When Edmonton gets 48 inches of snow, businesses and property owners need snow plowing to keep their sites safe. Canadian winters are hard. With big piles of snow and slippery ice everywhere, it can make your property or commercial space more difficult to manage yourself. Snow plowing helps you and your customers stay safe and protected, all while following city rules. At Terra Landscaping, we help Edmonton property managers and business owners deal with tough winters, and our goal is to share easy tips with you.
Understanding Edmonton Snow Removal Rules
Edmonton has a bylaw — Community Standards Bylaw 14600 — that requires property owners to clear your sidewalk within 48 hours after the snow stops. Miss that deadline? You could be fined.
Why does the city care so much? Because when sidewalks are buried in snow, people walk in the street. That’s dangerous, especially when drivers can’t see them.
How to Clear Sidewalks Properly
When it comes to snow plowing your sidewalk, here’s what Edmonton expects:
- Clear the entire width of your sidewalk, not just a tiny path down the middle
- Remove snow right down to the pavement so people can see bare ground
- Corner lot owners must clear both sidewalks (yes, it’s double the work)
- Start counting your 48 hours after the snow stops falling, not when it starts
Pro Tip: Keep an eye on the weather forecast. Knowing when the snow will stop helps you plan your snow plowing schedule.
Common Snow Removal Mistakes
Here’s what not to do when clearing snow:
- Don’t push snow into the street
- Don’t cover storm drains with your snow piles
- Don’t bury fire hydrants
City Resources for Business Owners
Edmonton actually helps property owners and businesses maintain winter safety through free programs:
- Free sandboxes placed around public areas provide sand for icy parking lots and sidewalks etc
- Snow plow tracker online tool shows when city trucks will clear your street area
- Community support programs help commercially comply with bylaws
Need professional help? Search “plowing snow near me” and you’ll find local companies like Terra Landscaping ready to handle your commercial snow management needs.
Best Snow Plowing Equipment for Your Property
You don’t need a garage full of expensive equipment to handle Edmonton winters. Starting with quality basics and adding tools as needed keeps costs reasonable while ensuring effective snow removal.
Choosing a Good Snow Shovel
A good snow shovel makes clearing snow easier. Choose a light one with a curved handle to protect your back. Make sure the size fits your height, the blade isn’t too heavy, and keep it near your door for quick use.
Snow Blower or Snow Plow Truck?
Meanwhile, Snow blowers and snow plow trucks are great for big areas. A snow blower works well for most residential —it clears snow fast and throws it to the side. Electric ones are quiet and eco-friendly. For very large properties or farms, a snow plow truck or tractor is better. You can even find plow attachments for your tractor online.
Maintaining Your Equipment
Additionally, taking care of your tools extends their lifespan significantly. Clean your shovel after each use and spray cooking oil on the blade—snow won’t stick to it as much. Check your snow blower before winter starts.
Safe Ways to Remove Snow
Every winter, thousands of people hurt themselves while snow plowing and shoveling, but proper techniques and preparation prevent most injuries. Whether you’re using a shovel or operating a snow plow truck, safety should always come first.
Prepare Before You Start
Before you tackle any snow removal, warm up your body properly:
- Do stretches like you would before playing sports—move your arms, bend your knees, twist gently
- Dress in layers you can peel off as you heat up from working
- Wear boots with good grip so you don’t slip on hidden ice patches
- Drink water before heading out, even though it’s cold
Smart Shoveling Techniques
Furthermore, using correct shoveling techniques protects your back and heart:
- Push snow instead of lifting it whenever possible
- When you must lift, take small amounts and bend your knees, not your back
- Clear deep snow in layers rather than digging to the bottom in one exhausting go
- Avoid twisting your body while holding snow—turn your whole body instead
Using a snow plow truck? Start slow and get comfortable with how it handles before speeding up. Watch for stuff hidden under the snow, like rocks, curbs, or garden edges.
