Verified October 28, 2026 against City of Toronto, City of Mississauga, City of Brampton, City of Markham, City of Richmond Hill and Town of Oakville sources.
The short answer: it depends on where you live. Toronto clears a 3 metre opening in the windrow on eligible residential streets, mostly in Etobicoke, North York and Scarborough. Mississauga started clearing a 3 metre opening for most houses in the 2025/2026 winter, with no sign-up needed. Vaughan and Richmond Hill clear residential driveway windrows as a standard service. In Brampton, the City does not clear windrows, so the ridge of snow at the end of your driveway is yours to move. Markham and Oakville run registration programs, and Oakville charges a fee.
A windrow is the ridge of heavy, packed snow a road plow leaves across the bottom of your driveway. It often lands right after you finish shovelling, and it is usually the hardest snow you will move all winter. This guide sets out who clears it in each city, what the city will not do, and what you are allowed to do with the snow.
GTA windrow clearing at a glance
| City | Does the city clear it? | Sign-up or fee | Key limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto | Yes, on eligible streets (about 262,000 households, mostly Etobicoke, North York and Scarborough) | No sign-up | Only where the windrow machine can work safely; 3 m opening |
| Mississauga | Yes, single, double and shared residential driveways | No sign-up | Not below 5 cm; condos, commercial and private roads excluded; not cleared to bare pavement |
| Brampton | No | Seniors and people with disabilities can apply for a grant toward a contractor | Homeowner clears the windrow |
| Vaughan | Yes, residential driveways | No sign-up reported | Laneways, sidewalk plow windrows, hardened snow and ice excluded |
| Richmond Hill | Yes, local and residential driveways | Opt out online before the season if you do not want it | Check the City’s windrow page for limits |
| Markham | Only for registered residents | Application for seniors (60+) and residents who cannot clear snow for medical reasons | After 7.5 cm; one car width; rear-lane and private-road homes excluded |
| Oakville | Only for paid registrants | $215 with HST for Dec 1, 2026 to Mar 31, 2027; 1,100 spots in the general phase | Up to 36 hours after snow ends; about 80% of the windrow cleared |
| Milton | Only for eligible residents | Reported at $69 for residents 65+ or living with a disability | Confirm current details with the Town |
Toronto: 3 metre openings on eligible streets
Toronto’s levels of service page says a specialized machine follows the snow plows and clears a three metre wide opening at the end of driveways on eligible residential streets. The City aims to do this within two hours of plowing the road. Actual timing depends on the size of the route, how much snow has built up, on-street parking and other obstructions.
- Where it applies: the City told CP24 in January 2026 that it clears windrows for about 262,000 households in North York, Scarborough and Etobicoke, on streets where the machine can operate safely. Wide streets with limited on-street parking and no boulevard space for storing snow were given as examples of streets where it cannot.
- Where it does not: in other parts of the city, such as the former City of Toronto and East York, residents clear their own windrows.
- Collector and arterial roads: eligible driveways on these larger roads are cleared only if the windrow is more than 25 cm.
- What triggers it: windrow clearing follows road plowing. Toronto starts plowing residential streets once 8 cm of snow has fallen, and a full round can take up to 14 hours.
The service only covers snow left by street plowing. Snow from your own driveway, walkway and steps is still yours, and the City asks owners to clear private property within 24 hours after a snowfall ends. Toronto’s rules for the sidewalk in front of your house are separate. Our guide to who clears the sidewalk in Toronto, Mississauga and Brampton covers them.
The quickest way to know whether your street is covered is to watch what happens after the first big snowfall, or ask 311 with your address.
Mississauga: a 3 metre opening for most houses
Mississauga added driveway windrow clearing in the 2025/2026 winter, and the City’s snow clearing page (updated July 2026) still lists it. Single, double and shared residential driveways get an opening of at least 3 metres after the windrow snow is pushed aside. There is no application.
| Snowfall | Windrow opening | Residential road (secondary) |
|---|---|---|
| Less than 5 cm | Not done | Salted within 24 hours |
| 5 to 15 cm | Within 4 hours | Plowed and salted within 24 hours |
| 15 to 30 cm | Within 6 hours | Plowed and salted within 36 hours |
| More than 30 cm or back-to-back storms | More than 6 hours | More than 36 hours |
Road timelines start when the snow stops. The windrow clock starts only after the final plow pass on your street, so on a quiet crescent the opening can come well after the storm ends. During a declared Significant Weather Event, standard timelines are paused.
