Winter in the Capital: Navigating Snow Removal Challenges in Ottawa

The Capital’s Cold Reality

Ottawa is no stranger to harsh winters, but recent years have brought an uptick in freeze-thaw events, freezing rain, and record-breaking snowfalls. For commercial property managers, these changes make snow removal a critical safety and operational concern.

Unlike cities like Toronto, Ottawa doesn’t face lake-effect snow, but it does experience greater snowfall and more freezing rain, often coupled with extended cold snaps. For properties large and small, that means different city regulations and therefore different strategies are needed to stay compliant and efficient.

Ottawa’s Unique Snow Profile

Canadians living in Ottawa know that the city can get a lot of snow. This is due to Ottawa’s unique geography, where cold Arctic air masses collide with warm, humid air from the south, often funneled by the Ottawa River valley. This geographic setup creates extreme weather, including the potential for freezing rain, as warm rain falls through a layer of cold air, as well as more variability compared to other areas. The region's location further north, away from the moderating influence of a large body of water like Lake Ontario, results in harsher winters and warmer summers than cities like Toronto. 

Ottawa can have very unpredictable winter seasons: 

• Heavier average snowfall: ~234 cm annually (almost double Toronto)

• More freezing rain: Ottawa sees more ice storm events than other major cities in Ontario

• Greater driving dependency: Road safety and parking lot maintenance are critical for tenants and customers

Valley Topography and Microclimates

Located in the Ottawa Valley, the city’s terrain can create wind tunnels, icy slopes, and colder low spots that delay melting. This increases the importance of proactive salting and regular inspection, especially for large retail plazas, office campuses, or industrial parks.

Ottawa’s Regulations: What Commercial Owners Need to Know

• Winter Maintenance Quality Standards (WMQS) require residential roads to be plowed after 7 cm, and sidewalks to be cleared within 16 hours in priority areas.

• Ottawa’s Property Standards By-law (2005-208) mandates snow and ice removal from all areas of a property, with fines up to $500 per day.

• New licensing rules for snow contractors require prompt cleanup (within 4 hours) of snow placed on city property. Violations can result in revoked licenses or fines.

• Commercial property owners are responsible for ensuring snow from contractors isn’t pushed onto city roads or sidewalks.

Salt Use and Environmental Standards

Similar to Toronto, Ottawa is encouraging reduced salt use and smarter application methods. Oversalting near drains or impermeable surfaces can lead to fines and environmental damage. Overuse of salt can also do damage to properties, corrode walkways, and even damage tenant cars and clothes. That’s why Strathmore applies a scientific approach to salt-use. You can read more about our salt-science in a recent blog post.  

Understanding Your Legal Duty as a Commercial Property Owner

In Ottawa, keeping your property safe during winter is good business and a legal requirement. Property managers are responsible for maintaining walkways, parking lots, and entrances. If snow or ice leads to a slip and fall incident, the property owner could be held liable.

That’s why documentation matters. Tracking plow times, salting activity, and contractor responses is essential for proving due diligence in the event of a claim. With new city regulations on snow removal and contractor conduct, it’s also important to ensure your winter service provider is licensed, knowledgeable and fully compliant with city bylaws.

How Ottawa Commercial Property Owners Can Prepare:

1. Build Ice Response Plans: Ice events may require different materials and faster deployment than typical snowfalls. Commercial properties should plan ahead for the next big ice storm.

2. Segment Your Sites: Identify high-risk zones like slopes, loading docks, or shaded areas.

3. Partner with Certified Contractors: Ensure your vendor complies with new licensing rules.

4. Document Everything: Track service dates, salt application, and photo logs for liability protection.

5. Adjust Frequency in High-Snow Years: Heavy accumulation may require multiple visits per storm. You will also need to plan for where to store snow or where to haul it in heavy snow seasons. 

Don’t Get Left In the Cold

Strathmore’s winter maintenance programs in Ottawa are built for the Capital’s climate. With specialized equipment, 24/7 monitoring, a zero-tolerance snow removal commitment and fully compliant teams, we help commercial property owners manage risk, stay safe, and avoid costly fines. Let’s talk about a winter plan that works for your property.

Linked Together, Locally Tailored

While both Toronto and Ottawa share the Canadian winter, the way snow behaves and how each city responds differs dramatically. Commercial property owners who understand these nuances are better equipped to reduce risk, control costs, and deliver safer environments for tenants and the public.

At Strathmore, we don’t just clear snow, we help our clients manage winter. Across Ontario and Quebec, our teams deliver tailored snow strategies built on local expertise and a commitment to the Strathmore Standard of excellence.