Town reminds residents of winter rules as snow season ramps up

Snowfall continues in Aurora, Ont. (Courtesy: James Gillem)

The Town of Aurora is asking residents to take a few simple steps to help keep roads and sidewalks safe as winter weather settles in.

Parking

According to the Town, the biggest rule is to avoid parking on the street during any snowfall.

Officials say vehicles left on the road make it harder for plows to get through and may lead to a ticket.

Officials add overnight street parking is also off-limits from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. between Nov. 15 and April 15.

Shovelling

The Town is also reminding people not to push snow or ice onto roads or sidewalks.

Officials say doing so can create unsafe conditions and may leave even more snow piled at the end of driveways once plows pass through.

Residents are also asked to keep garbage, recycling and green bins off the road, sidewalk and snowbanks.

The Town says collection crews will not dig bins out of snow.

Obstacles

Officials are asking homeowners to check for “encroachments” on boulevards and sidewalks — things like basketball nets, rocks, bushes or fencing extending past private property.

According to the Town, these items can get in the way of plow operations and may be damaged if not removed or clearly marked.

Windrows

The Town also explains how “windrows” form — the ridge of snow left at the end of driveways after a plow has gone by.

The Town says plow operators don’t place snow there intentionally; it’s simply a result of how the equipment works.

Residents are encouraged to pile their own snow on the right side of the driveway to help reduce the size of the windrow when plows return.

Roads

Officials note winter maintenance is prioritized based on road type.

The Town says regional roads, like Wellington Street and Bayview Avenue, are maintained by York Region, while Aurora handles primary roads such as Industrial Parkway and secondary roads like cul-de-sacs and low-traffic streets.

Primary roads are salted first when snow or freezing rain begins, followed by key sections of secondary streets.

Plowing starts once eight centimetres of snow has fallen — except on Yonge Street, where the threshold is five centimetres.

Timing

The Town says its goal is to clear primary roads within 16 hours after a storm ends and secondary roads within 24 hours.

Sidewalks are plowed and sanded after five centimetres of accumulation and are typically finished within 24 hours of equipment being dispatched.

Officials note these timelines may be extended during heavy or unusual weather, staffing shortages or equipment issues.

Weather Event

The Town adds it may declare a “Significant Weather Event” during major storms.

That declaration, permitted under provincial rules, gives the municipality extra time to restore roads and sidewalks to normal service levels.

Once conditions improve, the Town will formally end the declaration and resume regular maintenance timelines.