Winter in our region often brings lots of snow and unpredictable conditions. The Town of Innisfil provides winter maintenance services that balance safety, environmental and budget concerns.
We use the maintenance standards provided by the Province of Ontario as a baseline for our snow clearing and road maintenance activities. We usually meet or exceed these standards, but extreme weather can impact snow clearing activities.
Kilometres of road we maintain: ~770 km
Primary routes: Emergency routes and high-traffic roads
Secondary routes: Residential areas
Select "Service levels" in the interactive map below to see how routes are prioritized.
On average, it takes eight hours to clear a single plow route, and it can take an additional six to eight hours to clear a road after snow has stopped falling. Sidewalks are cleared in the same manner as roads, with high traffic routes cleared first. It's our mission to clear all roads within 24 hours of a snow event.
Plow tracker
See when roads and sidewalks were serviced within the last 24 hours using our plow tracker map. Toggle between settings using the tools in the top right of the map. If you're having issues using the tool, please open the plow tracker in a new window.
Snow clearing details and responsibilities
Winter maintenance takes the whole community's help.
As a property owner, it is your responsibility to clear snow and ice from your driveway and any sidewalks that border your property.
Here are some of the additional responsibilities for everyone in the community:
Make sure to follow the overnight winter parking restrictions to allow room for snowplows (no parking from midnight to 7 a.m. from November 15-April 15)
Avoid leaving your car on the road during the day if the plow has not yet gone by
Do not push snow onto the roadway as this is a violation of the Highway Traffic Act
Follow these safety tips while driving and removing snow:
Always wear proper boots to make sure you don't slip and fall
When driving, avoid splashing slush and water onto sidewalks, which could freeze
Slow down on roadways
Don't let children play in snowbanks
Help clear snow around fire hydrants and catch basins
Avoid driving on the road during a snowstorm
Make sure your vehicles don't block roads or sidewalks
We use salt on our main roads and pickled sand on secondary routes. We take the following into consideration before applying salt or sand:
Current and expected weather conditions
Snow accumulation
Road conditions
Time of day
Recent material use
For example, salt becomes ineffective between temperatures of -13 and -15 degrees Celsius. Applying salt or sand prior to a temperature drop could result in icy and dangerous road conditions.
Environmental concerns
Salt and sand that enter ditches and stormwater infrastructure impact our lakes and waterways. We try to strike a balance between road safety and our commitment to environmental sustainability.
We may declare a significant weather event when current or forecasted conditions pose a serious risk to users of our roads and sidewalks. Declarations may be the result of:
Significant snow accumulation during a 24-hour period
High winds leading to blowing snow and large snow drifts
Freezing temperatures and ice formation that occur without warning from the weather forecast
Review frequently asked questions about snow clearing in Innisfil.
We prioritize emergency routes and high traffic roads when clearing snow. On average, it takes 8 hours to clear a single plow route and it can take another 6-8 hours to clear a route after the snow has stopped falling. We appreciate your patience and understanding.
Our plows don't clear privately-owned roads or roads under the care of the County of Simcoe or the Ministry of Transportation.
We plow all roads in the safest and most efficient way possible. When snow is cleared, it's not removed—it is pushed toward the curb.
We understand that the snow deposited at the end of your driveway (called a "windrow") can be frustrating, but it is unavoidable. We don't provide windrow-clearing services at this time due to cost and impact on the property tax rate.
When clearing the end of your driveway, try to pile the snow on the left side (facing your driveway). This can help reduce the amount of snow that is pushed back onto your driveway when a snowplow passes from the right. If you are physically unable to clear snow from your property, consider asking neighbours who may have a snowblower to help or searching for volunteer services.
There are lots of safe ways for kids to enjoy the winter weather, but we don't recommend building forts or playing in snowbanks along the side of the street because it is not safe. Our crews often need to push back snowbanks to make room for more snow and your child could be seriously injured.
Looking for activities to enjoy in the winter? Try our recreation programs or spend the day tobogganing at Innisfil Beach Park.
Canada Post is responsible for snow clearing around community mailboxes. If you're unable to get to your mailbox, please report the concern to Canada Post.
We don't replace mailboxes that are damaged because of snow thrown from the plow. If there is evidence that your mailbox was damaged from contact with the plow's blade, please contact us to report the damage and request replacement.
For guidance on the placement of roadside mailboxes, see Canada Post's Rural Mailbox Guidelines.