What Mississauga will not do:
- clear windrows at condominiums, commercial properties or homes on private roads
- clear the opening to bare pavement or salt it
- clear a driveway blocked by a parked car, bins, a basketball net or other objects
- clear snow along the rest of the curb
Cars parked on the street also slow both plows and windrow crews. Our guide to Mississauga winter parking rules covers when you have to move your car.
Brampton: the windrow is the homeowner’s job
Brampton’s snow removal FAQ is direct: the snow left at the bottom of the driveway after crews clear the road is unavoidable, crews do not come back to remove it, and the homeowner is responsible for clearing it.
The question has come up at budget time. In a City update dated January 23, 2026, Brampton said more than 5,800 households took part in a telephone town hall on the 2026 budget. Participants were asked whether they would support an average annual property tax increase of about $92 to add windrow clearing. Only 41 per cent said yes, and the service was not added.
A few Brampton details that help in practice:
- When the windrow arrives: local streets and courts are plowed once during an event with at least 5 cm of snow. Arterial roads come first, then collectors, then local streets. Courts are cleared by front-end loader after the bigger roads are done. The City aims to finish within 24 hours of the snow ending, but severe storms take longer.
- Track the plows: the Brampton Plow Tracker shows your street’s priority and progress, so you can wait for the plow before you shovel the end of the driveway.
- Help for seniors and people with disabilities: the Snow Removal Financial Assistance Program gives up to $300 (up to $400 for qualifying corner lots) toward hiring someone to clear sidewalks and driveways. It is open to residents 65 or older or with a permanent physical disability, owners or renters. The 2026/2027 application deadline is April 30, 2027.
- Sidewalks too: most Brampton homeowners must also clear the sidewalk in front of their home by 11 a.m. the day after a snowfall ends, so a heavy storm can mean a long morning.
Brampton’s parking rules also matter in winter, because cars on the street block plows. See our guide to Brampton driveway widening rules if you are thinking about adding parking space on your lot.
Vaughan, Richmond Hill and Markham
Vaughan
Vaughan offers windrow clearing to residential driveways as part of its standard winter service. As reported by CP24 in January 2026, the service does not cover laneways, windrows left by sidewalk plows, hardened snow, ice, or the driveway itself. Residents are expected to clear the smaller ridge that a sidewalk plow leaves across the driveway.
Richmond Hill
Richmond Hill’s winter maintenance page says its windrow clearing service includes all local and residential driveways. The City told CP24 it covers more than 50,000 driveways, and residents who do not want the service can opt out online before the winter season starts.
Markham
Markham clears windrows only for registered residents through its Snow Windrow Removal Assistance Program. The City’s page sets out these rules:
- Who qualifies: households where everyone is 60 or older (proof of age required), or under 12. If anyone in the home is between 12 and 60, a current doctor’s certificate must confirm they cannot clear snow.
- When: after a snowfall of 7.5 cm, within 4 hours after the street plow passes the driveway.
- How much: one car width, on the road side of the windrow. The ridge left by the sidewalk plow is not included.
- Not eligible: homes with rear lanes, and homes on private roads, including condominiums.
- How to apply: mail the application form to the City or call 905-477-5530, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Seniors and residents with a permanent condition are renewed automatically each winter.
Buying in York Region? Our Vaughan and Markham pages cover the local housing market.
Oakville and Milton: paid programs
Oakville
Oakville runs a paid Driveway Windrow Snow Clearing Program. Details for the 2026/2027 season from the Town’s page:
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Season | December 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027 |
| Fee | $190.27 plus HST ($215 with HST), non-refundable once processed, however many storms there are |
| Phase 1 (priority) | October 1 to 15, 2026: residents 65 or older, residents with a physical disability or medical condition, or households with no able-bodied person under 65 |
| Phase 2 (everyone) | October 16 to November 7, 2026, first come, first served, up to 1,100 applicants; closes early if full |
| When it runs | Residential plowing starts when snowfall exceeds 7.5 cm; windrows are cleared after all roads are plowed, up to 36 hours after snow ends, once per event |
| How much is cleared | About 80% of the windrow, placed on the boulevard beside the driveway |
| Not included | Private, unassumed roads and laneways; sidewalk plow windrows; snow on the driveway itself. Patterned concrete and other special surfaces may be unsuitable. |
If you want the service this winter, Phase 2 registration closes on November 7, 2026, or sooner if the spots fill.
Milton
Milton offers windrow clearing to residents 65 or older or living with a disability. CP24 reported the cost at $69 in January 2026. The Town’s own page was not readable for this update, so confirm eligibility, cost and deadlines with the Town before you rely on it.
