Road safety is our priority – salting 

• Main roads:  begins as soon as ice or snow forms on the roads, first round of salting completed within four hours
• Residential roads: are salted/sanded after main roads are complete, first round of salting completed within 12 hours
• Narrow streets (rear laneways): are salted after main roads are complete, first round of salting completed within 12 hours

Clearing the way – road plowing

• Main roads:  plowing begins as soon as five centimetres (two inches) of snow accumulates on the ground, completed within four hours after snowfall has ended
• Residential roads:  plowing begins as soon as five centimetres (two inches) of snow accumulates on the ground, completed within 12 hours after snowfall has ended
• Narrow streets (rear laneways): plowing begins as soon as five centimetres (two inches) of snow accumulates on the ground, completed within 16 hours after snowfall has ended
• Courts, also called cul-de-sacs, require the use of special equipment and can take longer to clear. The centre of a court is designed for snow storage. Snow is intentionally piled in the middle of a court and is removed when there is no longer enough room around a pile for safe passage of snowplows, emergency vehicles and garbage collection.  

Clearing the way – sidewalks  

• Main road sidewalks: are plowed first and as soon as five centimetres (two inches) of snow accumulates on the ground, including sidewalks around York Region Transit stops (stops are cleared by York Region) and along schools and churches, these routes may be salted and plowed more than once before moving onto residential areas
• Residential sidewalks: sidewalks, crosswalks, school crossings, paths and walkways within parks and private roads are cleared once sidewalks on main roads are complete  
• For a full list of maintained sidewalks, view the sidewalk plowing map (PDF). 

Clearing the way – industrial areas 

• Business districts: are cleared once snow windrows reach or exceed a height of 45 centimetres (18 inches)
• Other roads: are cleared at the discretion of the City 

Clearing the way – windrows

Doing your part 

• Keep cars off the street while snowplows are clearing the roads. This allows crews to safely carry out plowing operations and ensures the City can get the entire street cleared. It is also important to keep the roads clear for emergency vehicles. Did you know it’s illegal to park on the street overnight in Vaughan between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m.? Read more about this parking by-law.
• Place garbage, recycling and composting bins on the right-hand side of the driveway. Make sure to keep them about one metre (three feet) away from the curb, especially on collection days when plows may be coming.
• Remove ice and snow on the sidewalk in front of or along your property by shoveling 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 you if you are a homeowner, and/or you own vacant land or industrial or institutional buildings, whether occupied or unoccupied. Read more about this by-law and its amendment. If there is a fire hydrant on or near your home or business, please make sure it’s clear of snow.
• It is illegal to shovel snow or ice onto the road. Be mindful of where you are putting snow when you’re shoveling your sidewalk or driveway. Read the Ontario Highway Traffic Act – section 181. If there is a fire hydrant on or near your home or business, please make sure it’s clear of snow.
• Remove anything that may interfere with or be hazardous to plow crews. This includes landscaping features like fencing, hedges, basketball nets, decorative stones, pots, bird baths, etc. Read more about this by-law.
• If there is a catch basin near a home, the resident is responsible to clear the catch basin of snow and ice and a pathway to the catch basin. This allows for proper drainage and helps prevent flooding.  

Regional vs. municipal roads – who is responsible for what? 

• Follow or Tweet @YorkRegionGovt on Twitter using the hashtag #OnYRRoads
• Email the Road Maintenance division at TRN_Roads_Operations_Dispatch@york.ca
• Call the Road Maintenance division at 905-830-4444, ext. 75200