Winter Control

During a snowfall, primary roads cleared for emergency services and for school bus and transit routes. After the primary roads are clear, plowing and sanding starts on secondary roads. Laneways are cleared once the primary and secondary roads are completed. Our goal is to address all roads within 24 hours of a snow event.

Please don't park where we plow!

Parked cars make plowing difficult and sometimes impossible. If you park on the road during a snowfall, you are subject to a $75 ticket along with a purple tow notice. Towing will occur between one hour to 24 hours after the notice, depending on the severity of the snow and interference with snow removal. 
With your help winter maintenance crews can plow snow faster and reduce the chances of your car being stuck in a snow drift.

What to do if you do not have a driveway, or have more cars than off-street parking spaces?

Move your vehicle to a different location until the streets have been cleared so they don't interfere with plowing.

Read our parking by-laws.

Give us space

Driveway space

Snowplows have no place to push the snow except to the curb or side of the road. Sometimes this happens just after you have finished shoveling. We appreciate that this can be frustrating, however; if you can pile the snow on the right side of your driveway (when facing the road) you will have less snow to re-shovel after our plows have gone by.

Snowbank space

Keep children safe by preventing them from playing or climbing on snowbanks at the side of the road.

Clear a space

If you have a utility or mailbox, a catch basin or fire hydrant in front of your property, clear a space around it. Accidents and emergencies happen, let's work together to avoid them! 
If there's a fire hydrant near your house, do your part to keep it accessible this winter by keeping a 3ft perimeter around the hydrant clear for firefighters to work. Please also clear a path from the hydrant to the street.

No space

Our by-laws prohibit anyone from clearing snow onto our roads or sidewalks. You could be told to remove it or face a penalty if our crews have to do the job for you. If you hire someone to clear your driveway, make sure they do not push snow into the roadway or fill in the sidewalks.

Clear your sidewalks

Keeping your sidewalks clear from snow and ice helps to prevent slip and fall accidents and it also helps those using walkers, canes, strollers and wheelchairs. In Port Colborne, every owner or occupant of a building is responsible for clearing sidewalks bordering their property of all snow and ice within 48 hours of a snow event. This allows the safe passage of all pedestrians. If you are renting a property, please make necessary arrangements with the property owner regarding snow removal. Those who do not comply may face fines or have the snow and ice removed at the owner's expense.

Read our most Frequently Requested By-laws

As always you may call By-law Services at 905-835-2900 x200 to ask questions or discuss an issue. To register a by-law complaint online, complete our online form. 

Register a By-law Complaint

Snow on garbage day?

Garbage and recycling placement impacts the way we plow. If your pickup day falls on the same day as a snow event, please keep your garbage and recycling away from the roadside and off the snowbanks to ensure city staff can fully clear the roadways.

To learn about any changes to waste removal due to a snow event, visit the Niagara Region’s webpage.