(Issued January 25, 2019 at 2:30 p.m. EST) – The Town of Cobourg would like to offer residents these seasonal reminders, including the bylaw regarding the removal of ice and snow from roofs and sidewalks in the Town of Cobourg.
1. Shovel your sidewalk: Show your family, friends and neighbours you care about their comfort and safety – keep the sidewalk in front of your home clear of snow and ice. Bylaw No.081-2014
2. Be safe around snow plows. Drivers: stay three car-lengths behind a snow plow to allow for a safe stopping distance. NEVER cut off a snow plow.
Pedestrians and parents:
- Assume the snow plow driver has not seen you.
- If you see a snow plow, move off the sidewalk and into a yard where you can be seen.
- Do not play on, or make forts or tunnels in roadside snow banks.
3. Keep gas meters clear. Although your outdoor gas meter is designed to withstand winter weather, heavy or hard-packed snow and ice can be a safety hazard. Keep snow and ice from building up on and covering your meter.
4. Make hydrants visible. Residents and snow removal companies are reminded not to shovel or blow snow onto hydrants. We thank citizens who take the time to clear snow and ice from fire hydrants, providing access to fire fighters in case of emergency.
5. Clear snow and ice from fire escapes, exit doors and other emergency exit points to allow for a safe exit in the event of a fire emergency.
6. Place garbage and recycling where it can be clearly seen and safely collected. Choose a collection area at a safe and visible ground-level location, such as:
- the right side at the end of your driveway (as you face the street), if you do not have a driveway, place it on the boulevard closest to the curb, or, if there is no boulevard, place it on the right side at the end of your walkway.
Keep a path from the road to your collectibles clear of snow and ice. Safe placement helps avoid worker injury. Keep workers safe: please remove bungee cords and other tie-downs from green bins and garbage cans set at the curb.
7. Do not park overnight on Town streets. Overnight parking is prohibited on Town streets until March 31, 2016. This bylaw ensures that cars are kept off the streets so that snow plows can effectively respond to winter weather events. You can be fined or towed for violating Bylaw No.080-2014.
8. Businesses: Keep sidewalks clear of hazardous snow and ice. If you front onto public sidewalks you must remove any snow or ice – including roof-top snow, ice or icicles hazardous to pedestrians – "as soon as is practicable but, in any event, not later than 24 hours after the end of the precipitation that caused the snow and ice." Those who don't will be charged the cost for clearing and could face a fine of up to $5,000. It is also illegal to move snow on to streets or sidewalks.
9. Remove icicles hazardous to pedestrians. Every building owner/occupant in Cobourg must remove the snow and ice, including icicles, from the roof of their building when it poses an immediate danger to pedestrians. Those who do not will be charged the cost for clearing the icicles and could face a fine of up to $5,000.
10. Prevent water from freezing around electrical lines. Keep your eaves troughs free of debris so water runs safely away before it freezes. Ice can build up where overhead electric service wires attach to your home—a dangerous and costly situation. Consider that the root of the problem may be poor attic insulation. Never attempt to clear ice from or around electrical service wires yourself.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact the Town of Cobourg’s Legislative Services Department at 905-372-4301 or by emailing bylawenforcement@cobourg.ca.