Raising or lowering the plow will not stop driveway windrows and would leave snow on the road, resulting in unsafe conditions for drivers.
Snow Clearing
In winter, Oshawa maintains
Primary roads
500+ km
Residential roads
765 km
Sidewalks
160 km
Do you have concerns?
Oshawa uses a snow clearing priority system to efficiently plow and salt roads that meets and often exceeds provincial standards.
Please check the snow clearing activity report and wait a full day. Report concerns after 12:01 a.m. on the second day by calling Service Oshawa.
Who is responsible for snow and ice clearing?
Failure to clear snow and ice from your sidewalks may result in a fine plus any costs that may be incurred if the City is required to carry out work to remove any snow or ice. Read the Winter Access by-law.
City of Oshawa responsibilities
The City is responsible for:
- Applying anti-icing materials to priority roads and hills
- Salting, sanding and plowing all City-owned roads
- Clearing sidewalks adjacent to City-owned properties
- Clearing sidewalks within the Central Business Improvement Area
- Clearing walkways and trails throughout the City
- Clearing municipal parking lots and parking lots at City facilities
- Clearing sidewalks and windrows for participants in the Snow Clearing Assistance Program
- Updating the Snow Clearing Activity Report three times daily during winter operations
Not sure who is responsible for a particular road, sidewalk, trail or walkway? Use the Snow Clearing Service Level Map to identify areas maintained by the City.
Resident and property owner responsibilities
Residents and property owners are responsible for:
- Clearing the sidewalk in front of and alongside their property by midnight on the day following the end of a snowfall event
- Removing snow from the end of driveways
- Clearing windrows left by snowplows
- Clearing snow around fire hydrants adjacent to their property
To help keep roads safe:
- Pile snow from your driveway and sidewalk on your property, not on the roadway
- Give snowplows plenty of space and ensure vehicles are not obstructing the road
- Do not park on the street during plowing and salting operations
Winter Parking Restrictions: On-street parking is not allowed between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. from December 1 to April 1. Vehicles parked on the street during plowing and salting operations are not permitted and will result in escalating fines.
Commercial property owner responsibilities
Commercial property owners, including plazas and private businesses, are responsible for:
- Completely clearing all sidewalks and ramps adjacent to their property by midnight on the day following the end of a snowfall event
- Removing snow and ice from buildings where it could fall onto a sidewalk or roadway
- Ensuring pedestrians and motorists can travel safely while snow and ice are being removed
- Using appropriate safety measures, signage and warnings during snow and ice removal activities
For details on snowfall events and clearing operations, view the Snow Clearing Activity Report.
Windrows
Snow plows push snow to the right side of the road, creating a long, narrow pile called a windrow at the bottom of a driveway. Windrows are an unavoidable result of clearing roads quickly and safely.
Windrow clearing is the responsibility of the home/property owner.
Could the operator just lift the plow to stop snow from going into my driveway?
Could a plow take all the snow up the street and dump it in an empty boulevard?
Snow plows push snow from the road to the right side. Trying to move all the snow to one spot would take many passes, be unsafe, and still would not remove all windrows.
Why can’t the driver put the snow on the boulevard between my driveway and my neighbour’s?
Road snowplows are big and cannot safely make tight turns or back up to place snow in small spaces. Their blades are also wider than the space between many driveways.
I need help with my windrow. Does the City have any support?
Yes, the Oshawa has a snow clearing assistance program. Learn more on our Snow Clearing Help page.
Do you need snow clearing assistance?
The City of Oshawa provides snow clearing assistance to community members 65 years of age or older and people with disabilities who have no community members without disabilities under the age of 65 living in the household.
Popular questions
What is a significant weather event?
An Ontario municipality can declare a significant weather event when a weather hazard is approaching or occurring and has the potential to pose a significant danger to users of the highways and sidewalks over which they have authority.
This declaration suspends the standard timelines required for municipalities to meet their winter maintenance objectives until the municipality declares the significant weather event has ended.
A significant weather event can occur when present or forecast weather includes one or more of the following conditions:
- Significant snow accumulation during a 24-hour period
- Ice formation that occurs without warning from the weather forecast
- High winds leading to blowing snow and large snow drifts
- Freezing temperatures when de-icing operations will not be effective
In the event of a significant weather event, please check for official information on our website or on our social media channels.
For detailed information on the declaration of significant weather events, you can review the Ontario Regulation 239/02.
Why hasn't the City cleared my street from the last snowfall?
If a new snow event begins before the snow clearing from a previous snow event has been completed, crews may need to temporarily pause snow clearing to be reactive to changing conditions throughout Oshawa.
Please be patient. Crews are working to clear the snow around the clock to keep our roads and sidewalks safe.
- Be patient while waiting for your street to be cleared
- Shovel snow back onto your property to improve visibility when entering and exiting your driveway
- Pile snow on the right side of your driveway (facing the street) to prevent plows from pushing it back in
- Clear snow from hydrants and catch basins
- Place garbage, recycling, and green bins at ground level with a clear path to the road
- Remove snow around exit doors, stairways, fire escapes, and furnace vents
- Drive carefully, allow extra time, and adjust to conditions
- Give plows plenty of room, as they may need to back up
Who will clear the path or trail by my property?
The City of Oshawa only maintains the following trails during the winter:
- Harmony Creek Trail
- Joseph Kolodzie Oshawa Creek Bike Path
- Michael Starr Trail
- Waterfront Trail
The City of Oshawa does not clear paths as they are considered private roads.
Who clears snow from a fire hydrant?
Fire hydrants are maintained by the Region. Residents and businesses are asked to clear snow by 2 ft. to make the hydrant visible from the road
Would you be 72 hours ready?
Learn how to get prepared before, during and after a storm.
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