Handling Icy Areas
Ice is sneaky—you clear the snow and boom, there’s a slippery layer underneath waiting to catch you.
- Use Edmonton’s free sand from community sandboxes for excellent traction
- Apply de-icing products on stairs, slopes, and high-traffic walking areas
- Reapply after heavy foot traffic wears away the initial application
Eco-Friendly Snow Plowing Methods
You can handle effective snow removal without damaging Edmonton’s environment. Smart choices in products and techniques protect local waterways while keeping your property safe.
Better De-Icing Products
Consequently, regular salt melts ice but damages grass, plants, and eventually washes into rivers—harming fish and aquatic life when spring arrives.
Better alternatives include pet-safe ice melt formulas, calcium magnesium acetate (sounds fancy, but it’s genuinely plant-friendly), and free sand from the city that provides traction without chemicals. Don’t overuse any product—more doesn’t mean better performance.
Where to Put Snow
Moreover, proper snow disposal prevents property damage and drainage issues:
- Keep snow on your own property; never push it into the streets
- Avoid covering storm drains or catch basins with snow piles
- Don’t pile snow against your house (asks for water problems when melting starts)
- Spread snow around your yard instead of creating one massive pile
Smaller, distributed piles melt faster and won’t kill grass or damage property areas—similar principles landscape company applies to our green roofs’ drainage systems.
Using Clean Equipment
In addition, gas-powered snow blowers create pollution and noise. Electric models don’t, so if you’re buying new equipment, go electric for cleaner operation.
Do you already have gas tools? To burn efficiently and produce little pollution, keep it in good shape. Don’t let machines sit about when you’re not utilizing them; wasting fuel doesn’t assist anyone.
When to Hire Snow Plowing Services in Edmonton
Sometimes paying for professional snow removal makes more sense than DIY approaches. Recognizing when to call experts saves time, prevents injuries, and ensures bylaw compliance.
Benefits of Professional Help
There are many benefits to hiring a professional snow plowing service:
- You get back hours every winter—no more waking up at 5 AM to shovel before work.
- There’s no chance of hurting your back or your heart from working too hard.
- Someone else is in charge of keeping an eye on the weather and worrying about the 48-hour deadline.
- Even when you’re sick or on vacation, your property area gets cleared.
Professional help is quite useful at a low cost if you have a lot going on at work, or if you’re elderly and worried about safety.
Finding Reliable Snow Plowing Services
Nevertheless, not all snow removal companies deliver equal quality:
- Read online reviews from actual Edmonton customers
- Verify they carry proper insurance coverage
- Ask if they work 24/7 (snow falls at night and on weekends too)
- Check if they understand Edmonton’s specific bylaws
- Get a free estimate before committing to any contract
- Good companies communicate clearly, arrive on schedule, and stand behind their work with guarantees.
Why Terra Landscaping Works
Terra Landscaping works hard year-round—even during heavy blizzards when others shut down. Our team knows Edmonton’s snow rules, so you stay worry-free. We use modern snow plow trucks for all parking lot sizes and maintain your landscaped areas year-round. For those who prefer green solutions, we also offer eco-friendly de-icing, inspired by our living walls and passive living walls projects.
Beyond snow, we handle full landscape property maintenance, keeping your property beautiful in every season.
Conclusion
Every Property & business owners in Edmonton has a hard time in the winter, but with the right snow plowing skills, good tools, and smart choices, the season can be handled. If you want to avoid fines, clear your sidewalk within 48 hours. To keep yourself safe, make sure you buy the right tools for the size of your property and use eco-friendly de-icing products and ways to lift things. Want to skip the early starts, aching backs, and worrying about the law? Let Terra Landscaping take care of all of your commercial snow management needs. We’ve worked through decades of Edmonton winters, so we know how to handle them perfectly. Get a free quote from us today and enjoy the winter from the comfort of your own area while we keep your property safe, clear, and in line all season.