If you have a property next to a sidewalk, help us keep Yellowknife safe and beautiful by cleaning your sidewalk.
If you occupy a residence or business next to a sidewalk in the Central Business District and on Franklin Avenue from Matonabee Street to 57th Street, you must take all reasonable measures to clear away all snow and ice from the sidewalk, within twenty-four hours of the time that the snow or ice accumulated. You must also apply sand or salt as necessary to make the sidewalk safe and take any other reasonable measures as shall be necessary to ensure the safety of pedestrians using the sidewalk (Highway Traffic By-law Section 95(2)).
Snow Removal
The City of Yellowknife wishes to remind property owners that snow from public sidewalks abutting your property may be placed but not piled on the road. Snow from your driveway or any other portion of your property may not be placed on the road. Placing unauthorized snow on the road greatly increases snow volumes, and creates unsafe driving conditions. Instead, this snow must be placed elsewhere on your own property.
If you are unable to shovel the sidewalk attached to your property or require assistance check out our Snow Angels program.
Spring Cleaning
Ensure that your sidewalk is clear of debris, sand, and gravel by the 15th of May each year.
By-Law
Please reference the Highway Traffic By-law here for more information.
Highway Traffic By-law No. 5055
94. (1) Every occupier of property abutting on a sidewalk in any part whatsoever of the City shall be required on or before the fifteenth day of May in each year to remove dirt, sand, gravel and other debris, accumulated during the winter on such sidewalk.
(2) On or before the first day of May in each year the City Manager shall give notice to the general public setting out the requirements under Section 94 (1) of this by-law.
(3) The City Manager will inspect the sidewalks as outlined in Section 94 (1) and where the sidewalks have not been cleaned of dirt, sand, gravel or other debris, a compliance notice may be issued to the occupier of the property abutting the sidewalk to remove dirt, sand, gravel and other debris.
(4) Where in the interest of public safety, in the opinion of the City Manager, that dirt, sand, gravel or other debris should be removed from the sidewalk, a compliance notice may be served on the occupier of the property abutting the sidewalk and the occupier shall immediately remove such dirt, sand, gravel and other debris.
(5) Due notice, for the purposes of Sections 94 (3) and (4), shall be served personally upon the occupier or sent by registered mail to the occupier not less than two clear days before any work undertaken pursuant to Sections 94 (3) and (4) shall be commenced.
(6) Where remedial action has not been taken in accordance with Sections 94 (3) and (4) the City may undertake such work as is deemed necessary to comply with Sections 94 (3) and (4).
(7) Where, pursuant to Section 94 (6) the City undertakes work, the City is hereby authorized to charge the cost of such work against the property abutting on the subject sidewalk and, in the event of non-payment of such cost, to charge the same as a special tax to be subject to the same conditions and penalties as other taxes.
(8) The contents of Sections 94 (3) and (4) shall not be construed so as to relieve such pedestrians of their duty to exercise due care and precaution when using the sidewalk.
95. (1) No person shall place, or shall cause or allow to be placed upon any highway or public place within the City any snow, ice, dirt, or other obstruction removed from any place in the City other than from a sidewalk pursuant to the provisions of this by-law.
(2) The occupier of a property abutting on a sidewalk in the Central Business District, 50th Avenue from Matonabee Street to Old Airport Road, and 50th Avenue from 44th Street to School Draw Avenue, shall: (a) take all reasonable measures to remove or cause to be removed and cleared away all snow and ice from the sidewalk, such removal to be completed within twenty-four (24) hours of the time when such snow or ice was formed or accumulated; (b) apply sand, salt or other material which renders the sidewalk safe when it can be clearly demonstrated that the surface of the sidewalk or weather conditions makes it difficult to meet the requirements in (a) above; and (c) take any other reasonable measures as shall be necessary to ensure the safety of pedestrians using the sidewalk.
(3) Where remedial action has not been taken in accordance with Section 95 (2) the City may undertake such work as is deemed necessary to comply with Subsection (2).
(4) Where, pursuant to Section 95 (3) the City undertakes work, the City is hereby authorized to charge the cost of such work against the property abutting on the subject sidewalk and, in the event of non-payment of such cost, to charge the same as a special tax to be subject to the same conditions and penalties as other taxes.
(5) The contents of Section 95 (2) shall not be construed so as to relieve such pedestrians of their duty to exercise due care and precaution when using the sidewalk.