Snow Clearing | City of Orillia

The City's snow clearing and winter maintenance follows a Council-approved Winter Control Policy to reduce snow on roads and sidewalks, prioritizing high-traffic routes to support emergency services.

Orillia's snowplow tracker

Track the plows to see when the City crews have been in your area! The map indicates when roads in Orillia were last plowed within a 15-minute accuracy.

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When road and sidewalks get plowed

Snow clearing follows a priority-based process to keep essential routes safe first. Residential roads will not be plowed until priority, main, and arterial roads are completed, and snow levels will not significantly reduce until snowfall has stopped.

The City activates plowing when accumulation reaches set thresholds, beginning with priority routes, then arterial and main roads, and finally secondary roads, which include residential areas. This follows the City Winter Control Policy.

Learn your road class, and when crews may be in your area

Priority: High-traffic and arterial roads (class 2)	If the snow is deeper than 5cm, the City will deploy resources. When the snow has stopped, the City is required to reduce the snow to less than 5cm within 6 hours of zero snowfall.
Priority: Collector roads (class 3)	If the snow is deeper than 8cm, the City will deploy resources. When the snow has stopped, the City is required to reduce the snow to less than 8cm within 12 hours of zero snowfall.
Secondary: Local and residential roads (class 4)	If the snow is deeper than 8cm, the City will deploy resources. When the snow has stopped, the City is required to reduce the snow to less than 8cm within 16 hours of zero snowfall.
Secondary: Other residential roads (class 5)	If the snow is deeper than 10cm, the City will deploy resources. When the snow has stopped, the City is required to reduce the snow to less than 10cm within 24 hours of zero snowfall.
Sidewalks	The City will address priority sidewalks near schools, hospitals, and transit routes first. If the snow is deeper than 8cm, the City will deploy resources. When there is zero snow falling, the City will reduce the snow accumulation on sidewalks to be less or equal to 8cm within 48 hours of the last snow fall. Sidewalks in the Business Improvement Area are to be cleared by the merchants.

Road widening and snow banks

Road widening takes place first in priority areas like the downtown core, parking lots, and sightline visibility areas along priority roads and major intersections.

Heavy snowfall can create large snowbanks along roads and boulevards. There is no limit on how tall these snowbanks can be. Snowbanks are lowered as time allows by priority, starting in the BIA and along major and arterial roads (class 2), then at crosswalks and major intersections, followed by secondary and local roads (Class 3, 4 and 5).

Resident responsibilities

Thank you for your patience and support as crews work through Orillia’s snowfall.

Keeping snow on your property

Do not push snow onto the roadway or sidewalks, this is a violation of the Highway Traffic Act. Do not push or place snow onto City property.

Windrows and snowbanks

The City does not clear windrows or provide assistance to remove snow pushed onto private property. To plow roads safely and effectively, windrows will occur. Reduce windrows by piling snow on the right side of your driveway (when facing the street) when shoveling.

Snow buildup along driveways and boulevards is unavoidable, residents are able to remove snowbanks or hire a company to perform this service if they wish.

Winter parking restrictions

Follow winter parking restrictions, (no overnight parking on roads November 15 to April 15). Refrain from parking along roads, if plows cannot go by - then that road may not get plowed.

Significant Weather Events

A Significant Weather Event may be declared when current or forecasted weather indicates that the City may not be able to meet Provincial Minimum Maintenance Standards related to roads and sidewalks. This is not a declaration of a State of Emergency.

Conditions may include:

Significant snow accumulation during a 24-hour period.
High winds leading to significant blowing snow and/or large snow drifts.
Significant ice formation.

To be notified of a Significant Weather Event, subscribe to City News and Notice.