The Sidewalk in Front of Your House Belongs to the City. The Ice on It Is Your Problem

Shane Hewitt and The Nightshift · Feb 28, 2026 · 10m

Winter slip and fall liability is more complicated than the patch of ice you're standing on. The sidewalk that cuts through your driveway is city property. Ontario courts have held the city responsible for falls on that surface. But if snow you piled up ran down onto that sidewalk and froze overnight, the liability comes back to you. Same surface, different origin, different outcome.

In Ontario, you have 10 days to put a municipality on notice after a slip and fall, and 60 days if it involves snow or ice. Miss the window, lose the claim. Nainesh Kotak's immediate advice after a fall: get…