By Cody Wise, founder of Wise Property Services, Calgary. Updated November 2026.
Quick Answer
A snow and ice plan for a Calgary rental should clear the driveway, walkways and steps after every snowfall, apply ice melt after every clear and confirm by text when it is done. The City of Calgary requires sidewalk snow and ice to be cleared within 24 hours of the snowfall ending, and an owner who lives elsewhere is still responsible. Wise Property Services Snow And Ice is $399 a month from October to March.
In This Guide
- Why A Rental Needs A Plan, Not A Promise
- The Calgary Rule You Are Responsible For
- What A Snow And Ice Plan Should Include
- Ice Melt: What To Ask
- Per Visit Pricing Versus A Flat Monthly Rate
- What To Tell Your Provider On Day One
- Snow And The Hot Tub
- Cost And How To Start
- Frequently Asked Questions
Why A Rental Needs A Plan, Not A Promise
A rental owner has two snow problems that a homeowner does not. The first is timing. Guests arrive on a schedule that has nothing to do with the weather, so an uncleared step at 3 pm on a check in day is the first thing a guest experiences. The second is distance. Most rental owners are not standing next to the property at 6 am when it snows.
The usual answer is a neighbour, a student with a shovel or the owner driving across the city. Each works until the one morning it does not. A plan puts the clearing on a calendar and in writing, so it happens whether or not anyone remembers.
The Calgary Rule You Are Responsible For
The City of Calgary bylaw is specific. Snow and ice must be cleared from the public sidewalk next to your property within 24 hours of the snowfall ending, down to the bare surface. The City does not clear sidewalks next to private homes or businesses. If you own a rental property but live elsewhere, you are still responsible for making sure the sidewalk is cleared, regardless of who does the work.
| Topic | What The City Page Says |
|---|---|
| Time limit | Within 24 hours of a snowfall ending, to the bare surface |
| Responsible | The property owner, including a rental owner who lives elsewhere |
| If the City clears it | A minimum flat rate of $150 plus GST and an administration fee, added to the property tax if unpaid |
| Occupant fine | $250 for a first offence, $500 for a second, $750 for a third |
A snow plan is not a legal transfer of that responsibility. What it does is make compliance automatic and leave a record that the work was done.
What A Snow And Ice Plan Should Include
Use this as a checklist for any provider, including us. If a plan cannot answer a line, it is a guess.
| Item | What To Look For | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Trigger | Cleared after every snowfall, not after a depth threshold the provider sets | A thin snowfall still ices over once it is walked on |
| Area | Driveway, walkways and front steps named in writing | The steps are where the falls happen |
| Ice melt | Applied after every clear and included in the price | Clearing alone leaves a film that refreezes |
| Frequency | Unlimited clears per month, not a capped number | Winters are not evenly spread |
| Confirmation | A text when the work is done | It is your record and your peace of mind |
| Heavy storms | No surcharge | The worst days should not be the most expensive |
| Season | Start and end dates stated | October and April snow is common in Calgary |
| Cancel terms | Month to month with a stated notice period | You should be able to stop it |
Wise Property Services Snow And Ice is $399 a month from October to March and includes every line above: unlimited snow clears, the driveway, walkways and front steps, ice melt after every clear, clearing after every snowfall, a text on completion and no charge for heavy storms. The notice period is 30 days.
Ice Melt: What To Ask
Snow is the easy half. Ice is the half that sends people to the hospital. A plan that only shovels is half a plan.
- Is it applied after every clear? A cleared surface can still carry a thin film that turns to ice overnight.
- What type is used? Common rock salt loses effectiveness as the temperature drops, and other products such as calcium chloride keep working at much lower temperatures. It is a fair question to ask what is on the truck.
- Is it safe for your surfaces? Ice melt can damage new concrete, and some products are harsh on pets and landscaping. If the property has new concrete or a pet that uses the yard, say so.
