In short
- One firm's 2026–27 season runs November 1 to March 31; a Kanata–Stittsville firm's runs November 1 to April 1.
- City by-law: contractor driveway markers go in no earlier than October 20 and come out by April 30.
- Snow Go Assist for winter 2026/2027: apply by Friday, November 27, 2026, with a signed snow removal contract or proof of payment.
- HomeStars Ottawa puts seasonal residential contracts at $300 to $1,800+ per winter.
- Ottawa airport averages 3.65 cm of snowfall in October and 20.22 cm in November (Environment Canada, 1981–2010 normals).
Typical prices in Ottawa
| Job | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Seasonal residential contract, Ottawa | $300–$1,800+ per winter | HomeStars Ottawa page; depends on property size and service |
| Driveway and sidewalk, one visit | $40–$150 | HomeStars Ottawa page; depends on driveway size and snowfall amount |
| Season, single / double driveway, Kanata and Stittsville | $495 / $545 | One firm’s published seasonal rates |
| Season at 5 cm, single / double / triple driveway | $475 / $530 / $630 + HST | One firm’s 2026–27 quote form, standard service from 5 cm; driveway fits 2 / 4 / 6 cars |
| Snow Go Assist subsidy | Up to 50% per event, $250 season maximum | City of Ottawa; $450 in rural areas with excessively high cost |
Sources. Ottawa ranges, the on-demand note and the HomeStars tips on priority routes and storm rates: HomeStars, snow removal companies in Ottawa, seen 29.10.2026. One firm’s season dates, early-bird date, sign-up and payment terms and prices: a snow removal firm’s 2026–27 quote form, seen 29.10.2026. Kanata–Stittsville figures and terms: one firm’s seasonal rates, its terms and conditions, its group discounts, its contract term and its FAQ, seen 29.10.2026. Limited seasonal spaces: an Orléans firm’s home page, seen 29.10.2026. Markers, plates and Schedule 4: City of Ottawa, Licensing By-law 2002-189, Schedule 4 and City of Ottawa, clearing snow from your property, seen 29.10.2026. Parking bans: City of Ottawa, winter weather parking bans, seen 29.10.2026. Snow Go Assist: City of Ottawa, get help clearing snow and Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre, Snow Go Assist, seen 29.10.2026. Snowfall: Environment and Climate Change Canada, climate normals 1981–2010, Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier Int’l A, seen 29.10.2026. Contracts: Ontario, your rights when signing or cancelling a contract, seen 29.10.2026.
Why the booking happens in the fall
Seasonal firms take sign-ups ahead of the season. One firm’s 2026–27 quote form ran an early-bird sign-up for regular customers until October 1, 2026, and asks every customer to sign up to secure a place. A Kanata–Stittsville firm ties its group discounts to prices posted on September 1. An Orléans firm says its seasonal spaces are limited.
HomeStars Ottawa says a seasonal contract often puts a property on a priority route and helps avoid higher storm rates, while on-demand service may take longer in heavy snowfall. What the season covers: the seasonal contract page.
The Ottawa snow calendar, September to April
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| September 1 | One Kanata–Stittsville firm posts its season prices |
| October 1, 2026 | One firm’s early-bird sign-up ended |
| October 20 | Earliest day for contractor driveway markers |
| November 1 | Season starts on both published contracts |
| November 15 | First day the City may call a parking ban |
| November 27, 2026 | Snow Go Assist deadline |
| March 31 or April 1 | Those two seasons end |
| April 30 | Markers must be out |
Firm dates are those firms’ terms; your company writes its own. From November 15, an overnight ban runs 7 pm to 7 am, and a car on the street without a residential permit may be ticketed and towed. Tell the company how many cars sit on the driveway on ban nights.
