Winter operations update: Monday, Jan. 26 at 9:30 a.m.
City-wide plowing underway, windrow clearing may be delayed
The snow may have slowed down, but the City of Vaughan is still hard at work to keep everyone safe and moving.
Here’s what you need to know about our operations:
A second round of road plowing operations is underway and expected to be completed today. Crews continue to monitor road conditions.
Sidewalk plowing and salting operations resumed early this morning, with a focus on clearing sidewalks on major roads.
Maintenance at City facilities continued overnight into this morning with a focus on primary and secondary sites.
- Windrow clearing operations may be delayed. Please note, due to the limited size and reach of the windrow-clearing units, they can only clear a portion of the driveway entrance, enough for one car to pass through – residual amounts of snow may be left behind.
Snow removal operations are anticipated this week to address the large accumulation of snow in localized areas and on narrow roads – including cul-de-sacs, laneways behind townhomes, and businesses.
Community centres and Vaughan Public Libraries are open today with regular hours of operation.
Outdoor ice-skating rinks are temporarily unavailable due to poor weather conditions. Staff are working to reopen rinks today.
The Significant Weather Event declared by the City on Sunday, Jan. 25 will continue into the week as crews maintain cleanup operations across the city.
Your patience is appreciated as we continue to clean up from this major storm!
Your role in winter maintenance:
Managing snow in Vaughan is a community effort. Here are some tips on how you can help the City’s winter operations run as smoothly and safely as possible.
Don’t park cars on the street while snowplows are out to assist the City in ensuring streets are cleared properly and safely. On-street parking is not permitted at any time when snowplows are clearing the streets, or between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. in Vaughan without a permit. Crews cannot effectively clear roads and laneways with cars parked along them. As outlined in the City’s Parking By-law 064-2019 (PDF), on-street parking that interferes with snow-clearing operations is prohibited. Vehicles found in violation may be subject to a $75 fine or towed at the owner’s expense.
Be mindful of where snow is placed. It is illegal to shovel snow or ice onto the road under the Ontario Highway Traffic Act and the City’s Dumping By-law 103-2020 (PDF). If you have hired a contractor to plow your laneway or sidewalk, ensure they are licensed with the City and they do not leave snow on the road.
Keep fire hydrants clear and accessible (one metre all around). Blocked, concealed or difficult-to-access fire hydrants can slow down emergency fire response. As outlined in the City’s Water By-law 024-2024 (PDF), residents who have a fire hydrant on their property or City property adjacent to theirs are responsible for ensuring the hydrant is always visible and unobstructed.
Help keep catch basins clear of snow and ice to prevent flooding during temperature fluctuations, if it’s safe to do so.
Clear snow and ice from sidewalks bordering your property to help ensure roads and sidewalks remain safe, as stated in the City’s Snow-Clearing By-law 227-2022 (PDF).
Remove anything that may interfere with or be hazardous to plow crews. This includes landscaping features, such as fencing, basketball nets, decorative stones, pots, bird baths, furniture and more, as stated in the City’s Road Allowance By-law 126-2024 (PDF). These items should be within 30 centimetres of a sidewalk or within one metre of a street curb.
Stay off the roads during a heavy snowstorm unless travel is essential. You can also use York Region Transit to get around the city during inclement weather.
Clean snow off all surfaces of your vehicle before driving and keep a safe distance away from snowplows and salting equipment.
To report non-emergency winter maintenance service requests, visit Service Vaughan.
Stay informed
For more information on our winter maintenance program, visit vaughan.ca/snow. For additional details and to receive the latest information on Vaughan’s winter operations:
create a profile on vaughan.ca and sign up for the “Snow Information Alert” to receive snow alerts directly in your inbox. Visit vaughan.ca/support for a step-by-step guide.
contact the SNOW Hotline at 905-879-SNOW (7669) or email snow@vaughan.ca.
follow the City’s official corporate channels on X, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn
subscribe to Vaughan News.
contact Service Vaughan at 905-832-2281 or service@vaughan.ca.
