Sidewalk and Windrow Assistance Program

The City of Niagara Falls is pleased to announce the launch of a Windrow Snow Clearing and Sidewalk Snow Clearing Assistance Pilot Program for the 2026–2027 winter season. This program is designed to support residents who may experience challenges clearing snow due to age, disability, or financial circumstances.

Program overview

Beginning in April 2026, eligible residents will be able to receive assistance with:

• Driveway windrow clearing (the pile of snow left at the end of a driveway after a road plow passes)
• Sidewalk snow clearing for properties subject to the City’s new Sidewalk Snow Cleaning By-law

Services will be delivered by pre-qualified contractors and activated at the discretion of City staff based on snowfall and operational conditions.

Eligibility criteria

To qualify for the City’s Sidewalk and Windrow Snow Clearing Assistance Program, you must meet the following criteria:

1. Reside in the City of Niagara Falls
2. Own and reside in a residential single-family, semi-detached, or duplex dwelling with frontage to a municipal road. Residents of high-rise multi-unit buildings, condominiums, mixed-use residential, and commercial properties are not eligible.
3. Be either:
   • 65 years of age or older and in receipt of the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS), or
   • A person with a disability and in receipt of the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)
4. Provide copies of the following documentation:
   • Proof of address (e.g., driver’s licence or utility bill), and
   • Proof of income support for the current year, either:
     • GIS: Entitlement letter from Service Canada, or
     • ODSP: Confirmation letter from your caseworker or current-year ODSP statement

How the program works

This pilot program reflects the City’s commitment to supporting residents and helping maintain safe, accessible properties during the winter months.

• Service is typically triggered after a snowfall of 8 cm or more
• Clearing will begin after City snow operations are completed
• Service may take up to 48 hours to fully complete after activation, but contractors are required to begin within 24 hours
• Additional measures will also be taken to prevent and treat ice formation, as required

The City will manage applications and contract the service, with results reported back to Council after the pilot for evaluation. 

View the Council report