Commercial snow removal in Ajax falls on the property owner. The Town of Ajax keeps public roads, Town sidewalks and its own 27 parking lots clear, but a private parking lot, its entrances and walkways, and the public sidewalk along the front of the business are the owner's to manage. Michael Durham Landscaping handles that work for commercial, industrial and multi-unit properties in Ajax on fixed-price seasonal contracts, with salting after every visit and a written record of each one.
What Our Commercial Contracts Include
- Weather-monitored dispatch. We track conditions in real time and pre-treat before major events, rather than waiting for a phone call.
- Salt or calcium chloride after every plow visit, so cleared surfaces stay safe as temperatures drop.
- Time-stamped service logs for every visit, with photos, conditions and salt application rates.
- A fixed seasonal price, agreed before the season starts on November 1 and running to April 15.
The full scope is on our commercial and industrial snow removal page. Every site is different, so we review the property before quoting.
Ajax Rules That Affect Businesses
Sidewalks in front of your business
The Town requires businesses, like residents, to clear snow and ice from the sidewalk in front of their property within 24 hours after snow falls or ice forms. Fines are set in the Town's User Fees By-law and are added automatically to the property tax bill. If the public sidewalk in front of your building should be part of your contract, make sure it is written into the scope.
The Town plows your access roads first
Ajax clears primary roads first, and the Town defines those as the roads that give access to Regional Roads, schools, community centres and industrial and commercial areas. Your customers and staff can usually reach your street early in a storm. What happens on your lot from that point on is up to you and your contractor.
On-street parking disappears in a storm
During a winter weather event the Town revokes on-street parking permits, and parking on the street is prohibited while plows and salt trucks are working. Vehicles can be ticketed or towed. Properties that rely on street parking for staff or visitors should plan for that before the first storm.
The Town's winter response runs from November to April, the same window as our contract season.
Slip-and-Fall Claims and Why Service Logs Matter
Ontario's Occupiers' Liability Act was amended in 2020 with a notice rule for snow and ice injuries. Under section 6.1, a lawsuit for personal injury caused by snow or ice cannot go ahead unless written notice of the claim, with the date, time and location, was personally served or sent by registered mail within 60 days of the injury to at least one of the people the Act lists, such as the occupier of the property.
When a notice arrives, the first questions are when the area was last cleared and whether it was treated. Our time-stamped logs, with photos, conditions and salt rates for each visit, answer them with records rather than recollection. This is general information, not legal advice; speak with your lawyer or insurer about your own obligations.
Industrial and Multi-Unit Properties
Industrial sites and multi-unit residential buildings get the same weather-monitored dispatch, salting and logs as retail and office properties. Before the season, agree in writing which areas are cleared first: main entrances, walkways, accessible parking and any routes emergency vehicles use. Clear priorities make the difference when snow falls overnight and the site opens early.
Plan snow storage at the same time. Piles should not block sight lines at lot exits, fire routes, hydrants or catch basins, and they should sit where meltwater drains away from walkways instead of running across them and refreezing overnight. On tight lots, it helps to mark storage areas before the ground freezes.
Common Questions
Do you provide commercial snow removal across Ajax?
Yes. We serve commercial, industrial and multi-unit properties throughout Ajax and the rest of Durham Region from our base in Whitby.
Is salting included in a commercial contract?
Yes. Salt or calcium chloride is applied after every plow visit on every commercial contract.
Who has to clear the sidewalk in front of my business in Ajax?
The business does. The Town gives businesses and residents 24 hours after a snowfall or ice forming, and fines are added to the property tax bill.
What records do we get after each visit?
A time-stamped log with photos, conditions and salt application rates, which supports your slip-and-fall liability management.
When should we sign a commercial snow contract?
We sign contracts in September and October so routes and priorities are set before the first snowfall.
Get a Commercial Snow Quote in Ajax
Contact us to arrange a site review and a free quote. For de-icing basics, our snow removal tips compare common ice melts. For landscaping work on your property, see landscaping in Ajax.
Sources: Town of Ajax, Winter Roads and Maintenance; Town of Ajax, Snow Tips and Reminders; Ontario e-Laws, Occupiers' Liability Act, section 6.1.