Snow Removal Cost in Ontario (2026–27 Season)
Seasonal contracts, per-visit rates, what counts as an extra, and why the booking window is open right now.
In short
A flat-rate seasonal snow removal contract in Toronto and the GTA runs $500–$1,500 for a standard driveway, or roughly $350–$800 in smaller Ontario markets. Paying per visit costs $50–$150 each time, with driveway plowing at $75–$160 and walkway shovelling at $40–$95. Salting is almost always extra, at $15–$75 per application. Contractors sell a fixed number of seasonal routes and close their lists in the autumn, so September and October are when the choice is yours.
Seasonal contract or per visit?
The two pricing models suit different winters and different tolerances for risk. A seasonal contract fixes your cost whatever the weather does; per-visit pricing keeps a mild winter cheap and an ugly one expensive.
| Option | Typical price | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Seasonal contract | $500–$1,500 in the GTA $350–$800 outside it |
Anyone who needs the driveway clear every morning |
| Monthly plan | $200–$400 for 4–6 visits | Shorter commitments and rentals |
| Per visit | $50–$150 per clearing | Mild winters, occasional need, second properties |
| Driveway plowing only | $75–$160 per visit | Long or double driveways billed on their own |
The break-even sits around eight to ten clearings. A heavy Ontario winter delivers twenty or more, which puts the contract well ahead; a mild one does the opposite. Seasonal clients also get cleared first after a storm, and in February that matters more than the arithmetic.
What is almost never included
A driveway contract covers the driveway. Everything else is quoted separately, and this is where quotes that looked identical stop being comparable.
| Service | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Walkway and front steps | $40–$95 per visit |
| Salt or calcium chloride | $15–$75 per application |
| Side paths and rear access | Quoted per property |
| Heavy storm surcharge | Applied above the contract’s standard accumulation |
Most per-visit rates are calibrated for 5 to 15 centimetres. When a storm drops 20 to 25, many contractors add a surcharge — ask what the threshold is and what it costs before you need to know.
The windrow at the end of your driveway
A windrow is the ridge a city plow leaves across your driveway entrance after clearing the road. It arrives after your contractor has already been, it is heavier than the snow that fell, and in most of Ontario clearing it is the resident’s job.
Toronto runs a paid windrow-clearing service for eligible households in North York, Scarborough and Etobicoke; in the rest of the city, residents handle it themselves. The published fee for the 2025–26 season was $184 plus HST. The City also clears the large majority of sidewalks as part of its winter maintenance. Other GTA municipalities set their own rules, and they differ street by street.
Two things follow. Confirm current eligibility, fees and dates directly with your municipality — they change between seasons. And if you are hiring privately, ask whether the windrow is included in the contract or counts as an extra visit.
What to settle before you sign
Why September and October decide your winter
Snow removal is a routed business. A contractor can only serve the driveways that fit into a plow route, so each company sells a fixed number of seasonal spots and closes the list when they are gone. By late November the good operators are full and what remains is per-visit pricing with no priority.
Municipal programs run on the same calendar: applications generally open in the autumn and close before the season starts. Missing that window means waiting a year, not a week.
Red flags when hiring snow removal
Snow removal attracts seasonal operators who take deposits in November and are unreachable by February. These are the signals worth walking away from.
If a contractor does damage your property, photograph it the same day, report it in writing rather than by phone, and ask for the insurer’s claim details. Ontario’s consumer protection rules are published on ontario.ca.
Find snow removal in Ontario
Browse home services in Ontario to compare local snow removal and landscaping companies by city. Ontario24 is a classified directory — we help you find, compare and contact businesses directly, and we do not vet them. Ask for proof of insurance before anyone works on your property; our safety tips explain what to check.
Frequently asked questions
No. Ontario24 is a classified directory — we help you find, compare and contact local businesses directly, and we do not vet them. Ask for proof of liability insurance before anyone works on your property, and get the scope and trigger depth in writing.
Usually not. Salt or calcium chloride is almost always billed separately, at roughly $15 to $75 per application depending on the property and the product. Walkways, front steps and side paths are also priced as add-ons rather than included in a driveway contract. Get the full scope in writing before signing.
September and October. Contractors sell a fixed number of seasonal routes and close their lists once full, so late bookings often mean a waiting list or per-visit pricing only. City programs run on the same calendar — municipal windrow-clearing applications typically open in the autumn and close before winter.
A windrow is the ridge of snow a city plow leaves across the end of your driveway after clearing the road. Toronto runs a windrow-clearing service for eligible households in North York, Scarborough and Etobicoke; elsewhere in the city, clearing it is the resident’s responsibility. The service is paid and seasonal — the published fee for the 2025–26 season was $184 plus HST. Confirm current terms and eligibility with the City before the season starts.
It depends on the winter. A seasonal contract at $800 breaks even against per-visit pricing at roughly eight to ten clearings. A heavy Ontario winter can bring twenty or more, which makes the contract clearly cheaper. A mild winter makes per-visit cheaper. The contract also buys priority: seasonal clients are cleared before per-visit callers after a storm.
Most Toronto homeowners pay $500 to $1,500 for a flat-rate seasonal contract covering the driveway. Smaller properties and markets outside the GTA start lower, around $350 to $800. The price covers unlimited visits once snowfall reaches the trigger depth in your contract, usually 2 to 5 centimetres.
Prices compiled in September 2026 from published rates of Ontario snow removal contractors and cross-checked across the Toronto and GTA market. Municipal windrow and sidewalk information from the City of Toronto winter maintenance pages; fees and eligibility are set by each municipality and change between seasons. Ranges are for planning, not quotes — get at least two written estimates. Related reading: our lawn care and landscaping price guide and furnace cost guide.