Vancouver Snow Removal, Plowing & Clearing
for Residential & Strata Properties
Only Strata currently serves 105+ properties in Vancouver with full-scope snow removal and salting contracts.
We're built for strata, condo, apartment, townhome, senior residence, office building, low-income housing, single-family, and mixed-use properties — with the largest ATV plow fleet in the region, dedicated sidewalk crews, and strata-sized plow trucks and salters. Every visit is documented with photos and GPS for council records.
CHOA Member
0 Liability Claims
Incorporated 2016. 30+ Years Combined Experience
Vancouver Winter Risk Profile
Vancouver's winter hazard isn't snow depth — it's ice
Vancouver averages roughly 38 cm of snowfall across 8–9 winter snow events per year, mostly between December and February. On paper, that is modest compared to most Canadian cities — but snowfall totals do not reflect the real winter risk for strata properties. Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada historical climate data for Vancouver
Based on more than a decade of local winter service experience, Only Strata typically plans for approximately 21–29 freeze-risk days annually in Vancouver. These are days where overnight refreeze, wet pavement, shaded walkways, parkade ramps, stairs, or freeze-thaw conditions can create meaningful black ice risk. Unlike snow, black ice is hard to see and easy to walk onto without warning — which is exactly why snow and ice removal in Vancouver is a leading concern for strata properties.
For strata councils, this means winter liability is driven by timing and ice prevention, not just how much snow falls.
Effective ice management in Vancouver requires:
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Pre-storm monitoring, including pavement temperature and forecast tracking
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Early dispatch before peak foot traffic
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Snow salting services timed to prevent refreeze, not just react to visible snow
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Follow-up visits during freeze-thaw cycles
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Documented service for council records
Only Strata field note: In our experience, Vancouver’s highest-risk winter days are often not the heaviest snowfall days — they are the freeze-thaw mornings after moisture has had time to refreeze overnight.
Vancouver's Strata & Multi-Unit Residential Landscape
A residential-first approach improves winter safety outcomes across all of these property types.
Based on City of Vancouver property tax and assessment data, Vancouver includes approximately:
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Townhome strata & cooperatives: ~1,400–1,600
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Apartment & condominium buildings: ~3,800–4,200
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Senior living residences: ~220–260
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Licensed daycare facilities: ~1,100–1,300
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Office buildings: ~1,400–1,700
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Mixed-use residential developments: ~550–700
Figures are rounded estimates intended to illustrate property density and winter service demand, not exact counts.
These communities are often underserved by general snow removal companies in Vancouver, because they often prioritize large commercial & industrial contracts.
Only Strata Snow Removal ensures:
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compact equipment for narrow lanes
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slope-aware planning for hillside properties
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dedicated crews for high-foot-traffic areas like daycares and senior residences
Vancouver Snow Removal Bylaws & Liability
Who's responsible — and what it costs if you're not covered
Under Vancouver's Traffic By-law No. 2849, property owners and strata corporations must clear snow and ice from adjacent sidewalks, private walkways, stairs, ramps, and internal access routes by 10:00 a.m. every day after a snowfall.
The City handles priority arterial roads, bus routes, and emergency access — but does not plow lanes, alleys, or any private property. Non-compliance with the sidewalk-clearing bylaw can result in fines of $250 to $750.
Winter Liability exposure in Vancouver
This isn’t just a compliance issue. Winter slip-and-fall claims can create costly exposure even when a strata ultimately defends itself successfully, because legal fees, insurance involvement, council time, and documentation gaps can all become part of the risk. Even unsuccessful claims can still result in five-figure legal and administrative costs. In serious BC slip-and-fall cases, damages can exceed $500,000, making prevention and proof of service critical.
Professional snow removal services in Vancouver aren’t just about clearing snow — they’re about having timestamped, photo-and-GPS-documented proof that your strata met its winter maintenance obligations, every time.
See: BC Occupiers Liability Act and City of Vancouver snow-clearing requirements.
Our Snow Removal Services in Vancouver, BC
Full-scope winter service for residential and strata properties
Only Strata provides complete snow removal services in Vancouver, combining plowing, shoveling, and salting into one coordinated winter program — backed by the largest ATV plow fleet in the region and 1,000+ tonnes of de-icing salt in reserve.
Snow plowing services in Vancouver
clear driveways, internal lanes, parkade ramps, and shared access roads using strata-sized plow trucks built for narrow, hillside, and high-density properties.
Snow shoveling and sidewalk clearing
keep walkways, stairs, entrances, and courtyards safe for residents — the areas where black ice risk is highest and most overlooked by general snow removal companies in Vancouver.