- What about refreezing after a Chinook? Calgary’s freeze and thaw swings can put ice back on a surface that was clear at noon. Ask how that is handled, and how you will know.
Per Visit Pricing Versus A Flat Monthly Rate
Many providers charge per visit. That can be cheaper in a light winter and expensive in a heavy one, and it makes the cost a surprise on the exact weeks the weather is worst. A flat monthly rate trades some of that variance for certainty. For a rental, certainty usually wins, because the cost of a missed clear is a guest, a review or a claim, not the price of a visit.
If you want the other seasons covered too, the bundle with Hot Tub Care and Lawn And Grounds is $499 a month all year. The math is in year round property maintenance for a Calgary Airbnb.
What To Tell Your Provider On Day One
- The exact addresses and the areas to clear: the driveway, the walkways and the steps.
- Where the snow can go, so it does not block a neighbour, a walkway or the garage.
- Any surface that cannot take ice melt, and any pets that use the yard.
- The check in times, so the work can be planned around them.
- Whether the path to the hot tub is part of the job. If the tub is a headline amenity, a clear path to it matters as much as the front steps.
A text after each visit is a record you can show an insurer or a guest. Keep them.
Snow And The Hot Tub
Snow and a hot tub are a pair. A tub in winter needs a cover that seals, heat that holds and a path that is safe to walk. The winter care checklist is in winter hot tub care in Calgary. A rental with a tub and a snow plan on one account gets a single point of contact for both.
Cost And How To Start
Snow And Ice is $399 a month from October to March, with unlimited clears. Hot Tub Care is $279 a month. Lawn And Grounds is $329 a month from April to September. The bundle of all three is $499 a month. Plans are month to month and cover all four quadrants of Calgary. Start before the first snowfall, not after it. The plans page has every inclusion, and the Wise Property Services page shows all prices together.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Does Snow Removal Cost For A Rental In Calgary?
Wise Property Services Snow And Ice is $399 a month from October to March. That includes unlimited clears for the driveway, walkways and front steps, ice melt after every clear and a text when it is done.
How Soon Do I Have To Clear My Sidewalk In Calgary?
The City of Calgary requires snow and ice to be cleared from the sidewalk next to your property within 24 hours of the snowfall ending, down to the bare surface. Check the City page for the current rule.
Am I Responsible For Snow Removal If I Rent Out My Property?
Yes. The City of Calgary says that if you own a rental property but live elsewhere, you are still responsible for making sure the adjacent sidewalk is cleared, regardless of who does the work.
What Happens If I Do Not Clear My Sidewalk In Calgary?
If a City notice is not acted on, the City may clear it and invoice the owner a minimum flat rate of $150 plus GST and an administration fee. An occupant can be fined $250, $500 or $750 for a first, second or third offence.
Is Ice Melt Included In A Snow And Ice Plan?
It should be. In the Wise Property Services plan, ice melt is applied after every clear and is part of the price.
What Is The Difference Between A Per Visit And A Monthly Snow Plan?
Per visit pricing charges each time the provider comes, so a heavy winter costs more. A flat monthly rate with unlimited clears gives a fixed cost, which suits a rental where a missed clear is expensive.
When Does Snow Season Run In Calgary?
The Snow And Ice plan runs from October to March. Snow can fall outside that window, so it is worth asking any provider how a late or early snowfall is handled.
Can I Cancel A Snow And Ice Plan?
Yes. The plan is month to month with 30 days notice.
Do You Also Clear The Path To The Hot Tub?
The plan covers the driveway, walkways and front steps. If a clear path to the hot tub matters for your property, mention it on day one so the scope is agreed in writing.
Do I Need To Be Home When The Snow Is Cleared?
No. Nobody needs to be home, and you receive a text when the work is finished.
Related Pages
- Snow and ice and maintenance plans
- Wise Property Services in Calgary
- Year round property maintenance
- Winter hot tub care in Calgary
