Winter operations are a team effort

The City of Vaughan’s Public Works team work around the clock to clear snow and ice from roads and sidewalks throughout the community – did you know you also have a very important role to play?

There are several ways you can help our winter maintenance operations run smoothly, efficiently and safely. Here’s how:

Sidewalks

The City plows and salts main road sidewalks, residential sidewalks, crosswalks, school crossings, paths and walkways within parks and private roads. However, the sidewalks in front of houses and along your property are your responsibility as a homeowner to salt and clear. The City’s Snow Clearing By-law (PDF) states that you are responsible for removing snow and ice from sidewalks that border your property to ensure your neighbours can walk safely on a clear path without fear of slipping on ice or snow. 

You are encouraged to report occurrences of snow and ice-covered sidewalks to the City’s By-law and Compliance, Licensing and Permit Services department by calling Service Vaughan at 905-832-2281 or emailing bylaw@vaughan.ca.

Catch basins and fire hydrants
Catch basins need to be cleared of snow and ice to allow for proper drainage and help prevent flooding on roads. The resident living closest to a catch basin is encouraged to help clear it of snow and ice to prevent flooding, if it’s safe to do so. 

As outlined in the City’s Water By-Law (PDF), residents who have a fire hydrant on their property or City property adjacent to theirs are responsible for ensuring the hydrant is always visible and unobstructed. Keep fire hydrants clear and accessible (one metre all around). Blocked, concealed or difficult-to-access fire hydrants can impede emergency fire response vehicles. 

Windrows

The City provides windrow-clearing service to all residential driveways in Vaughan; however, the service does not clear windrows in laneways or windrows left by sidewalk plows, and does not clear hardened snow, ice or the entire driveway.You are responsible for clearing the small windrow across your driveway created by sidewalk plows. 

It’s illegal to shovel snow or ice onto the road – so when shovelling your laneway or sidewalk or removing snow from a catch basin or fire hydrant, do not dump it onto the road. If you have hired a contractor to plow your laneway or sidewalk, ensure they are licensed with the City and they do not leave snow on the road. More information can be found in the Ontario Highway Traffic Act and the City’s Dumping By-law (PDF).

Parked cars

To help the City clear streets properly and safely, don’t park cars on the street while snowplows are out. Under the City’s Parking By-law (PDF), on-street parking is not permitted between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. in Vaughan without a permit or when snowplows are clearing the streets – even with a permit. Please make sure your vehicle does not block any part of the sidewalk or walkway and does not hang over the curb – this makes it difficult for snowplows to clear windrows and sidewalks properly. The fine for parking on the street between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. without a permit or when snowplows are clearing the streets is $100. 

Here are more winter tips to keep top of mind:

• On waste collection days, set waste bins back from the curb approximately one metre on the right-hand side of your driveway, where possible (when facing the home). They should never be placed on top of or behind snowbanks. 

• Remove anything from your property that may interfere with or be hazardous to plow crews. This includes landscaping features, such as fencing, decorative stones, pots, bird baths, furniture and more, as stated in the City’s Encroachment By-law (PDF). These items should not be within 30 centimetres of a sidewalk or one metre of a street curb.

• Clean snow off all vehicle surfaces before driving and keep a safe distance from snowplows and salting equipment.  

Stay informed!

For more information on the City’s winter maintenance program, visit vaughan.ca/snow. For additional details and to receive the latest information on Vaughan’s winter operations:

• create a profile on vaughan.ca and sign up for the “Snow Information Alert” to receive snow alerts directly in your inbox. Visit vaughan.ca/support for a step-by-step guide. 

• contact the SNOW hotline at 905-879-SNOW (7669) or email snow@vaughan.ca.

• follow the City’s official corporate channels on X, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

• subscribe to Vaughan News.