The first real snowfall in Toronto usually lands in November, and it brings the same question every year: what should clearing a driveway and sidewalk actually cost? For a standard Toronto home, the typical 2026 price is about $45 to $100 per visit for a driveway and walkway, or roughly $500 to $900 for a seasonal contract. Here is how those numbers break down, what pushes them up or down, and the city rule that decides which parts of the job are yours in the first place.
Typical prices in 2026
| Job | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Shovelling a standard driveway and walkway, per visit | $45–$75 |
| Snow blower or plow service, per visit | $50–$100 |
| Salting or de-icing, per application | $30–$100 |
| Monthly plan (about four to six visits) | $200–$400 |
| Seasonal contract, standard home (November to April) | $500–$900 |
These are the mid-range prices most Toronto homeowners actually pay, based on local providers' published rates for the 2026–27 season. You will see quotes outside them in both directions. Independent shovellers who work a few streets near home advertise per-visit clearing starting around $30–$50, while premium full-service companies with guaranteed early-morning routes price a full season at $1,000–$1,700 or more.
What changes the price
- Driveway size. A single-car driveway is quick work. A double driveway, a long shared drive, or a laneway spot can double the time.
- How the snow is moved. Hand shovelling is the cheapest per visit. Blowers and plows cost more but handle heavy, wet snow far faster.
- The trigger depth. A contract that starts clearing at 2 cm of snow visits much more often than one that starts at 5 cm, and the price reflects it.
- Salting. Some plans include de-icing after every visit. Others charge it as an add-on each time.
- Timing and priority. Guaranteed clearing before 7 a.m. costs more than "sometime that day."
- Your lot. Corner lots come with a long side sidewalk, and extra steps, ramps and walkways all add work.
The Toronto rule: what you actually have to clear
Snow clearing in Toronto is not just a courtesy — part of it is law. Under Chapter 719 of the Toronto Municipal Code, owners and occupants must clear snow and ice from the sidewalk in front of, beside and behind their building within 12 hours after a snowfall ends, and clear their own driveway, steps and walkways within 24 hours. The City of Toronto's background summary of the snow-clearing rules lays out the details, and fines for ignoring the bylaw can reach $5,000. For the full picture, see our guide to Toronto's sidewalk snow clearing rules.
One relief: the City now machine-clears most public sidewalks once snow passes about 2 cm, and where the City has taken over a sidewalk, that stretch is no longer your job. Your driveway, front walk and steps always are — which is exactly the part most people hire out.
Contract, company, or a neighbour?
A seasonal contract with a snow company is the set-and-forget option: one flat price covers the winter whether it snows ten times or twenty-five. The trade-offs are paying for the whole season up front and sharing a route — after a big storm, your driveway gets cleared when the truck reaches your street, not when you need to leave.
Per-visit help flips that around: you pay only when it actually snows, and you choose when. It suits people who travel, work from home, or only need help after heavy falls. Increasingly, Torontonians split the difference and hire a neighbour on their own street — per visit or for the season, usually at the lower end of the price range, with the bonus that your helper is two doors down when a storm hits at 6 a.m.
Hiring a neighbour on Yoodle
Yoodle is a free neighbourhood app where people post small jobs like snow clearing and local helpers offer to do them. There are no fees for either side. Post your driveway once, with the details that matter — driveway size, whether you want salting, and how soon after a snowfall you need it cleared — and helpers nearby can offer. You can browse local jobs to see how neighbours describe their jobs, or look through local helpers first.
Before the first storm
- Book early. Good company routes and reliable neighbours are spoken for by the first big snowfall.
- Agree on the details. Trigger depth, salting, and where the snow gets piled — never on the road, which can draw its own fine.
- Pay per visit, when the work is done. If it goes well, keep the same person all season. It usually beats a contract on price, and the money stays on your street.