Snow Removal in the Okanagan: What to Know Before Winter

Okanagan winters are gentler than much of Canada, but anyone who has driven up the hill in Kelowna during a December storm knows snow and ice are very real here. The valley bottom may see slush while higher neighbourhoods get a solid dump, so it pays to be ready before the first snowfall.

Who can I hire for snow removal in the Okanagan?

Holler is the Okanagan's app for booking background-checked local Taskers to clear driveways, walkways, front steps and the public sidewalk in front of your home. You choose the Tasker and book one visit at a time, when snow is on the way or once it has landed, and you can book the same person again next storm. Every Tasker passes a Canada-wide criminal record check, confirms their identity with our screening provider and completes safety training first.

Your sidewalk: the rule where you live

Most Okanagan towns make property owners responsible for the public sidewalk next to their property, and each sets its own rule. All seven ban pushing your snow onto the road, though Penticton makes an exception for buildings that sit right at the property line.

• Kelowna: clear snow and ice off the sidewalk bordering your property within 24 hours after the snow stops, under the City's Traffic Bylaw No. 8120. Shovelling snow onto the road can bring a fine.
• West Kelowna: owners and occupiers clear the sidewalks bordering their property within 24 hours after a snowfall ends, under the Good Neighbour Bylaw. A few listed stretches are exempt.
• Lake Country: District crews and a contractor clear the roads and sidewalks. Your driveway access is yours, and the Highways Bylaw bans putting your snow on the road or sidewalk.
• Peachland: keep the sidewalks next to your property clear of snow and ice between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., under the Traffic Regulation Bylaw. If you don't, the District can have it cleared at your expense.
• Vernon: clear the sidewalk next to your property within 24 hours of snow or ice building up, even with a boulevard in between, under Traffic Bylaw #5600.
• Summerland: in residential areas, clear the sidewalks bordering your property within 24 hours after a snowfall ends; in commercial areas, by 10 a.m. each day, under the Good Neighbour Bylaw.
• Penticton: clear the sidewalk next to your property by 11 a.m. the morning after a snowfall, under the Good Neighbour Bylaw. Missing it can bring a $75 fine.

The snow ridge at the end of your driveway

Kelowna, Lake Country, Peachland, Vernon and Penticton all leave the snow plows push across your driveway entrance for you to clear, and West Kelowna calls that ridge inevitable; Kelowna alone has about 39,000 driveways. Plows push snow to the right, so pile yours on the left side of the driveway as you face your home, and less gets dragged back. If you book help, book it after the plow has been by.

When the plows come

Kelowna plows main roads like Gordon Drive and Springfield Road within 8 hours after the snow stops, collector roads within 12 hours and residential streets within 48 hours. West Kelowna gets to neighbourhood streets within 48 hours, Lake Country's flat neighbourhood roads can expect service within 24 hours, Peachland plows residential streets within 96 hours, Vernon's can take up to 72 hours, and Penticton aims to make residential roads passable within 48 hours. In Kelowna and West Kelowna, new snow sends crews back to the main roads first, so a quiet side street can wait longer than you'd expect.

Why Okanagan snow catches people off guard

The mild reputation lulls people into not preparing. Then a sudden cold snap turns wet snow into ice overnight, driveways glaze over, and walkways become a liability. Higher elevation areas like the Upper Mission, Glenmore, and parts of Lake Country and Vernon tend to get more snow than the lakeshore.

Get ready before the first snow

• Stock up on ice melt or sand early, before the stores sell out after the first storm
• Have a shovel and a sturdy scraper ready and accessible
• Mark driveway edges and obstacles before they get buried
• Line up a snow removal Tasker early if you travel, work long hours, or have mobility concerns

Who needs snow removal help most

Seniors, people with health or mobility issues, busy families, and anyone with a long or steep driveway benefit most from booking help. Keeping your walkway and driveway clear is also about safety and liability, since a slip on an icy path can be serious.

With Holler, a vetted, background-checked local is a booking away. Book when a storm is forecast or the morning it lands, and choose the same Tasker again next time instead of scrambling to find someone new.