Q. When are residential roads plowed?
A. Residential roads are plowed within 12 hours after snowfall has ended. During a snowfall, main roads, which are travelled more frequently, are plowed first – typically within four hours after snowfall has ended. During Significant Weather Events, these timelines may be impacted.

Q. My street hasn’t been plowed for hours and it’s difficult to leave my house. Why are main roads plowed before residential streets?
A. Main roads typically experience heavier traffic volumes, have steep hills or sharp curves, or serve as connecting roads that provide access to most residential streets. These main roads are plowed first for safety reasons to ensure they’re clear for emergency and transit vehicles. 

The City’s goal is to plow all streets within 12 hours after snowfall has ended. During periods of heavy snowfall, plowing operations can take longer and there may be some delays. Plow crews are working around the clock to get to all streets as soon as possible, your patience is appreciated. 

Once five centimetres (two inches) of snow accumulates on public sidewalks, City crews may begin sidewalk plowing operations. Sidewalks on main roads are serviced first. During heavy snowfall or a major storm, these main sidewalk routes may be salted and plowed more than once before moving on to sidewalks in residential areas. After that, plows service paths and walkways within parks.

Q. Why were some areas on my street not plowed properly?
A. Most problem areas on streets result from parked cars blocking the snowplows or citizens dumping snow from their driveways back onto the public roadway. Cars must be kept off the street while snowplows are clearing the roads. This allows crews to safely carry out plowing operations and ensures the entire street can be cleared. It is also important to keep the roads clear for emergency vehicles. On-street parking is not permitted between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. in Vaughan. Read more about the Parking By-law (PDF). 

Q: Why do narrower streets, like the laneways found behind townhomes, take so long to get plowed?A: Main roads are always plowed first for safety reasons to ensure they are clear for emergency and transit vehicles. Since laneways, like those streets that are found behind townhomes for example, tend to be quite narrow and often have garage entrances on both sides, large plowing machines are unable to get through. Smaller salting and/or snow clearing machines are the only ways to deal with large volumes of snow in these laneways, which means there may be longer wait times. 

Sidewalks

Q. Why are dead-end streets (cul-de-sacs) plowed later than other streets in the area or only partially plowed?
A. 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, and, 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. 

Q. Why does the snowplow seem to dump a lot of snow on corner lots?
A. Corner lots usually have slightly more snow left in front of houses because there is a larger area of roadway that needs to be cleared at an intersection. The City’s windrow-clearing service removes a portion of the snow left at the end of the driveway by the plow.

Windrows 

Q. Who is responsible for clearing windrows?
A. The City of Vaughan 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.

Q. Is there a fee for windrow clearing?
A. Windrow clearing is a valuable service provided by the City of Vaughan, the cost of which is included in the City’s yearly operating budget. Anyone claiming to work for the City and asking for money to clear windrows should be reported to the City at 905-832-2281. 

Q. When are windrows cleared?
A. Windrow-clearing service is completed on a street up to four hours after the snowplow has passed. Please keep in mind these services may be impacted by a number of factors, including heavy snowfall, cars parked on streets and cars parked on driveways too close to or hanging over the curb – which make it difficult for snowplows to clear the roads.

Q. Why didn’t the snowplow that cleared my street also clear the windrow it created across my driveway?
A. 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.

Q. Why did the windrow machine not clear the whole front of my driveway?
A. Windrow-clearing machines clear enough space for one vehicle to safely enter and exit the driveway. The service does not clear windrows left by sidewalk plows and does not clear hardened snow, ice or the entire driveway.

Q. Why does the windrow-clearing machine leave large piles of snow at the end of my driveway?
A. Windrow-clearing machines clear enough space for one vehicle to safely enter and exit the driveway. The service does not clear windrows left by sidewalk plows and does not clear hardened snow, ice or the entire driveway. It is your responsibility to clear the small windrow across your driveway that is created by sidewalk plows. It’s illegal to shovel snow or ice onto the road – so be mindful of where you’re putting snow when you’re clearing your sidewalk or driveway. More information can be found in the Ontario Highway Traffic Act – section 181 and the City’s Dumping By-law 103-2020 (PDF).

