Same-Day Snow Removal in Ottawa: Prices and Availability
Need your driveway cleared today? Send us:
- The property address
- A current photo of the driveway and entrance
- The areas you want cleared
- The time you need the work finished
We’ll check the job against the crews and routes already operating nearby. If we have room, we’ll confirm the price, the work included and the expected completion window.
A request is not a booking until we confirm it. During a large storm, location is often a deciding factor. A straightforward job near an active route may be possible when a similar job across the city is not.
What same-day service means
Same-day service means requesting a one-time clearing for the day you contact us. The booking is confirmed only after we review the property and route availability.
It does not mean a truck will arrive immediately. We also cannot promise a specific completion time until we have reviewed the job.
A typical request may include a driveway, the front walkway and the snow ridge at the street. That ridge is called a windrow. It is the heavy strip of snow left across a driveway entrance by a municipal plow.
Tell us exactly what you need. For example:
Please clear one vehicle path, the front steps and the walkway by 3 p.m. The City plow has already passed, and the windrow is visible in the photo.
That gives us more useful information than simply saying the snow is deep.
One-time snow removal prices
Our estimated prices for the 2026–27 season are:
| Service | Estimated price |
|---|---|
| Windrow at the driveway entrance only | $60–$100 |
| Typical driveway and front walkway | $80–$140 |
| Dig-out after 25 cm or more of snow | $120–$220 |
| Snowbank pushback or relocation | $150–$320 |
These are Snow Removals Ottawa estimates, not city-wide averages. We confirm the actual price after reviewing the address, photo and requested work. Your quote will identify the total price and any applicable tax before you approve the job.
A narrow single driveway with fresh snow is a different job from a wide driveway covered in packed snow. Steps, long walkways, parked vehicles, frozen windrows and limited space for piling snow can also affect the quote.
If the snow needs to be loaded and hauled away, mention that before booking. Off-site removal requires different equipment and is not included in ordinary driveway clearing.
Has the City plow passed yet?
This is one of the most important details to include with a same-day request.
If the street has already been plowed, we can quote the existing windrow along with the rest of the work. If the plow has not passed, it may leave a new ridge across the driveway after we finish.
A second visit is not automatically included. If you are unsure whether the City has finished your street, ask us how a return visit would be handled before approving the quote.
Ottawa clears streets using a priority system. High-use roads, emergency routes and transit routes are cleared before residential streets. According to the City’s winter-maintenance schedule, residential road and lane clearing begins after 7 cm or more of accumulation. After the last snowflake falls, those routes may take 10 to 16 hours to complete. The timelines may be suspended during a Significant Weather Event.
The City also states that property owners are responsible for clearing the windrow left across their driveway.
What to show in the photo
A current photo lets us see:
- The driveway width and approximate length
- The depth and condition of the snow
- Any windrow at the street
- Parked vehicles or narrow access
- Walkways, stairs and hand-clearing areas
- The space available for piling snow
Whenever possible, take the photo after the most recent snowfall or municipal plow pass. If vehicles will be moved before we arrive, say so in the request.
We can clear only surfaces that are safely accessible. Snow packed beneath a vehicle may remain unless the vehicle is moved and that area is included in the quote.
Salting and ice control
Snow clearing and ice treatment are separate jobs. Do not assume salt is included unless it appears in the quote.
Tell us about freezing rain, hard-packed ice or refrozen meltwater when requesting service. We can then confirm whether treatment is available and what it will cost.
If you have pets, delicate stonework or concerns about salt use, ask what product will be applied before approving ice treatment.
Where the snow can go
Snow from private property cannot be pushed onto a street, sidewalk, pathway, park or other City property. The City’s guidance for clearing private property explains these restrictions.
Most routine jobs involve stacking snow on the property. Later in the winter, that can become difficult as banks grow and storage space disappears.
Send a photo if your snowbanks are already high. We may need to quote pushback or relocation instead of ordinary clearing.
Before you approve the quote
Make sure the written quote identifies:
- The surfaces to be cleared
- Whether the driveway windrow is included
- Whether salting is included
- Where the snow will be placed
- The expected completion window
- The cost of any return visit
- The total price and any applicable tax
Ottawa requires businesses providing private-property snow removal with plow vehicles to hold a municipal licence and carry the required insurance. Licensed vehicles must display a City-issued snow-plow plate. The business name and telephone number must also appear on both sides of the vehicle.
You can review the City’s snow-plow licensing requirements and check its list of licensed contractors.
Need help arranging regular snow clearing?
One-time service is useful when a snowblower breaks, a contractor misses a visit or snow has built up while you are away.
If you expect to need help after most storms, seasonal service may cost less and provide more predictable scheduling.
Ottawa’s Snow Go program helps adults aged 60 or older and people with disabilities find a snow-clearing provider. Snow Go Assist offers financial help to eligible low-income members of those groups. Eligibility, funding and application periods can change, so check the City’s current program information before applying.
For a same-day quote, send the address, a current photo, the areas to be cleared and your deadline. We’ll tell you whether we can take the job before asking you to commit.