Over the winter, regular road maintenance like plowing and snow removal can cause damage to boulevards – the grassy areas typically found between the sidewalk and the road – and small sections of lawn or sod in front of residential properties. The City of Timmins has a repair program in place to address this issue. Each spring, crews are dispatched to fix the damage caused by sidewalk plows and snow removal equipment.
Many residents believe that the City of Timmins is frequently responsible for damaging their lawns and private property from winter road maintenance. In most cases, you’ll find that the portion of land where snowplows or sidewalk plows have caused ruts or torn up grass is actually municipal land, not private property.
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In Timmins, all boulevards—the grassy areas typically found between the sidewalk and the road—fall within the municipal road allowance. Additionally, there is usually a strip of land behind the sidewalks at the front of every residential property that, while maintained by the homeowner, is technically city property. On most residential streets, the total width of the road allowance is about 60 feet, stretching from one side of the street to the other. The municipal road allowance is classified as public land and can be used for snow storage, infrastructure like public transportation signage and stops, or underground public utilities.
To understand where your private property begins and where the city's property ends, there’s a simple rule of thumb: start from the centerline of the road and walk approximately 30 feet (or about 10 wide strides) toward your house. That’s generally the boundary between city-owned land and your own.
If you notice your lawn has been damaged from winter maintenance, you are encouraged to contact Service Timmins. Once you report the issue, a work order will be created and forwarded to the Public Works department, which will schedule repairs as part of their seasonal maintenance. By doing this, residents can help ensure the appearance and usability of the lawn is restored.
MAKE A REPORT
Phone: 705-264-1331
Service Timmins is open during regular business hours, Monday - Friday between 8:30 am 4:30 pm