Q. Why didn’t the windrow from my driveway get cleared at the same time as others in my neighbourhood?
A. There are a number of reasons why windrows cannot be cleared at every driveway. For example, cars either parked on the street or on the driveway, but too close to or hanging over the curb, make it unsafe for the machine to clear the windrow. The windrow-clearing contractors are not required to go back and clear windrows that were missed under these circumstances.

Q. Who is responsible for clearing the small windrow across the driveway created by the sidewalk plow?
A. You, the homeowner, are responsible for clearing the small windrow across a driveway that is created by sidewalk plows. It’s illegal to shovel snow or ice onto the road – so be mindful of where you’re putting snow when you’re clearing your sidewalk or driveway. More information can be found in the Ontario Highway Traffic Act – section 181 and the City’s Dumping By-law 103-2020 (PDF).

Catch basins and fire hydrants

Q. When is the City coming to clear my catch basin?
A. The City clears catch basins as part of the plowing operations. However, if you live close to a catch basin, you are encouraged to help clear it of snow and ice, if it’s safe to do so. Catch basins need to be cleared throughout the winter to allow for proper drainage – this helps to prevent flooding on roads during temperature fluctuations. 

Q. Who is responsible for clearing the fire hydrant by my house?
A. 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 save a life in an emergency.

Emergencies   

Q. What should I do if I have an emergency and I cannot get out of my driveway due to snow conditions? 
A. In the event of a fire or medical emergency, call 911. Emergency services will contact the City's snow-clearing crews who will work in co-operation with police, fire and ambulance. 

Bus stops and York Region

Q. When are bus stops cleared?
A. Bus stops are cleared by York Region Transit, normally within 48 hours after snowfall has ended.

Q. Does York Region clear windrows on the same streets it is responsible for plowing?
A. York Region has a big role to play when it comes to plowing major streets in the Vaughan. Bathurst Street, Dufferin Street, Keele Street and Major Mackenzie Drive, to name a few, are all owned and maintained by York Region. View this interactive map to find out which streets are managed by the region (all regional roads are highlighted in red). 

The City of Vaughan clears windrows for citizens living along the streets that York Region plows, but only when plows are working 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 the Region plowed again, the City does not go back again as the City's 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. 

Canada Post mailboxes

Q. When will the snow be cleared around Canada Post mailboxes?
A. Canada Post maintains the area around its mailboxes and is responsible for snow clearing. For issues around mailboxes, contact Canada Post online or call 1-866-607-6301. 

Significant Weather Events 

Q. What is a Significant Weather Event?
A. A Significant Weather Event is defined as an approaching or occurring weather hazard with the potential to pose a significant danger to users of roads within a municipality. Examples of severe weather that could trigger a Significant Weather Event include freezing rain, significant snowfall, blowing snow and reduced visibility.

Q. When does the City declare a Significant Weather Event?
A. The Ontario Regulation 239/02, Minimum Maintenance Standards for Municipal Highways allows municipalities to declare a Significant Weather Event when Environment Canada issues a weather alert and when the weather conditions have the potential to pose a significant danger to users of the highways which they have authority over.

Q. How do I know if the City has declared a Significant Weather Event?
A. Significant Weather Events will be publicly declared on the City’s website and social media channels and will remain in place until the City deems them complete. Updates will be shared to signal the end of a Significant Weather Event.

Q. How does a Significant Weather Event impact City service levels?
A. When the City declares a Significant Weather Event, winter maintenance service levels may be impacted. Although service level standards do not change, winter clearing activities may take longer to complete. During the event, staff monitor weather forecasts and make the necessary decisions and adjustments to operations. If involving snow or ice accumulation, standard service levels may be impacted as crews work to clear roads and sidewalks.