Who clears the snow around a street bin in Ottawa in winter?

The permit holder clears the snow. The City's TCE permit conditions state that "the permit holder is responsible for removing snow from the encroachment area and ensuring all walkways and pedestrian throughways are clear."

That duty sits with whoever holds the permit, not automatically with the bin company or with you. The City accepts TCE applications from residents, contractors or construction companies, so the permit can be in any of those names. Whoever signs as permit holder takes on the snow-clearing obligation. Before the bin goes on the street, agree in writing with the bin company on who applies for the permit, because that person or company is the one responsible for keeping the area clear.

A few practical points follow from the City's wording. The obligation covers the encroachment area itself and any walkways or pedestrian throughways nearby, so a bin sitting across part of a sidewalk means the permit holder must keep a clear path around it. The City does not specify how quickly snow must be cleared or what equipment to use, only that the permit holder is responsible. The TCE permit covers City land: the road, boulevard, sidewalk and public laneways. We found no City page on bins entirely on private property, and the end of a driveway near the street can be City land, so check geoOttawa before assuming the snow duty does not reach you.

One other winter item worth knowing: a Complex TCE permit (needed when the bin stays more than 10 working days, or on any renewal) requires commercial general liability insurance of at least $5,000,000 naming the City as additional insured. That is a permit condition separate from the snow duty, and it sits with the same permit holder.

Before the drop-off date, confirm in writing exactly where the bin will sit, because the answer to the snow question changes depending on whether that spot is City land or your own property.