of Ice Melts.”