What You Need To Know About Snow Removal Ordinances In Waterloo, ON
Waterloo, Ontario, is home to the University of Waterloo. It is an active partner in a technology triangle of cities that consists of Waterloo, Kitchener, and Cambridge, attracting large established companies such as Google and Blackberry, as well as small start-ups, many with former University of Water graduates at their helm. Here, you can also find the Institute for Quantum Computing and the Centre for International Governance Innovation. To a large extent, Waterloo is Ontario’s Silicon Valley.
Moving to Waterloo
While jobs in the tech center may be attractive, housing prices are fairly high. They are, however, more reasonable than those listed in Toronto. This is one reason why people move here. Commuting is not difficult either by car or by the more efficient, relaxing, and environmentally-friendly method – by train. Flying from the Waterloo International Airport in nearby Breslau is also an option. It also offers flights across Canada, the United States, and the Caribbean.
As with any city, it has specific by-laws or ordinances that require due consideration. These govern everything from parking to property maintenance (no undesirable materials e.g. excessive weeds, injurious insects), fire pits (not allowed, even in the form of a chimera) and of course, noise (not between the hours of 11 pm and 7 am). One particular by-law all residents must heed is City Bylaw 09-156. This governs snow removal.
Snow Removal in the City of Waterloo
As is to be expected, the City is in charge of clearing city streets as well as certain public sidewalks. They try to have the entire process completed from anywhere between 6 and 24-hours following the end of a snow event. However, because of Waterloo’s close proximity to Kitchener, they share the maintenance of roads that border the two cities. Moreover, Waterloo is responsible for the snow removal of streets falling under the jurisdiction of the Region the actions of city snow plows is the amount of snow. Large residential streets are usually clear after 2.4 inches of snow has fallen while minor residential streets and cul-de-sacs have to wait a maximum of 24-hours following the accumulation of 4 inches.
As a resident, you have your own obligations. The focus here is on the sidewalks. When a snow or ice event occurs, all property owners are expected to clear everything, down to the sidewalk surface, within 24-hours. In doing so, care must be exercised not to impede traffic – either on the sidewalk or the street, or access to a fire hydrant.
The fine for failure to comply with any part of the City’s snow removal ordinance is stated to be a minimum of $250 and a maximum of $100,000 for a first offense. Subsequent offenses may result in a fine of no more than $ 10,000 per day or the partial day following his or her conviction. Those who are not forthcoming with the money cannot escape. The city may obtain money for the cost of clearing the offending snow from the person directly or through their taxes. In addition, any interest for non-payment may also be charged.
Avoiding Snow Removal Fines
Snow removal can be anywhere from difficult to impossible for some individuals. Health factors, age, or even time limitations can restrict the ability to address the situation in a timely fashion. Fortunately, technology has stepped in to provide help. By using a third-party app such as Edenapp – now available on Apple, Android, or edenapp.com, a responsible homeowner can arrange for the right type of snow removal – one dedicated to meeting the needs of your property and lifestyle.