Roof snow cleaning
What roof snow cleaning costs in Canada (2025–26)
| Property type | Per-visit cost |
|---|---|
| Single-storey residential (ground rake) | $450–$700 |
| Two-storey or steep-slope (fall arrest) | $700–$1,200 |
| Commercial low-slope | $0.45–$1.20 / sq ft |
| Ice dam removal (per dam, steam method) | $350–$900 |
What drives the cost
- Roof access — single-storey ground-rake clears at the low end; two-storey + fall arrest at the high end
- Slope — steep slope adds anchor-and-rope setup
- Square footage — commercial low-slope quoted per sq ft
- Ice dam count — separate from snow load, steam-removal per dam
- Lead time during high-accumulation periods: 3–10 days
Walkway and step de-icing
What walkway de-icing costs
| Service | Cost |
|---|---|
| Single-visit walkway shovel + ice melt | $20–$45 (bundled into residential snow removal) |
| Per-storm condo townhouse walkway | $4–$8 per townhouse |
| Seasonal condo perimeter walkway | $8–$18 per metre per winter |
| Municipal sidewalk (Class 1 downtown) | By tender, $1,200–$4,500 per km |
| BIA sidewalk (tighter SLA) | $14–$22 per metre per winter |
Haul-away and snow disposal
What snow hauling costs per truckload
- Tandem-axle dump (8–15 m³): $250–$500 per load
- Typical major storm on 100k sq ft commercial lot: 15–35 truckloads
- Per-storm hauling cost: $3,750–$17,500
- Annual downtown commercial hauling: $50,000–$200,000 / property
When melt beats haul
At that volume, a 20 t/hr snow melter at $4,500–$6,500/week rental delivers lower cost per cleared cubic metre than continuous hauling rotation.
- 01Roof snow (residential, average): $250–650
- 02Walkway de-ice (per visit): $35–80
- 03Commercial entrance de-ice: $90–180
- 04Pickup-truck haul-away: $180–320
- 05Dump-truck haul-away: $180–420 per load
Regional cost variance — same job, different city
Snow-cleaning rates swing 30–60% across Canadian metros. Three drivers:
- Annual snowfall band — Saint John and Sudbury crews price for season-long volume; Vancouver crews price for scarcity (snow is an event, not a routine)
- Disposal distance — Toronto downtown haul-to-snow-dump is 8–18 km round trip; Calgary inner-city is 4–9 km; Halifax may exceed 25 km
- Crew utilization — cities with year-round outdoor work (Vancouver, Victoria) carry full crews; prairie crews lay off after April and price the winter season accordingly
Sample 2026 prices for the same job: “clear 25 m driveway + walkway after 20 cm storm”
| City | Per-visit | Seasonal contract | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto | $55–$95 | $580–$880 | High volume, dense routes, fast turnover |
| Montréal | $50–$85 | $520–$780 | Highest visit count per season |
| Calgary | $65–$110 | $480–$720 | Fewer visits but bigger storms |
| Vancouver | $120–$220 | $380–$640 | Scarcity premium per storm |
| Halifax | $70–$120 | $620–$920 | Long disposal hauls, wet snow |
| Winnipeg | $50–$80 | $460–$700 | High volume, cold-dry snow easier |
| Ottawa | $60–$100 | $560–$840 | Heavy season, multi-storm pricing |
Seasonal contracts almost always price below the per-visit cumulative when annual snowfall exceeds 150 cm. Below that, per-visit is cheaper for a typical residential driveway.
Hidden line items most quotes miss
Cheap quotes get cheap because they leave things out. Five line items property owners get billed for after the season starts:
- End-of-driveway windrows — the plow leaves a ridge at the municipal road edge after every city pass. Some contracts include it; many don’t
- Walkway from driveway to door — “driveway only” means “driveway only”
- Stair clearing — quoted separately when more than 4 steps or when porch is over 1.5 m elevation
- Mailbox / gas-meter / hose-bib protection — plowed-in or damaged equipment is the customer’s problem unless explicitly insured
- Spring final pass — windrow removal and salt sweep, $80–$180 per property
Ask your contractor to list these explicitly in the quote. If they balk, the price you’re seeing isn’t the price you’ll pay.
Questions, answered.
When should I clean snow off my roof?
When snow load reaches 1.5 kPa (about 60 cm of dry snow or 30 cm of wet snow). Check Environment Canada's snow-load advisory. Symptoms of overload: doors that won't close, cracking sounds from interior walls, sagging ceiling drywall.
Is it safe to clean my own roof?
Roof rakes from the ground — yes. Climbing on a snow-loaded roof — no. Falls from roofs are the leading cause of winter accident deaths in Canada among homeowners. Always hire if the rake can't reach.
How is commercial snow disposal priced?
Two ways: per cubic yard at the truck loader ($14–28/yd³) or per truckload round-trip ($180–420). Most contracts bundle "site clean-up after every 3rd visit" into the seasonal fee.
Does snow.ca handle roof snow removal?
Yes — 60+ cities offer roof snow removal as a sub-service under the snow removal listing. Crews are insured for at-height work and carry their own fall-arrest equipment.