What you can and cannot do with windrow snow
- Wait for the plow if you can. If you clear the end of the driveway before the street is plowed, the plow will usually fill it in again.
- Keep the end of the driveway clear of objects. Mississauga and Markham crews skip driveways blocked by bins, cars or nets. Brampton asks residents to place bins about three feet back from the curb in winter weather.
- Park off the street. Cars on the road force plows to swing wide, which leaves bigger windrows and narrower lanes.
- Clear the hydrant and catch basin near your home if it is safe to do so. Melting windrows can pond at a blocked drain and freeze.
- Report damage. If a windrow machine or plow damages sod or a curb, report it through 311 in Toronto, Mississauga or Brampton. Oakville says it is not responsible for driveway or curb damage from its program.
What it means when you buy or rent
Windrows will not show up on a listing, but they shape winter life in a house. Things worth checking before you buy or sign a lease:
- The street, not just the city. In Toronto, two houses a few blocks apart can get different service depending on whether the windrow machine can work on the street.
- Corner lots and wide driveways. A corner lot can collect plow snow on two sides, and a double driveway means a longer windrow. Our guide to buying a corner lot covers the other trade-offs.
- Rear lanes and private roads. Homes on laneways, private roads and condominium roads are left out of most city windrow programs. In a condo or common element townhouse, the corporation usually arranges snow removal and the cost is in the fees.
- Tenants. If you rent out a house or basement unit, say in writing who clears the driveway and the windrow.
- Your own situation. If shovelling heavy snow is hard for anyone in the household, check the city’s assistance or registration program before winter, as some have fall deadlines.
Comparing homes across the GTA? Our hubs for Toronto, Mississauga and Brampton are a good place to start. If you are weighing specific homes, our team can go through the practical details with you. Here is how we help buyers. Thinking of selling before next winter? Start with a free home evaluation.
FAQ
Does Toronto clear the snow at the end of my driveway?
On eligible streets, yes. A machine follows the plow and clears a 3 metre opening, with a target of two hours after the road is plowed. The City says this covers about 262,000 households, mostly in Etobicoke, North York and Scarborough. On streets the machine cannot work safely, residents clear their own windrow.
Does Mississauga clear driveway windrows?
Yes, since the 2025/2026 winter. Single, double and shared residential driveways get an opening at least 3 metres wide within 4 hours of the last plow pass for 5 to 15 cm of snow, and within 6 hours for 15 to 30 cm. Condos, commercial properties and homes on private roads are excluded.
Does Brampton clear windrows?
No. Brampton says the windrow is unavoidable and the homeowner is responsible for clearing it. Residents 65 or older or with a permanent physical disability can apply for a grant of up to $300, or up to $400 for some corner lots, toward hiring snow clearing.
Can I shovel the windrow back onto the street?
No. Toronto lists a $500 fine plus a $110 victim surcharge for pushing snow onto a road, sidewalk or bike lane, and Mississauga and Brampton also prohibit it. Keep the snow on your own property.
How much does Oakville’s windrow program cost?
For December 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027, the fee is $190.27 plus HST, or $215 in total. General registration runs to November 7, 2026, capped at 1,100 applicants, and closes early if it fills.
Who qualifies for windrow clearing in Markham?
Registered households where everyone is 60 or older or under 12. If anyone is between 12 and 60, a doctor’s certificate must confirm they cannot clear snow. Homes with rear lanes or on private roads, including condos, are not eligible.
Sources
- City of Toronto, Salting and Plowing Roads: Levels of Service (updated March 9, 2026) and Clearing Snow and Ice from Your Property (updated July 16, 2026)
- City of Mississauga, Snow clearing (updated July 2, 2026)
- City of Brampton, Snow Removal FAQs, Service and Information Update (January 23, 2026) and Snow Removal Financial Assistance
- City of Markham, Winter Road Services
- City of Richmond Hill, Winter Maintenance
- Town of Oakville, Driveway Windrow Snow Clearing
- City of Vaughan, Winter Operations 101: Windrow-clearing
- CP24, Are you responsible for clearing snow pushed into your driveway by plows? It depends on where you live in the GTA (January 30, 2026)
- NOW Toronto, Brampton residents fed up with snow plows blocking driveways (January 23, 2026)
Images: AI-generated illustrations of fictional GTA-style properties and snow-clearing scenes. They do not depict specific properties or municipal operations.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Windrow service levels are set each winter and can change, so check your city’s snow page or call 311 with your address. Local Toronto, HomeLife Landmark Realty Inc., Brokerage.