In short
- HomeStars' Ottawa page lists $40–$150 per visit for a driveway and sidewalk and $300–$1,800+ per winter for a residential seasonal contract (seen 29.10.2026).
- Ottawa airport averages 223 cm of snow a year and about 15 days with 5 cm or more, per Environment Canada's 1981–2010 normals.
- The City makes property owners responsible for the windrow and bars anyone from pushing snow onto streets, sidewalks, pathways or parks.
Typical prices in Ottawa
| Job | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Driveway and sidewalk, one visit | $40–$150 | HomeStars Ottawa page; driveway size and snowfall decide |
| One-time service by the hour | $60–$120/h | HomeStars Ottawa page |
| Residential seasonal contract | $300–$1,800+ | HomeStars Ottawa page, per winter |
| Standard 5 cm season, laneway for 2 / 4 / 6 cars | $475 / $530 / $630 | One firm west of the city, 2026–27 form, plus HST |
| Roof snow removal, house | $200–$1,000+ | Canada-wide guide; larger or steeper roofs cost more |
Sources. HomeStars, Snow removal pros in Ottawa, cost section and tips, seen 29.10.2026. HomeStars, Snow removal cost guide, Canada-wide, updated 21.08.2026, seen 29.10.2026. One snow removal firm’s 2026–27 quote form, seen 29.10.2026. Snowfall: Environment and Climate Change Canada, climate normals 1981–2010, Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier Int’l A, seen 29.10.2026. City rules: Clearing snow from your property, When roads and sidewalks get plowed, Winter weather parking bans, Report property damage by City vehicle, Property Maintenance By-law 2005-208, Get help clearing snow, SNOW KNOWledge brochure, Schedule 4 of By-law 2002-189, all seen 29.10.2026. Ontario: Your rights when signing or cancelling a contract, seen 29.10.2026. HomeStars ranges are guide figures; the company that calls you quotes its own price.
How these answers were checked
Every figure above was opened on 29.10.2026. Prices come from HomeStars, its Ottawa page and its Canada-wide guide, plus one firm’s published 2026–27 quote form. Snowfall comes from Environment Canada’s 1981–2010 normals for Ottawa airport. Rules come from City of Ottawa pages, the City’s SNOW KNOWledge brochure and Ontario’s consumer protection pages. Your own price comes from the company that sees the driveway.
Longer answers on this site
- Season, visit, centimetre or hour: per visit or seasonal.
- How a 2, 2.5 or 5 cm trigger changes the number of visits: trigger depth.
- The plow ridge, return trips and windrow-only plans: windrow clearing.
- Snow Go, Snow Go Assist and the agency for each postal code: help for seniors.
Who you are dealing with
Ottawa Snow Desk is a request service. Your request goes to one independent local snow removal company, which calls you back, sets its own price and terms, and clears the snow. If that company cannot take your address, we ask you before passing the request to anyone else.
Questions people ask
What does a whole winter of driveway clearing cost in Ottawa?
HomeStars’ Ottawa page puts a residential seasonal contract at $300–$1,800+ per winter. One firm west of the city prices its 2026–27 standard season at $475 for a laneway that fits 2 cars, $530 for 4 and $630 for 6, plus HST. Laneway size and trigger depth move the figure, and on that form walkway shovelling is offered only with the premium plan.
And a single clearing with no contract?
The same HomeStars page lists $40–$150 per visit for a driveway and sidewalk, depending on driveway size and snowfall, and $60–$120 an hour for one-time service. HomeStars adds that a seasonal contract helps avoid the higher rates charged for last-minute storm work.
How many snowfalls should a contract expect?
Environment Canada’s 1981–2010 normals for Ottawa airport show 223 cm a year, 63 days with any measurable snow, about 15 days with 5 cm or more and about 5 days with 10 cm or more.
What does a 5 cm trigger mean?
The trigger is the snowfall depth at which a contract starts a clearing. One firm’s standard plan starts when an event of 5 cm or more occurs; its premium plan also takes 2 to 5 cm events and costs about 75% more ($830 against $475 for the smallest laneway).
What happens in a much snowier winter than normal?
Read the cap clause. One firm’s form sets a 275 cm threshold, after which it charges for extra snow at a rate tied to the contract price. HomeStars lists extra snow depth among the charges that sit outside a base price.
When does a seasonal contract start and end?
The firm’s form runs from 1 Nov 2026 to 31 Mar 2027. Ottawa’s normals still show about 11 cm in April and 4 cm in October, so ask how the contract treats a storm outside its dates.
Are the published prices with or without HST?
Each season price on that firm’s form carries “+HST”. Ontario names snow removal among the services over $50 that should come with a written contract, so get the total with tax and the payment dates on paper.
Who clears the ridge the City plow leaves across my driveway?
You do, or the company you hire. The City calls that ridge a windrow and says property owners are responsible for removing it. The City’s schedule for residential roads and lanes starts at 7 cm of accumulation and the routes can take 10 to 16 hours after the last snowflake, so the ridge can land after your crew has left. Ask whether a return trip is in the price.
Can the crew blow my snow onto the street or the sidewalk?
The Use and Care of Roads By-law bars placing snow on the City’s right-of-way: streets, sidewalks, pathways and parks. The City’s contractor brochure adds offences for dumping on someone else’s private property or an accessible parking space, and a 4-hour cleanup requirement for snow a contractor dumps on public property.
How do I check a snow plow company's City licence?
The City’s SNOW KNOWledge brochure says to ask for proof of the business licence, check the list at ottawa.ca/consumerawareness and look for an orange plate with a valid annual sticker on the plow vehicle. Insurance coverage must be at least $2 million. A shovel or a manual snow-blower needs no plow licence. Report unlicensed operators to 3-1-1.
What are the rules for driveway markers?
Per the brochure: metal, plastic, fibreglass or wood; allowed from October 20 to April 30; 5 feet from the sidewalk, or 7 feet from the road edge where there is none; two per property at most; logo and phone number only; never lit. The City’s own page adds that a marker should be no larger than a hockey stick.
Where should the car go when a parking ban is called?
Between November 15 and April 1 the City can call a ban for freezing rain or a forecast of 7 cm or more: overnight 7 pm to 7 am, called by 9 am, or daytime 10 am to 7 pm, called by 3:30 pm. Cars without a residential permit may be fined and towed. Tell the company where your cars will sit on ban nights.
Does the City require me to clear snow off my roof?
The Property Maintenance By-law makes every owner or occupant keep roofs and surrounding land free of snow or ice that might create an accident hazard. On conviction, fines run from $500 to $10,000 for each day. HomeStars’ Canada-wide guide puts house roof clearing at $200–$1,000+.
A City plow tore up my lawn. Who repairs it?
Report it to the City at any time. Staff investigate in early spring once the snow melts, and damage caused by City vehicles is repaired with topsoil and grass seed. Damage from your own contractor’s machine falls under the damage clause in your contract.
Is there help with the cost for older adults or people with a disability?
Snow Go matches residents 60 or over, or with a disability, with someone to hire; you pay that person. Snow Go Assist adds money: income below $51,500 single or $62,000 household, nobody at home able to do the work, a signed contract or proof of payment. It pays up to 50% per clearing to $250 a season ($450 for some rural homes). Apply by Friday, November 27, 2026.
Can I cancel a seasonal contract after I sign?
If you signed at home, Ontario gives you 10 days from receiving the written agreement to cancel for any reason, and most refunds are due within 15 days. With a written estimate in the contract, the final price can rise at most 10% unless you sign a change.
