In short
- The City takes reports of lawn damage from its vehicles at any time, inspects in early spring and repairs with topsoil and grass seed.
- One Ottawa firm wants damage reported within 7 days; another sets May 15 of the season.
- Both published sets of terms exclude damage to worn, heaved or cracked driveway surfaces.
- City rules set $2 million as the minimum insurance for snow plow contractors.
Typical prices in Ottawa
| Job | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sod, installed | $1.50–$3.00 per sq ft | HomeStars, Ontario row |
| Grass seed | $0.10–$0.20 per sq ft | HomeStars, Canada-wide |
| Garage door panel, one section | $350–$900 | HomeStars, Canada-wide, vinyl to wood |
| Seasonal snow contract, residential | $300–$1,800+ per winter | HomeStars, Ottawa snow removal page |
| Relevelling a few pavers | price is set after a look at the job | No published Ottawa figure found |
Sources. Repair prices: HomeStars, How Much Does Grass Sod Cost?, published 30.06.2026, seen 29.10.2026. HomeStars, How Much Does Garage Door Repair Cost?, published 30.06.2026, seen 29.10.2026. HomeStars, snow removal in Ottawa, cost section, seen 29.10.2026. City: Report property damage by City vehicle, 3-1-1, damaged or missing infrastructure, City right of way and your property, Use and Care of Roads By-law 2003-498, Clearing snow from your property, SNOW KNOWledge brochure, By-law 2002-189 Schedule 4, all seen 29.10.2026. Contract terms: one Kanata–Stittsville firm’s published terms and one Orléans firm’s published terms (version 1.5), seen 29.10.2026. Ontario: Your rights when signing or cancelling a contract, seen 29.10.2026.
Whose machine, whose bill
Three things mark a driveway in an Ottawa winter: the City’s road and sidewalk plows, the company you hired, and the winter itself through frost, salt and an old surface giving way. Each sends the bill somewhere different, so start with which machine was there and when.
Part of what looks like your front yard is City land. The right of way takes in the roadway, sidewalk, the entrance to your driveway and the boulevard beside private property; geoOttawa shows the approximate line. The Use and Care of Roads By-law forbids anyone to break, dig up or damage boulevard sod. The by-law text reads “no person”, which covers a private contractor as well as City crews.
Lawn and boulevard: sorted in spring
For City equipment, the City takes reports at any time, investigates in early spring after the melt, and repairs what its vehicles caused with topsoil and grass seed. A rural mailbox hit by a plow is repaired or swapped for a basic box; one knocked down by snow thrown from the plow’s wing does not qualify.
Contractor damage to grass follows the contract. One Orléans firm excludes lawn and landscaping damage from piled snow or wet conditions. Ask your company where its contract draws that line before the first storm.
HomeStars puts installed sod in Ontario at $1.50–$3.00 per square foot, against $0.10–$0.20 for seed. A torn strip of 2 by 3 metres is about 65 square feet, roughly $100–$195 in sod. More on the spring melt page.
Curbs, asphalt and interlock
Curb and gutter reports go to the City. Its 3-1-1 page lists damaged curb or gutter, damage between road and sidewalk, and property damage by a City vehicle; call 3-1-1 for an immediate hazard. If you saw a private plow hit the curb, say so in the report and tell the company in writing.
Contracts draw the hardest line at the driveway surface. The Kanata–Stittsville firm excludes scrapes, scratches and rust marks on driveways and curbs, and asphalt or interlock torn out of uneven or worn surfaces. The Orléans firm excludes aging asphalt that is cracked, heaved or soft. Both contracts put heaved, uneven or worn surfaces on the owner’s side.
Interlock has its own questions about edges and joints on the interlock driveway page. A repair price for a few pavers is quoted after someone looks at the job; no Ottawa figure is published.
Garage doors, steps and anything fixed
Both firms keep machines off the garage door: the Kanata–Stittsville drivers stay at least 2 feet away, and the Orléans service stops 24 inches short. The Orléans contract includes no hand-shovelling unless specified, so the strip in front of the door is a separate item to agree on. A dented section costs $350–$900 on HomeStars’ Canada-wide list.
Fixed objects need marking. The Orléans firm considers repairs to fixed obstructions, such as steps that stick into the driveway, only when clearly marked, and a moved marker ends its liability. The Kanata–Stittsville terms make you flag steps, retaining walls, porches, garden beds and ramps. The Orléans terms also exclude cords, downspouts, hedges, sprinklers, solar lights and water valves within 2 feet of the edge. Placement rules: driveway markers.
Two damage clauses side by side
| Question | Kanata–Stittsville firm | Orléans firm |
|---|---|---|
| What it repairs | Damage it causes, apart from damage reasonably foreseeable from snow removal | Marked fixed obstructions; normal, non-negligent work excluded |
| Report deadline | 7 days | May 15 of the season |
| Upper limit | Property destroyed through its negligence or breach; notice of the claim in reasonable time, and at the latest 72 hours after you learn of it | Capped at what you paid under the agreement |
Read your own contract for the same three lines. A cap tied to the price matters: a seasonal contract runs $300–$1,800+ in Ottawa on HomeStars, so one panel or a stretch of pavers can eat most of it.
Proof that holds up in spring
Photograph the lawn edge, curb, garage door bottom section, steps and paver edges in October. After a storm that leaves a mark, photograph again inside the report window and send it by email for a dated record.
Check the company before the first visit. A snow plow business in Ottawa needs a City contractor licence; ask for proof and look for an orange plate with a valid annual sticker. The City’s brochure sets minimum insurance at $2 million.
In your request, describe the surface and its condition, any steps or walls near the edge, the garage door strip, and damage already there.
When you and the company disagree
Ontario’s Consumer Protection Act calls for written contracts on transactions over $50, and a final price can be at most 10% above a written estimate unless you sign a change. Clauses sending complaints to private arbitration do not bind you; you can go to the Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement or take legal action.
Who takes your request
Ottawa Snow Desk passes your request to one independent local snow removal company. That company calls you back, answers for the damage terms in its own contract, and clears your driveway through the winter.
Questions people ask
A City plow tore up the grass by my driveway. Who fixes it?
Report it through 3-1-1. City staff investigate in early spring, once the snow melts, and repair damage from City vehicles with topsoil and grass seed. The repair the City names is seed; HomeStars puts installed sod in Ontario at $1.50–$3.00 per square foot.
The company's blower scraped my interlock. Does it pay?
It depends on the contract. One Kanata–Stittsville firm excludes scrapes, scratches and rust marks, and pieces torn out of uneven or worn interlock.
How long do I have to report damage?
Whatever your contract says. Of two published Ottawa contracts, one asks for a report within 7 days, the other by May 15. Report in writing; the Kanata–Stittsville terms send damage reports by email where possible.
My curb is cracked after the winter. Who do I call?
Curb and gutter reports go to the City. Report it on the City’s 3-1-1 page under curb or gutter; online requests are reviewed Monday to Friday, 7 am to 3:30 pm.
The contract sends disputes to private arbitration. Am I stuck with that?
Ontario says such clauses do not bind you, even after you accept the agreement. You can still contact the ministry or take legal action.
