Commercial snow removal in Whitby is the job of whoever owns or manages the property. The Town of Whitby plows more than 1,205 lane kilometres of roads, 335 km of sidewalks and 122,000 square metres of its own parking lots, but your lot, your entrances and the public sidewalk that borders your site are yours to keep clear. Michael Durham Landscaping is based in Whitby, and we take on that work for commercial, industrial and multi-unit properties here on fixed-price seasonal contracts.
How Our Whitby Contracts Work
Every commercial contract follows the same four commitments, taken from our commercial and industrial snow removal service:
- Dispatch based on weather monitoring. We track conditions in real time and pre-treat surfaces before major events.
- Salting on every visit. Salt or calcium chloride goes down after each plow visit.
- A log for every visit. Each one is time-stamped and recorded with photos, conditions and salt application rates.
- One seasonal price. The agreement is fixed before winter, and the season runs November 1 to April 15.
We review each site before quoting, because lot size, entrances, loading areas and storage space all change the work.
What the Town of Whitby Expects From Property Owners
The 24-hour sidewalk rule
Whitby's Clean Community By-law requires every property owner to clear ice and snow from all sidewalks and walkways that border the property within 24 hours of a snowfall. If that does not happen, the Town may clear the snow itself and charge the owner for the work. For a corner lot or a plaza with frontage on two streets, that can mean a long stretch of public sidewalk, so list every frontage in your contract scope.
Where the snow is allowed to go
The same by-law says snow, ice and slush must not be deposited onto the street or moved across the road. The Town also notes that pushing or blowing snow onto the street breaks the Highway Traffic Act, and Durham Regional Police can issue the ticket. On a busy commercial lot, that makes on-site storage space part of the plan from day one.
Hydrants and catch basins
Owners must keep snow and ice cleared within 60 cm of any fire hydrant on the boulevard. The Town also asks property owners to keep nearby catch basin inlets free of snow and debris, which helps meltwater drain away instead of pooling and refreezing at your entrance.
Bus stops and super mailboxes are not the Town's job either
If a transit stop sits in front of your property, the Region of Durham clears the shelter and stop, not the Town. Canada Post looks after super mailbox areas. Knowing this saves calls to the wrong office when a stop or mailbox is buried.
How Whitby Plows the Roads Around Your Property
The Town works in a set order. While it is snowing, crews salt and clear primary roads first, and the Town describes these as the roads that lead to Regional Roads, schools, community centres and industrial and commercial areas. Dundas Street, Brock Street and Rossland Road are among them. Secondary roads come next, then residential streets, sidewalks, trails and Town parking lots.
Two details matter for business owners. If snow keeps falling for more than 24 hours, plows can be pulled back to primary roads, which delays everything else. And Town parking lots are fully plowed only after the storm ends. Your private lot has no place in that order at all, which is why a contractor with its own schedule matters.
If your property sits on a newly built road, it may not be maintained by the Town yet. The Town's Find My Street map shows who maintains each road.
Parking Rules That Change in Winter
From November 1 to April 15, parking on any Whitby street between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. is prohibited, and parking that interferes with snow clearing can be ticketed. During a weather event that needs Town-wide plowing or salting, every on-street parking exemption is cancelled. Staff or tenants who rely on street parking need a place on your lot overnight, which affects how and when the lot can be plowed.
Private lots can set and enforce their own parking rules. The Town offers a private property parking enforcement registration, so owners can have unauthorized vehicles ticketed. Some lots use it to deal with vehicles left in the way of plowing.
Notice of Snow and Ice Claims in Ontario
Section 6.1 of Ontario's Occupiers' Liability Act says a lawsuit for injury caused by snow or ice cannot proceed unless written notice, with the date, time and location, is personally served or sent by registered mail within 60 days. The Act also covers what happens next. An occupier who receives a notice must pass a copy to the snow removal contractor it employed at the time, and a contractor who receives one must pass it to the occupier.
Our time-stamped logs, with photos, conditions and salt rates, give you and your insurer a record of each visit to work from if a notice arrives. This is general information, not legal advice. Ask your lawyer or insurer about your own obligations.
Rules change from year to year, so confirm current requirements with the Town of Whitby before the season starts.
Common Questions
Do you handle commercial snow removal in all parts of Whitby?
Yes. Whitby is our home base, and we serve commercial, industrial and multi-unit properties across the town, including Brooklin, and the rest of Durham Region.
Does the Town of Whitby clear the sidewalk in front of my business?
No. The Clean Community By-law makes property owners responsible for sidewalks bordering their property within 24 hours of a snowfall, and the Town may clear it and charge the owner if it is left.
Can our contractor push snow onto the street in Whitby?
No. The Town's by-law prohibits putting snow on the road, and the Town notes it is also an offence under the Highway Traffic Act. Snow has to be stored on the property.
Is salting part of every Whitby commercial contract?
Yes. Salt or calcium chloride is applied after every plow visit, and each visit is recorded in a time-stamped log.
When should a Whitby property sign up for the season?
We sign commercial contracts in September and October, so priorities and storage areas are set before the season starts on November 1.
Book a Site Review in Whitby
Contact us for a free quote on commercial snow removal for your Whitby property. Our guide on how to choose a snow removal contractor covers what to compare before you sign, and for work on the rest of your grounds, see landscaping in Whitby.
Sources: Town of Whitby, Sidewalk Snow Clearing; Town of Whitby, Snow Clearing; Town of Whitby, Parking; Town of Whitby, Short Term On-Street Parking Registration and Permits; Ontario e-Laws, Occupiers' Liability Act, section 6.1.