Frequently Asked Questions

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Frequently Asked Questions

For assistance with any of the questions below, please contact Access Vaughan at 905-832-2281 or accessvaughan@vaughan.ca.

Plowing and salting

Sidewalks

Courts, crescents, dead-end streets and corner lots

Windrows

Catch basins and hydrants

Emergencies

Bus stops/York Region

Canada Post mailbox

Plowing and salting

Q. How long will it take for the snowplow to come to my street?

A. Once five centimetres (two inches) of snow have accumulated on the ground, our snowplows begin to clear the streets. During a snowfall, we are focused on getting the City’s main roads cleared first so emergency and transit vehicles can get where they need to go. Main roads, which are travelled more frequently, are plowed within four hours after snowfall has ended. Residential roads are plowed within 12 hours after snowfall has ended. In major snow events, these timelines may be impacted.

Q. A heavy snowfall has just occurred. When will the City plow and salt my street?

A. As soon as snow or ice begins to accumulate, salting crews are out on the City’s main roads. The City's 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.

Q. Some laneways still have lots of snow in them. With more snow on the way, where should I shovel it?

A. City crews are working to move snow in laneways to build capacity for the next heavy snowfall. The team is assessing laneways and removing snow as needed. Please do not shovel snow onto the laneway.

Q. Residential roads are plowed within 12 hours after snowfall has ended.

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. 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. Please be patient – the plows will get to your street as soon as possible.

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 are the result of parked cars blocking the snowplows or citizens dumping snow from their driveways back onto the public roadway. It is important that cars are 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).

It is also illegal to shovel snow or ice onto the road – so be mindful of where you’re putting snow when you are shovelling your sidewalk or driveway. Read the Ontario Highway Traffic Act – section 181.

Sidewalks

Q. Why have the sidewalks not been plowed yet?

A. Citizens are required to remove ice and snow on the sidewalk in front of or along their property by shovelling and/or throwing down salt. This must be done within 24 hours after snowfall has ended to ensure the community is safe for pedestrians. This applies to homeowners, as well as owners of vacant land, industrial or institutional buildings, whether occupied or unoccupied. Read more about this by-law.

Once five centimetres (two inches) of snow have accumulated on the ground, snowplows begin to service the streets. During a snowfall, the City is focused on getting the City’s main roads cleared first so emergency and transit vehicles get where they need to go. Main roads, which are travelled more frequently, are plowed within four hours after snowfall has ended.

Q. Who is responsible for clearing the sidewalk in front of my house?

A. You are required to remove ice and snow on the sidewalk in front of or along your property by shovelling and/or throwing down salt. This must be done within 24 hours after snowfall has ended to ensure the community is safe for pedestrians. This applies to homeowners, as well as owners of vacant land, industrial or institutional buildings, whether occupied or unoccupied. If you have hired a contractor to plow your laneway or sidewalk, ensure they do not leave snow from their removal on the road. It is illegal to shovel snow or ice onto the road. The City clears “main” sidewalks, which are in green in this map.

Courts, crescents, dead-end streets and corner lots

Q. I live on a crescent. Why did the road not get plowed all the way to the curb?

A. Since crescents are shaped differently, they may need an additional pass with the snowplow to ensure snow is pushed back to the curb.

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. Citizens living on corner lots usually have slightly more snow left in front of their houses as there is a larger portion 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.

When will the snow be cleared around Canada Post mailboxes?

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.

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. 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 will clear enough space for vehicles 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. For more, read the Ontario Highway Traffic Act – section 181.

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. It is the responsibility of citizens to clear 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. Read the Ontario Highway Traffic Act – section 181.

Why do narrower streets, like the laneways found behind townhomes, take so long to get plowed?

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.

Catch basins and hydrants

Q. When is the City coming to clear my catch basin?

A. Residents living closest to a catch basin are encouraged to help clear it of snow and ice to help prevent flooding. 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 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.

Does York Region clear windrows on the same streets it is responsible for plowing?

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. To find out which streets are managed by the region, view this interactive map (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. Who cleans the snow 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.