Snow Clearing

The Town offers a Snow Removal Financial Assistance Pilot program to help seniors and residents with disabilities cover snow removal costs during winter. Learn more.

Who Clears the Snow?

Snow clearing responsibilities are shared between:

• East Gwillimbury (EG)
  • Clears snow on collector and local roads with lower traffic volumes. Collector roads include Doane Road, Boag Road, and Holborn Road. Local roads include King Street in Mount Albert, Farr Avenue in Sharon, and Sand Road in Holland Landing.
  • EG also clears snow on all sidewalks, regardless of the road they are beside.
• York Region
  • Clears snow on primary and arterial roads with the highest traffic volumes, such as Leslie Street, Woodbine Avenue, Warden Avenue, McCowan Road, and Kennedy Road.
• The Province of Ontario
  • Clears and maintains Highway 404

Town crews work hard to clear roads and sidewalks as quickly and safely as possible. EG maintains approximately 458 lane kilometres of roads and 110 kilometres of sidewalks. Thank you for your patience during winter weather.

To report a snow related concern on primary roads, please call the Region of York at 905-830-4444 Ext. 75200. To report snow related concerns on collector or local roads, please call Customer Service at 905-478-4282.

Winter Maintenance

Town roads are monitored daily for snow and ice. Based on road conditions, winter maintenance activities begin as needed. Salt/sand trucks are dispatched when snow starts to accumulate or icy conditions develop. In some cases, roads may be treated with salt, sand, or salt brine before a forecasted snow or ice event.

Plowing begins when eight centimeters of snow has accumulated.

• Secondary roads are plowed when snowfall reaches eight centimeters (three inches) and within 12 hours of the end of a snow event. These roads are cleared before local roads.
• Local roads are plowed after secondary roads when snowfall reaches 10 centimeters (four inches), typically within 12 hours of the end of the storm. Heavy or consecutive snowfalls may extend these timelines.
• Sidewalks are treated with salt or sand when icy conditions exist and are plowed after two and a half centimeters (one inch) of snow, usually within 24 hours of the end of the storm. Sidewalks near schools and bus stops are cleared first. Heavy or consecutive snowfalls may delay clearing.

How You Can Help

• Clear snow, ice, and debris from catch basins so snowmelt and rainwater can drain properly.
• Remove vehicles from the street during snow clearing operations. Vehicles left on the road may be ticketed.
• Do not let parked vehicles overhanging the road or sidewalk.
• Do not shovel or blow snow onto the road or onto neighbouring properties.
• Do not place snow or ice in ditches or anywhere it could block culverts or drainage outlets.
• Snowplows push snow to the curb and the end of driveways. Removing snow from the windrow is the property owner's responsibility.
• When shovelling, pile snow on the right side of your driveway (when facing the road) to help reduce the amount of snow pushed back by the plow.
• Keep fire hydrants clear of snow.

Salt Smarter: Protect Our Waterways

Salt is helpful for winter safety, but when we use too much, it harms our environment. Once salt enters our lakes, rivers, and groundwater, it never goes away. Salt impacts drinking water, wildlife, and infrastructure. Together, we can keep our properties safe and help protect our watershed.  Join the movement to protect our watershed.

Frequently Asked Questions