Roles and responsibilities during a snowstorm

City of Vaughan responsibilities 

During a snowstorm, the City is responsible for the following:

• Salting on main roads, which begins as soon as ice or snow forms on the roads. The first round is completed within four hours. Residential roads and narrow streets (rear laneways) are salted after main roads have been completed, within 12 hours.  
• Plowing on main roads, which begins as soon as five centimetres (two inches) of snow accumulates on the ground, and is completed within four hours after snowfall has ended. Plowing on residential roads is completed within 12 hours after a snowfall has ended. Plowing on narrow streets (rear laneways) begins as soon as five centimetres (two inches) of snow accumulates on the ground and is completed within 16 hours after a 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. 
• Sidewalks on main roads are plowed first 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. Plowing of sidewalks on residential roads, crosswalks, school crossings, paths and walkways within parks and private roads are cleared once sidewalks on main roads are complete.
• Windrow-clearing services are provided for all residential driveways fronting Vaughan roadways. Windrow machines are designed to clear a portion of the driveway entrance so a car can drive through snow left by plows at the end of the driveway within four hours after the plow has passed. Due to the limited size and reach of the windrow clearing units, they can only clear a portion of the driveway entrance. The service does not clear windrows left by sidewalk plows, hardened snow, ice or the entire driveway. 

York Region’s responsibilities 

Some streets in Vaughan, such as Bathurst Street, Dufferin Street, Keele Street and Major Mackenzie Drive, are managed and plowed by York Region. This interactive map highlights (in red) all the roads in Vaughan that York Region is responsible for plowing. 

Have a question about a regional road? Here are all the ways you can contact the Region to request a plowing update: 

• Follow or Tweet @YorkRegionGovt on Twitter using the hashtag #OnYRRoads
• Call York Region Transportation at 1-877-464-9675, ext. 75000
• Email York Region Transportation at transportation@york.ca 

Resident responsibilities

Winter operations are a shared responsibility. You play an important role in helping the City clear snow and ice. In the event of a snowstorm, be sure to follow these tips:

• Keep cars off the street while snowplows are out to help the City ensure roads are cleared properly and safely. On-street parking is not permitted between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. in Vaughan or at any time when winter operations are in progress as per the City’s By-law 064-2019 (PDF).
• Clear snow and ice from sidewalks bordering your property within 24 hours after snowfall has ended to help ensure roads and sidewalks remain safe, as stated in the City’s By-law 300-93.
• Keep fire hydrants clear and accessible (one metre all around). Blocked, concealed or difficult-to-access fire hydrants can slow down emergency fire response.
• Keep catch basins and culverts clear of snow and debris to help prevent potential flooding during temperature fluctuations.
• Set waste bins back from your curb approximately one metre on the right-hand side of the driveway (when facing the home). They should never be placed on top of or behind snowbanks.
• Remove anything that may interfere with or be hazardous to plow crews. This includes landscaping features, such as fencing, basketball nets, decorative stones, pots, birdbaths, furniture and more.
• Be mindful of where shoveled snow is placed. It is illegal to shovel snow or ice onto the road under the Ontario Highway Traffic Act.
• Keep a safe distance from snowplows and salting equipment when driving.   

For more information on the City’s winter operations, visit vaughan.ca/snow. 

Throughout the winter months, the City of Vaughan is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of citizens, implementing process efficiencies to deliver effective and efficient road maintenance and providing exceptional end-to-end citizen-centred services. These objectives are part of the Operational Performance, Active, Safe and Diverse Communities and Citizen Experience priorities in the 2018-2022 Term of Council Service Excellence Strategic Plan. 

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