Snow before November 1
Environment Canada’s 1981–2010 normals for Ottawa airport give October 3.65 cm of snowfall and November 20.22 cm, then December 52.53 cm. November’s standard deviation, 21.41 cm, is larger than its average, so Novembers vary widely. Snow that falls before November 1 arrives ahead of both published seasons; HomeStars Ottawa lists a driveway and sidewalk visit at $40 to $150. Ask whether the company clears before its season, and at what rate.
Returning customers: read the renewal
One firm emails existing customers a link to check and accept the 2026–27 contract. Compare it with last winter: dates, trigger depth, season cap and the charge above it, fuel clause, walkway, payment dates. Ontario’s rules say a business must give written notice of changes, renewals included, and let you decline them. Selling this winter? On one Kanata–Stittsville firm’s terms, a sale neither cancels nor refunds the contract; it can pass to the new owners. More on paying ahead: prepaid contract rights.
New customers: what to settle before signing
- Driveway size in cars. One firm’s form prices a single (2 cars) at $475, a double (4) at $530 and a triple (6) at $630 + HST at a 5 cm start; the Kanata–Stittsville firm posts $495 single and $545 double.
- A shared lane. Shared prices on that form need both neighbours to sign up.
- Group sign-ups. The Kanata–Stittsville firm takes $20 off each of four or more new clients; its $50 tier excludes main streets and bus routes.
- Payment. The form bills after an official invoice, in one or two parts.
- The written contract. Ontario names snow removal among services over $50 that call for one. Signed at home, it can be cancelled within 10 days of receiving it.
- The City licence. A snow plow business needs a City contractor licence; hand-shovel and manual snow-blower crews are exempt. Each registered plow carries a City plate with the year’s sticker, proof of $2 million in liability coverage is on file, and clients receive Schedule 4 in writing or as a link.
Getting the driveway ready for markers
Under Schedule 4, markers stand at least 1.5 m (5 ft) from a sidewalk, or 2.1 m (7 ft) from the street without one, and at most 1.22 m (4 ft) tall: two with the contractor’s logo or phone, plus two plain. The Kanata–Stittsville firm asks owners to flag interlock steps, low walls and garden beds for extra markers. Full rules: driveway markers.
Its terms also ask owners to turn a fixed basketball net away, remove downspout extensions and keep movable items 4 ft from the edge. Its FAQ says to call the City at 613-580-2400 about a raised water valve cap before snow hides it.
Snow Go Assist runs on the same clock
Snow Go Assist pays up to 50% of clearing per event, to $250 a season ($450 rural with excessively high cost), for adults 60+ or people with a disability under the City’s income limits, when nobody at home can do the work; the amount paid depends on the number of applicants and available funding. It needs a signed contract or proof of payment by Friday, November 27, 2026. One agency says applications go out every October. Agencies by area: snow help for seniors.
Who takes your request
Ottawa Snow Desk passes your request to one independent local snow removal company. That company calls you back, sends its own dates, price and contract, and clears the driveway all winter. In the form, give the driveway size in cars, any shared lane, the walkway, a bus route if you are on one, and your start date.
Questions people ask
Is November too late to book a seasonal contract?
Both published contracts here start on November 1, and an Orléans firm says its seasonal spaces are limited. Ask in your request whether the route still has room near you and whether a late start changes the price.
Do I pay when I sign up?
It depends on the company. One firm’s 2026–27 form asks customers to sign up to secure a place and bills only after its official invoice, in one payment or two. Get the dates and any deposit in writing.
My company sent a renewal with a higher price. Do I have to accept it?
Ontario’s consumer rules say a business must give written notice of changes it wants to make to a contract, renewals and extensions included, and must let you decline them.
When do the markers go in?
The City’s Schedule 4 lets a contractor place driveway markers from October 20, and they must be out by April 30. One Kanata–Stittsville firm puts in one on a shared driveway and two on an individual one.
Can I apply for Snow Go Assist before I have a contract?
The City asks for a signed snow removal contract or proof of payment with the application, and the 2026/2027 deadline is Friday, November 27, 2026. One agency says funding is first-come, first-served.
