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Oshawa snow clearing: roads, sidewalks, windrows and reporting
Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
Oshawa clears city roads by priority, while Durham Region handles regional roads. Property owners must clear their adjacent sidewalks by midnight after the first day the snowfall has ended.
Key information
Oshawa clears city roads by priority, while Durham Region handles regional roads. Property owners must clear their adjacent sidewalks by midnight after the first day the snowfall has ended.
On this page
Who clears what
| Place or task | Responsible party | Published detail |
|---|---|---|
| City-owned roads | City of Oshawa | Primary roads first, then residential roads |
| Regional roads in Oshawa | Durham Region | Separate regional maintenance |
| Sidewalk beside a home | Property owner | Clear by midnight after the first day snowfall ends |
| Driveway windrow | Property owner | Plowing does not remove the pile across a driveway |
| City-owned property sidewalks | City | Also includes Central Business Improvement Area sidewalks |
| Eligible assisted households | City assistance program | Separate eligibility and enrolment |
Sources: Snow Clearing
Your next steps at a glance
- Identify the road
City and regional roads have different maintenance providers.
- Check the response stage
Primary roads are cleared before residential roads.
- Clear and report
Read owner duties, assistance and reporting timing.
Sources: Snow Clearing
When to report a road concern
Check the Snow Clearing Activity Report and wait a full day. The city asks residents to report a concern after 12:01 a.m. on the second day by calling Service Oshawa. The report is updated three times daily during operations.
The city maintains more than 500 km of primary roads, 765 km of residential roads and 160 km of sidewalks. A new storm can interrupt unfinished clearing from an earlier one. Significant weather events can suspend normal maintenance timelines.
Sources: Snow Clearing
Sidewalks, driveways and parking
Keep snow from the driveway and sidewalk on your property, not in the street. Clear the driveway windrow and snow around hydrants. Vehicles must not hang out over the road.
Parking on the street is prohibited during plowing and salting. From December 1 to April 1, the ordinary winter overnight ban also applies from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. A parking permit does not give permission to block clearing operations.
Sources: Snow Clearing
Assistance and winter routes
The city offers assistance for people 65 or older and people with disabilities if no household member without a disability under 65 lives there. The linked Snow Clearing Help page has enrolment details; do not assume age alone completes registration.
The city lists winter maintenance on Harmony Creek Trail, Joseph Kolodzie Oshawa Creek Bike Path, Michael Starr Trail and Waterfront Trail. It does not clear private paths. Consult the service-level map to see whether a particular sidewalk or route is covered.
Sources: Snow Clearing
Other property tasks
Commercial owners must clear adjacent sidewalks and ramps by midnight of the day after the snow event ends. They must also remove dangerous snow or ice from buildings using safeguards for people below.
Residents and businesses are asked to clear about two feet around hydrants so they can be seen from the road. Keep exits, fire escapes and furnace vents clear, and leave bins at ground level with a clear route to the road.
Sources: Snow Clearing
Questions and answers
Which city roads come first?
Primary roads are cleared before residential roads under the city’s priority cycle.
Source: Snow Clearing
When must I clear my sidewalk?
By midnight after the first day the snowfall has ended, under the city’s published homeowner instructions.
Source: Snow Clearing
Who removes the driveway windrow?
The property owner, unless enrolled in a qualifying assistance arrangement.
Source: Snow Clearing
When can I report an uncleared road?
After checking the activity report and waiting a full day. The city asks for reports after 12:01 a.m. on the second day.
Source: Snow Clearing
Can I park during plowing if I have a permit?
No. Parking cannot interfere with plowing or salting operations.
Source: Snow Clearing
What is the winter overnight parking ban?
No on-street parking from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m., December 1 to April 1.
Source: Snow Clearing
Who may qualify for clearing assistance?
People 65+ or with disabilities, with no household member without a disability under 65. Separate enrolment conditions apply.
Source: Snow Clearing
Which named trails receive winter maintenance?
Harmony Creek, Joseph Kolodzie, Michael Starr and Waterfront Trail. Private paths are not cleared by the city.
Source: Snow Clearing
Why can clearing take longer during a major storm?
New snow can redirect crews, and a declared significant weather event can suspend standard winter maintenance timelines.
Source: Snow Clearing