Commercial snow removal in Uxbridge runs on a 24 hour clock. Township By-law 2008-160 makes the owner or occupant of a building responsible for removing slush, snow and ice from the sidewalk beside it within 24 hours of the snow building up, and that applies to storefronts on Brock Street as much as to a house on a side street. Michael Durham Landscaping keeps commercial, industrial and multi-unit lots, entrances and walkways in Uxbridge clear on fixed-price seasonal contracts, with salt after every plow visit and a log of each one.
What an Uxbridge Contract Includes
Our commercial and industrial snow removal service follows one method on every property we take on:
- We watch the forecast, not the clock. Crews are sent out on real-time weather monitoring, and surfaces are pre-treated ahead of major storms.
- Salt or calcium chloride after every plow visit.
- A record of each visit, stamped with the time and backed by photos, the conditions on site and the salt application rate used.
- One fixed price for the whole season, which runs from November 1 to April 15. We sign contracts in September and October so the plan is settled before the first snowfall.
Before we quote, we review the site with you. A downtown shop with a narrow rear lot, an industrial unit with loading doors and an apartment building with tenant parking each need a different clearing plan. If your property is a plant or warehouse, our industrial snow removal page explains how we agree clearing priorities in writing.
What the Township of Uxbridge Requires
The 24 hour sidewalk rule
The Township's Snow Removal page sums it up: property owners must clear snow, slush and ice from every sidewalk next to their property or building within 24 hours of a snowfall. The full Snow Removal By-law 2008-160 defines "sidewalk" to include both private and public sidewalks, and it applies whether a building is occupied or empty. If the work is not done in time, the Township may clear the sidewalk itself and recover its expenses from the owner or occupant, including by adding them to the tax roll.
Roofs beside a sidewalk
The same by-law requires owners and occupants to remove slush, snow and ice from the roof of any building next to a sidewalk or Township property, also within 24 hours. Many older buildings downtown sit right at the sidewalk edge. Our contracts cover the ground: lots, entrances, walkways and sidewalks. Roof clearing is not part of our service, so arrange it separately if your building sheds snow toward the street.
Where the snow goes
Section 6 of the by-law prohibits putting snow, slush or ice on a highway in a way that creates a safety hazard, whether it comes from private property or is moved along the road itself. The by-law also bans clearing that damages a sidewalk or curb, and bans piles that block access to a fire hydrant or get in the way of people using the sidewalk. When we review your site, we plan where snow will be stored on your own property for the whole season.
Hydrants
The Township's January 2026 newsletter notes that the Region of Durham maintains fire hydrants but may not clear them right away after heavy snow, and asks property owners to clear the snow around hydrants near them.
Plowing and Parking in Uxbridge
The Township's Public Works Department maintains more than 325 km of local roads and 52 km of sidewalks, according to its Roads and Sidewalks page, while some roads fall to the Region of Durham or the Ministry of Transportation. Durham's Regional Roads List shows several regional roads in Uxbridge, including Toronto Street South and parts of Brock Street (Regional Highway 47 and Regional Road 8), Main Street (Regional Road 1) and Reach Street (Regional Road 8). The Region patrols its roads seven days a week in winter and sprays salt brine before storms, as its Regional Road Maintenance page describes. If your entrance opens onto one of these roads, winter concerns about the road itself go to the Region, not the Township.
Parking rules affect your lot too. The Township's Parking page says on-street parking is not allowed between 2 a.m. and 7 a.m. from November 1 to April 1, parking that interferes with snow clearing is prohibited, and on-street and municipal lot parking is limited to three hours unless posted otherwise. Overnight permits are sold for the Centennial Park Drive lot and the north side of the Albert Street lot. Staff on early shifts and tenants who cannot use the street overnight will park on your property, so we plan clearing around the cars that are there.
The 60 Day Notice Under Ontario Law
Section 6.1 of the Occupiers' Liability Act says a lawsuit for an injury caused by snow or ice generally cannot go ahead unless written notice, giving the date, time and location, reaches the occupier or its snow contractor within 60 days, delivered in person or by registered mail. Whoever receives that notice must send a copy to the other. A judge can still allow a late claim in some cases, and the rule does not apply when the injured person dies.
Our visit logs give you a dated record of plowing and salting to check against any notice. This is general information, not legal advice; ask your lawyer or insurer how the Act applies to your property.
Rules and by-laws change. Confirm the current requirements with the Township of Uxbridge before each winter.
Common Questions
How long do Uxbridge businesses have to clear the sidewalk?
24 hours after the slush, snow or ice builds up. By-law 2008-160 applies to the owner or occupant of the building, and to vacant buildings as well.
Does an Uxbridge commercial contract include the roof?
No. The Township requires owners to clear roofs that sit next to a sidewalk, but our contracts cover lots, entrances, walkways and sidewalks only. Hire a roof specialist for that work.
Who plows Brock Street and Toronto Street in Uxbridge?
The Region of Durham lists Toronto Street South and sections of Brock Street as regional roads, so it maintains them. The Township maintains its local roads and sidewalks.
When is overnight street parking banned in Uxbridge?
From November 1 to April 1, between 2 a.m. and 7 a.m., and at any time when parking would interfere with snow clearing.
Is salt included with plowing in Uxbridge?
Yes. Salt or calcium chloride goes down after every plow visit, and every visit is logged.
Book a Site Review in Uxbridge
Contact us to book a site review and a free quote for your Uxbridge property before the season starts. Our snow removal tips for Durham help you prepare, and the snow clearing rules guide for Durham Region compares the local by-laws. For spring and summer grounds work, see landscaping in Uxbridge.
Sources: Township of Uxbridge, Snow Removal; Township of Uxbridge, Snow Removal By-law 2008-160 (consolidated); Township of Uxbridge, Parking; Township of Uxbridge, Roads and Sidewalks; Township of Uxbridge, Newsletter January 2026 Edition; Region of Durham, Regional Roads List; Region of Durham, Regional Road Maintenance; Ontario e-Laws, Occupiers' Liability Act, section 6.1.