Plowed roads, icy sidewalks

Photo: CTV

The snow stopped falling days ago but there is ice on the ground, and local governments on the Lower Mainland are wondering why homeowners and businesses are not taking care of the sidewalks.

In Chilliwack, officials have already started fining people who fail to clear the sidewalks around their property.

"We have sent notices out to people who are not doing that,” said Mayor Sharon Gaetz. “We've gone and delivered them and some have complied and some will be receiving a bylaw fine."

"It's unsafe… it's kind of scary," one woman said, who added that she's been walking on the streets in places where sidewalks are sheer ice.

The City of Vancouver has sent out 910 notices to owners over sidewalk issues.

Residents are required to clear all snow and ice from sidewalks around their property by 10 a.m. the morning after snow starts falling.

While the city says there has been a 95 per cent compliance rate from businesses, that drops to 85 per cent for residential properties.

Surrey officials have given 41 warnings over sidewalks, all based on complaints from the public. No one has been fined yet in either city.