Snow Clearing

When it snows, we're ready! This is what our Roads and Works team begins working on:

• Primary and secondary roads are always plowed first to make sure that emergency service vehicles are able to travel throughout the town. 
• Residential streets are plowed only after snow accumulates in excess of 7.5 centimetres. 
• When all streets require clearing, they are to be completed within 24 hours after the end of the storm. 
  • When we have a heavy snowfall or back-to-back snowfall events, it may take longer to clear all the streets.

To achieve bare roads and sidewalks, salt must be applied at the onset of snow so that a layer of salt brine is maintained between the road surface and accumulating snow (to prevent bonding). 

• To provide this level of service to residential roads, significant increases in equipment and salt would be required, with increased costs and environmental impact. 
• Oakville, as well as other Canadian road agencies, are required to have a Salt Management Plan to manage salt use and minimize environmental impacts. 
• Aside from Business Improvement Areas (Downtown, Kerr Street, Bronte), sidewalks are only plowed. 

Snow pack is hard-packed snow on a roadway. It is the condition that can be expected periodically on residential roads. 

• Snow pack develops very quickly as vehicles travel on snow-covered roads. 
• Snow plows are not able to scrape off snow pack as it is usually bonded to the pavement. 
• Although bumpy at times, vehicles typically navigate snow pack quite easily. 
• Under snow pack conditions, some rutting can be expected. 
• Our Roads & Works team will take steps to improve conditions when warranted.
• It would be unusual for a municipality subject to winter climate conditions, such as Oakville, to consider a snow packed road surface as unacceptable for local residential roads.

Plow operators try to minimize sod damage, but some degree of damage is inevitable. 

• Sidewalk plows are required to be large machines in order to effectively plow deep snow, when needed. This makes them less forgiving to operate on sidewalks. 
• Deep or drifted snow conditions often completely hide the sidewalk edge. 
• When sod is frozen, damage is minimized; however, when sod is not frozen, it lifts away very easily and damage can be extensive. 
• Often, the sod removed is overgrowth growing onto the sidewalk. 

To report sod damage, please visit the Winter Services report a problem page and this will be added to the list of inspection and repairs for completion by the end of May.

For more information about ongoing cancellations, please check:

• Service Disruptions
• Weather Related Service Updates

• If you have a catch basin near your home, please keep it clear so melting snow has somewhere to go.
• Remove snow from fire hydrants near your property. Every second counts during an emergency!
• Remove plowed snow at the end of your driveway. Snow plow operators must push snow to the curb or shoulder, possibly covering recently shovelled driveways.
• Park vehicles off the street when possible. The Parking By-law prohibits parking of vehicles on town streets between 2 and 6 a.m. from November 15 to April 15. During a snow event our plows need to be able to easily move snow on the roads.
• Check on your neighbours. They might appreciate some help shovelling snow.
• On your scheduled waste collection day, please place Blue Box, Green Cart and garbage at the curb or at the end of your driveway, away from snowbanks. This helps ensure the Region's collection crews can easily see and access materials. Learn more about the Halton Region waste and recycling program.

Park vehicles off the street when possible

It is important for residents to try and remove their cars from the roads during snow removal activities to allow our plows to clear roads efficiently.

Vehicles parking on the street (with permit or without permit) may be ticketed if obstructing snow clearing operations.

If you have question about on-street parking, please visit the Parking Permits page or read the Parking By-law.

What is a snow windrow?

A snow windrow is the pile of snow that is left at the bottom of a driveway after the snow plow has cleared the road. The town offers a paid windrow clearing program to help residents clear the windrow snow left at the base of their driveways by snow clearing operations. 

The program runs between December 1, 2024 and March 31, 2025.

Learn more on our Driveway Windrow Snow Clearing Program.

Why did the plow create a windrow on my driveway?

Plow operators do not intentionally block driveways.

With over 55,000 driveways in Oakville, it is not practical for plow operators to lift their blades at every driveway. The plow operator also has limited control over the amount and direction of snow that comes off the plow.

When clearing your driveway, try to pile the snow on the right side (standing in your driveway and looking towards the street). This can help reduce the amount of snow that is pushed onto your driveway when a snow plow passes. 

Help protect the environment by using less salt

Road salt works well to melt ice and snow around your property but it also has long-term impacts on the environment. Check out these green-friendly tips to clear your driveways, walkways and sidewalks and keep safe while using less salt!

• Before snow falls or temperatures drop to freezing, spread a small amount of salt on your driveway/walkways to help stop ice and snow from sticking to the surface.
• Clear snow and ice from your driveway and walkways as soon as possible – this helps reduce ice build-up and means you can use less salt.
• After a snowfall, salt should only be used once snow has been removed and only on areas needed to ensure safety.
• Salt is less effective at temperatures below -10C. Alternatives like sand, grit, non-clumping kitty litter or magnesium chloride can be use when it’s too cold for salt to work.

Salt Management Plan

Road salts (primarily sodium chloride) are the conventional de-icing/anti-icing chemicals for maintaining winter safety because of their cost, effectiveness and ease of handling. The amount of salt used is based on level of service policies and budgets, the transportation network, weather conditions and operational practices. The use of salt has adverse environmental impacts. The Salt Management Plan demonstrates the town's commitment to implementing salt best management practices as it fulfills its obligation to provide safe, efficient and cost-effective transportation systems. The Town of Oakville Salt Management Plan will continue to provide the public with the safe and efficient transportation systems they expect, while minimizing effects on the environment through prudent salt use.

Oakville Salt Management Plan (pdf)