Who is responsible for clearing sidewalks in winter?

Property owners or occupants are generally responsible for clearing sidewalks adjacent to their property; see City of Regina property standards guidance for details.

Can I get an exemption if I am elderly or ill?

There is no specific public exemption permit listed on the property standards page; contact By-law Enforcement to discuss options and any temporary accommodations.

What happens if the city clears my sidewalk and bills me?

The City may recover abatement costs from the property owner; the method and amounts are set out in city procedures rather than a public winter-exemption form on the property standards page.

Winter Property Maintenance Exemptions - Regina

Housing and Building Standards Saskatchewan 3 Minutes Read · published May 24, 2026

Regina, Saskatchewan property owners and residents must follow city rules for snow, ice and winter maintenance to keep sidewalks, walkways and public access safe. This article explains common exemptions, who enforces rules, how enforcement works, and practical steps to apply for relief or report non-compliance in Regina. It summarizes the official City of Regina guidance on property standards and bylaw enforcement and points to the departments and online services you can use to ask for a variance, pay fines, or file a complaint.

Penalties & Enforcement

The City of Regina delegates inspection and enforcement for property maintenance and winter hazards to its By-law Enforcement team and Property Standards officers. Specific monetary fines, escalation amounts for repeat or continuing offences, and prescribed ticket amounts are not specified on the cited City pages.Property standards^[1] By-law Enforcement^[2]

Contact By-law Enforcement early if you cannot meet a clearing deadline.

Enforcement typically follows these administrative steps:

Inspection or complaint intake by By-law Enforcement, with photos and notes recorded.
Compliance order or notice served to the owner or occupant.
Deadline to remedy the issue; failure to comply can lead to tickets or city abatement.
If the city abates the problem, the property owner may be billed for costs; the exact fee schedule is not specified on the cited pages.

Applications & Forms

The City publishes online complaint and service request forms for reporting property standards or bylaw concerns; there is no separate published "winter exemption" permit form on the property standards page. For variances or special permission you must contact By-law Enforcement directly using the City reporting channels cited below, as no named exemption application appears on the property standards page.

Common Violations

Failure to clear snow or ice from sidewalks adjacent to property.
Accumulation creating hazard to pedestrians or obstructing public access.
Improperly placed snow blocking driveways, sightlines or public pathways.

If you are ill or otherwise unable to clear ice, notify By-law Enforcement as soon as possible.

How enforcement is applied

Where an inspector finds a contravention, the city may issue a notice to remedy and set a deadline. If the owner does not act, the city may abate the condition and levy costs to the owner, or issue tickets where applicable. The exact ticket amounts or daily fines for continuing offences are not specified on the linked City pages; contact By-law Enforcement for up-to-date penalty schedules.^[2]

FAQ

Who is responsible for clearing sidewalks in winter?: Property owners or occupants are generally responsible for clearing sidewalks adjacent to their property; see City of Regina property standards guidance for details.^[1]
Can I get an exemption if I am elderly or ill?: There is no specific public exemption permit listed on the property standards page; contact By-law Enforcement to discuss options and any temporary accommodations.^[2]
What happens if the city clears my sidewalk and bills me?: The City may recover abatement costs from the property owner; the method and amounts are set out in city procedures rather than a public winter-exemption form on the property standards page.

How-To

Report a snow or ice concern via the City of Regina online report-a-concern system or By-law Enforcement contact form.
Document the hazard with photos and dates; keep copies for any appeal.
If you receive a compliance order, follow the remedy steps or contact the issuing office within the time limit stated on the order to request review.
If the city abates the issue and bills you, review the invoice and follow the payment or appeal instructions provided with the notice.

Key Takeaways

Regina property owners are expected to maintain sidewalks and public interfaces in winter.
Contact By-law Enforcement promptly if you need accommodation or to appeal an order.
Keep photos and records to support requests for review or appeals.