Snow Clearing Activity Report
Snow Clearing Activity Reports are posted on this webpage to update the progress of snow clearing operations for City maintained roadways, sidewalks and the snow clearing assistance program.
Reports are issued three times a day (morning, afternoon and evening) and appear below.
Please Note: The Region of Durham maintains all regional roads within Oshawa. The Region's snow clearing activities are not included in the report below.
Activity report
Does the City plow my street?
View our snow clearing service level map to find which roads, sidewalks, trails and walkways the City is responsible for clearing.
Property Owners must clear snow and ice from sidewalks adjacent to their property by midnight the day after snow, sleet or freezing rain. Learn about your snow clearing responsibilities.
Snow clearing guidelines
| Road type | Definition | Timing for snow clearing |
| Arterial (primary) | Roads that carry larger volume of traffic. Including transit and emergency routes for fire and ambulance services and access to schools, industrial/commercial areas and community centres. | 6 hours |
| Collector (primary) | Roads that distribute traffic to arterial roads. Including transit and emergency routes for fire and ambulance services and access to schools, industrial/commercial areas and community centres. | 12 hours |
| Residential (secondary) | Roads that carry lower volumes of traffic and are not intended to carry through traffic. | 16 hours |
| City maintained sidewalks, multi-use paths & school crosswalks (secondary) | Sidewalks adjacent to City facilities such as parks and recreation facilities. Multi-use paths located within the boulevard in place of a sidewalk. Sidewalks and windrows for those registered under the . School crosswalks where crossing guards are stationed. | No later than midnight the first day following the end of a storm. |
| Trails | Paved recreational trails. | 7 days a week during day light hours only. |
Additional information:
The City of Oshawa is responsible for providing snow clearing services in line with the Minimum Maintenance Standards (M.M.S.), established under Ontario Regulation 239/02. These standards set the required levels for winter maintenance operations, including municipal roads and sidewalks. The M.M.S. outline the maximum amount of snow that can accumulate before the city must begin clearing and specifies the timeframe in which the work must be completed.
- Snow clearing reports are based on City staff's visual observations. The projected completion times are calculated based on equipment capabilities, temperature, snow intensity and duration.
- Additional reports may be issued. A final report will be posted when the City's snow clearing activities are completed.
- The reports are reflective of the legislated priorities of all municipalities in Ontario. Every attempt will be made to clear the snow as effectively and efficiently as possible. Other agencies provide winter maintenance activities that may not align with the City’s service standards. Examples:
- the Region of Durham is responsible for maintaining all Regional Roads and bus stops
- Canada Post maintains the areas around mailboxes.
- Private property owners are responsible for winter maintenance of sidewalks (salting & clearing) adjacent to their property including sidewalks adjacent to schools, medical buildings, residential houses, multi-residential buildings and must comply with the Winter Access By-law 93-2009.
- Contact Service Oshawa for questions specific to your residence or property.
Contact Us
Service Oshawa
Oshawa City Hall
50 Centre St. S.
Oshawa, ON L1H 3Z7
Phone: 905-436-3311
Toll Free: 1-800-667-4292
Email: service@oshawa.ca
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