Winter Maintenance Frequently Asked Questions

Once five centimetres (two inches) of snow have accumulated on the ground, our snowplows begin to clear the streets. 

During a snowfall, we focus on clearing the City’s main roads first so emergency and transit vehicles can get where they need to go. 

Main roads – which are travelled more frequently, have steep hills or sharp curves, or serve as connecting roads that provide access to most residential streets – are plowed within four hours after snowfall has ended. Residential roads are plowed within 12 hours after snowfall has ended. These timelines may be impacted by major snow events.

As soon as snow or ice accumulates, salting crews are out on the City’s main roads. The goal is to complete a first round of salting on main roads within four hours and residential roads, including narrower streets like the laneways found behind townhomes, within 12 hours.

Our windrow-clearing service is completed up to four hours after a snowplow has passed. Please keep in mind this service may be impacted by a number of factors, including heavy snowfall, cars parked on streets and cars parked on driveways that are too close to or hanging over the curb — which make it difficult for snowplows to clear the roads properly.

If streets aren’t fully cleared of snow and ice, it’s likely because of parked cars blocking the snowplows or individuals dumping snow from their driveways back onto the public roadway. It is important not to park cars on the street while snowplows are out clearing the roads. This allows crews to carry out plowing operations safely and ensures the entire street can be cleared. It also ensures roads are clear for emergency vehicles. 

On-street parking is not permitted between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. in Vaughan. As outlined in the City’s Parking By-law (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.

Major streets in Vaughan, such as Bathurst Street, Dufferin Street, Keele Street and Major Mackenzie Drive, are all owned and maintained by York Region. To find out which streets York Region manages, view this interactive map (all regional roads are highlighted in red).

For questions on York Region snow clearing, contact Access York at 1-877-464-9675 or accessyork@york.ca.

Once five centimetres (two inches) of snow have accumulated on public sidewalks, City crews may begin sidewalk plowing operations. 

Sidewalks on main roads – coloured green on this map – are serviced first. During heavy snowfall or a major storm, these main sidewalk routes may be salted and plowed more than once before crews move on to sidewalks in residential areas. After that, our plows will service paths and walkways within parks.

You are encouraged to 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).

Be mindful of where shovelled 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). That also applies to any contractors you hire to clear snow over the winter months!

Since crescents are shaped differently, they may need an additional pass with the snowplow to ensure snow is pushed back all the way to the curb. This additional pass happens immediately. 

Main roads are always plowed first for safety reasons to ensure they’re clear for emergency and transit vehicles. Residential streets, including dead-end streets, are cleared once the main roads are complete. Sometimes, the circular part of the dead-end street does not have enough space for large snowplow machines to turn around. As a result, part of the street may not be plowed properly. In these cases, a separate plow is later sent to clean up these areas.

If you live on a corner lot, you may notice slightly more snow left in front of your house as a larger portion of the roadway needs to be cleared at an intersection. 

A windrow is a pile of snow left at the bottom of a driveway after a snowplow has cleared the road.The City offers a windrow-clearing service to all homes in Vaughan.

The City provides windrow-clearing service to all residential driveways in Vaughan. Windrow machines will clear a portion of the driveway entrance, so a car can drive through, within four hours after the plow has passed. The service does not clear windrows left by sidewalk plows and does not clear hardened snow, ice or the entire driveway.

No. The cost of the City’s windrow-clearing service is included in the City’s yearly operating budget. 

Please report anyone claiming to work for the City of Vaughan and asking for money to clear your windrow to Service Vaughan at 905-832-2281.

Snow clearing for roads and windrows is performed by different plowing vehicles. The City's goal is to clear windrows within four hours after the snowplow has cleared the road. If you need to get out of your driveway before City crews clear it for you, it is your responsibility to clear your windrow.

Windrow machines will clear enough space for vehicles to enter and exit the driveway safely. The service does not clear windrows left by sidewalk plows and does not clear hardened snow, ice or the entire driveway.

Windrow machines clear enough space for one vehicle to enter and exit the driveway safely. The service does not clear windrows left by sidewalk plows and does not clear hardened snow, ice or the entire driveway. You are responsible for clearing the small windrow across your driveway created by sidewalk plows. 

There are a number of reasons why windrows cannot be cleared at the end of every driveway. For example, cars either parked on the street or on the driveway but are too close to or hanging over the curb make it unsafe for the machine to clear the windrow. Under these circumstances, the windrow-clearing contractors are not required to go back and clear windrows that were missed.

It is the resident’s responsibility to clear the small windrow across a driveway that is created by sidewalk plows. 

Major streets in Vaughan, such as Bathurst Street, Dufferin Street, Keele Street and Major Mackenzie Drive, are all owned and maintained by York Region. To find out which streets York Region manages, view this interactive map (all regional roads are highlighted in red).

The City clears windrows for residents living along the streets that York Region plows, but only when plows work in the immediate area. York Region plows its roads multiple times during and even after a storm for cleanup purposes. If the windrow was done but then York Region plowed again, the City would not return as the windrow machines have to get to all residential driveways.

For questions on York Region snow clearing, contact Access York at 1-877-464-9675 or accessyork@york.ca.

Although City staff clean and maintain catch basins annually, residents living closest to a catch basin are encouraged to help clear it of snow and ice to help prevent flooding, if it’s safe to do so. Clearing catch basins throughout the winter helps allow for proper drainage – this can prevent flooding and water ponding on roads during temperature fluctuations.

If there is a fire hydrant near your home or business, it is your responsibility to clear it of snow and ice – one metre all around – so firefighters can easily access it in the event of a fire. This could help save a life in an emergency.

Call 9-1-1. In the event of a fire or medical emergency, emergency services will contact the City's snow-clearing crews, who will work in co-operation with police, fire and ambulance.

York Region Transit is responsible for clearing snow around bus stops within 24 hours after snowfall.