Stay safe and snow-ready this winter

The cold weather (and white fluffy stuff) has arrived, Clarington! To help the community stay safe and snow-ready, we’ve put together a list of important tips and reminders.

Whether it’s clearing snow from your sidewalk, parking wisely, or giving snowplows plenty of space, a little effort from everyone can make a big difference in keeping Clarington safe and accessible this winter.

Parking reminders

• Please ensure all vehicles are off the road to allow for snow-clearing operations.
• If you park on the street during a snow event, your vehicle may be ticketed or towed. Parking on the road between 3 to 5 a.m. is not allowed at any time of year.
• Temporary parking passes and on-street parking permits are not valid during a snow event or for the duration of the cleanup.
• Report parking concerns through the Service Clarington portal.

Sidewalk snow clearing

• Please clear snow and ice from the sidewalks bordering your property within 24 hours following a snowfall.
• To help improve accessibility, Clarington now plows and salts sidewalks on primary routes, pedestrian crossovers, and school crossings. View the map to see which sidewalks Clarington clears.
• Report snow or ice-covered sidewalks through the Service Clarington portal. We accept complaints after at least 24 hours of clear weather.

Online snowplow tracker

• Stay up to date on snow-clearing operations with Clarington’s new online snowplow tracking map. Residents can watch the progress of snow-clearing operations in real time as our crews work around the clock to keep our roads safe and clear. Using GPS technology, the snowplow map updates every five minutes, providing real-time information on where maintenance vehicles have been in the last 24 hours. The easy-to-read, colour-coded map shows when a road has been plowed, salted, or both—making it simple for residents to follow snow removal efforts across the community.

Winter road maintenance emergencies

• Report winter road maintenance emergencies like drifting snow, icy roads or downed trees by calling 905-623-3379 ext. 2661. For after-hours road emergencies, please call Oshawa Fire Dispatch at 905-433-1234.
• You can also report non-emergency concerns through the Service Clarington portal.

Snowplow safety

• Drive according to the road and weather conditions and stay a safe distance back from other vehicles, including snowplows.
• Don’t allow children to play in the snowbank at the end of your driveway or in the snow piled in the middle of your court.
• Never pass a snowplow.

Emergency preparedness in winter

• If you are physically able, please clear snow and ice from around your hydrant to allow firefighters easy access to the area during an emergency.
• To help prevent flooding, we encourage residents to clear snow and ice from on-street catch basins in front of their homes.
• Emergencies can happen any time of year. Be prepared. Have an emergency plan in place and an emergency kit ready.

Learn more about winter road maintenance and sidewalk snow removal on Clarington’s website.