Snow salting and de-icing in Vancouver
is timed using pavement temperature monitoring, not guesswork — preventing refreeze before it becomes a hazard, rather than reacting after the fact.
Whether you manage a strata corporation, residential building, office property, retail location, or mixed-use development, our team provides the same documented, photo-and-GPS-verified service across every property type — with snow management in Vancouver tailored to your site's specific access points, slopes, and foot-traffic patterns.
Why Vancouver Properties Choose Only Strata
Vancouver's first and only snow removal-only and strata-only company
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100% strata-focused — We only serve stratas, multi-unit residential, senior living, and daycares. No commercial plazas, warehouses, or government contracts splitting our attention.
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Digital service reports — Live GPS-tracked updates, time-stamped photos, and crew notes for every visit — built for council records and AGM reporting.
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Perfect liability record — 0 liability claims, with documentation that's helped clients defend slip-and-fall claims with a 100% success rate.
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Strict capacity caps — We limit how many properties we take per zone each winter, so service quality and response times never get diluted.
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In-house mechanics — No third-party repair delays during storms — our fleet stays operational when it matters most.
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1,000+ tonnes of road salt in reserve — Secured supply even during regional shortages.
A cleared sidewalk at a townhouse strata in Dunbar-Southlands, part of our standard residential service.
A cleared walkway at an apartment strata in Mount Pleasant, documented and time-stamped for council records.
A low-rise apartment entrance in Renfrew-Collingwood, cleared after a heavy snowfall — full access restored before peak morning traffic.
What Vancouver Strata Councils Are Saying
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5.0 — based on Google reviews
— Kanishak Saini, Google Review
"Our apartment building in Kitsilano used to get ignored during light snowfalls. Only Strata shows up every time, clears thoroughly, and keeps our residents safe."
— Itsraniia, Google Review
"We hired Only Strata for snow removal at our West Side strata building in Vancouver last winter, and wow — total difference from our old provider. They had our walkways and parkade ramp cleared before residents were even up."
— Kohularajan Anurajithan, Google Review
"I manage a senior living complex in South Vancouver, and Only Strata is the first snow removal service that truly understands strata-specific winter risks."
— Peter Wong, Google Review
"Great snow removal service in Vancouver — they showed up on time and cleared everything quickly. Good job."
Snow Removal Across Every Vancouver Neighbourhood
Our Vancouver snow removal company covers the full city
Only Strata's Vancouver snow removal services cover all 22 official neighbourhoods, plus heritage districts like Yaletown, Coal Harbour, and Gastown — from waterfront condos to hillside townhomes.
Downtown & West End
High-rise entries, underground parkades, and waterfront walkways near Stanley Park and English Bay require fast morning dispatch ahead of office and resident foot traffic. Our snow removal services in Vancouver's downtown core prioritize commercial lobbies and shared residential entrances alike.
Kitsilano, Fairview & Mount Pleasant
Tree-lined streets and shaded sidewalks near Granville Island and South Cambie often refreeze overnight, making stairs and entryways high-priority for de-icing. This is where our snow cleaning service in Vancouver focuses heavily on freeze-thaw follow-up visits.
Dunbar-Southlands, Kerrisdale, Shaughnessy, Arbutus Ridge & West Point Grey
Westside hillside properties need slope-aware plowing for long driveways and laneways serving single-family and strata townhome communities.
Oakridge, Marpole, South Cambie & Riley Park
Mixed residential and commercial snow removal Vancouver corridors with daycare and senior residence density require early, documented service before peak morning activity.
Hastings-Sunrise, Grandview-Woodland, Strathcona & Renfrew-Collingwood
East Vancouver's older multi-family buildings and laneway housing benefit from compact equipment suited to narrow access routes, part of our full snow removal in Vancouver coverage from the Drive to the river.
Killarney, Victoria-Fraserview, Sunset & Kensington-Cedar Cottage
Southeast Vancouver's mix of high-rises, townhomes, and single-family lots near the Fraser River gets full-scope plowing, shoveling, and salting as part of our snow removal service Vancouver program.
Whatever neighbourhood your strata, condo, or residential property is in, our Vancouver snow removal company provides the same documented, capacity-capped service — book early, as we limit the number of properties served per zone each winter.
Snow Removal Vancouver FAQ
Get a Snow Removal Quote for Your Vancouver Strata
Free quotes returned within 4 business hours — limited spots available each winter
Whether you're a strata council, property manager, or homeowner in Vancouver, Only Strata provides full-scope snow plowing, shoveling, and salting
