Snow Clearing/All Things Winter
Snow Removal - Parking Bylaws - Snow Events - Winter Activities
Snow Removal - Parking Bylaws - Snow Events - Winter Activities
Apply for our Assisted Sidewalk Snow Clearing Program
For eligible seniors and persons with a disability. Click HERE
For eligible seniors and persons with a disability. Click HERE
We're Canadian, we know winter happens and we know how to deal with it. We help our neighbours, we help push cars that get stuck and we do our best to make sure the sidewalk in front of our home is safe for everyone, including those with mobility challenges to use. The City of Kitchener has supports to help. Below you'll find a s summary of things to be aware of in the winter months.
SIDEWALK SNOW CLEARING - Because safety is a priority and we want sidewalks accessible for all, property owners must clear the sidewalks around their property of both snow and ice within 24 hours of a snowfall. These sidewalks must be maintained to bare pavement on an ongoing basis. if you're on a corner lot, this includes clearing snow and ice at the pedestrian access to the road. The technical word for the snow there is called a windrow.
If you see a sidewalk that hasn't been cleared within 24 hours, you can notify our bylaw department by calling our 24 Contact Centre at 519.741.2345. A bylaw officer wil visit the area if they determine the sidewalk is not clearwill issue a notice to the property owner. The property owner will then have another 24 hours to clear it to the bare pavement standard. If the sidewalk has not been cleared after that, a contractor may be hired to clear your sidewalk and add the cost of the clearing is added to your property tax bill. We also have proactive bylaw officers who look for infractions. Their goal is to educate and inform so the property owner understands the importance of clearing their sidewalk snow.
If you need help clearing your sidewalk there are agecncies who provide paid for service help. Try contacting Community Support Connections, 519-772-878 or The Working Centre, 519-743-1151
The City removes snow from Sidewalks that surround city-owned property, like community centres, sidewalks within the downtown core, in connection with the Downtown Kitchener BIA, ‘back lot’ sidewalks that run along the back fence of properties that owners do not have to maintain under the bylaw, walkways between neighbourhoods, crossing guard locations and some crosswalks
FREE SAND FOR YOUR SIDEWALK - Kitchener provides free sand for citizens to put on the sidewalk to help with traction and prevent slips and falls. You'll need to bring your own shovel and containers. To find the closest sandbox to you just use this locator. HERE
SNOW EVENTS - There are times when we get a significant snowfall and our snow clearing crews need to quickly clear the snow from our streets in a short period of time including overnight hours. When this happens we declare a Snow Event. We usually declare a snow event by 5pm to give you time to move your car. During a Snow Events, parking on city streets is not allowed until the Snow Event is declared over you can't park on city streets. Cars that are parked on a street during a snow event may be tagged and towed. We let you know about Snow Events by updating our Storm and emergency updates page at kitchener.ca,, post on our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts, sending an email to our snow web page subscribers and through the local media. you can subscribe to receive Storm and Emergency updates by subscribing to website page updates here STORM & EMERGENCY UPDATES
WINTER OVERNIGHT PARKING - Overnight parking (between 2:30 - 6am) on city streets is not allowed between December 1 and March 31. You can apply for an exemption up to 5 times for each license plate. You must apply before 2am. To request a parking exemption call our 24 hour contact centre at 519.741.2345 or apply online HERE
ROAD SNOW CLEARING - The Province sets the regulations for the order that snows are cleared of snow. Basically, the major roads that carry the most traffic and transit routes get cleared first. Here is the order the Province sets:Priority 1 - Mains roads and major arteries. All priority 1 and 2 routes and all GRT bus routes are maintained until complete.
Priority 2 - Hills, curves and GRT routes. Work on priority 2 streets begins only after priority 1 streets have been completed. If snow resumes while in priority 1 or 2, then clearing priority 1 roads is restarted.
Priority 3 - The balance of backstreets, completing a full plow of the city. Work on priority 3 routes starts only after priorities 1 and 2 have been completed. If snow resumes while in priority 1 or 2, then clearing priority 1 roads is restarted.
Check to see if your street is a Priority 1, 2 or 3 street HERE
TRAILS AND PATHS - The City maintains most of the hard surface paths and trails that run through parks and open spaces, but not all. We don't clear snow from trails that don't have a hard surface because we don't want to damage them. Multi use paths that run alongside roads are cleared of snow through a partnership with the city and the Region of Waterloo.
WINTER ACTIVITIES - In every season, including winter Kitchener offers lots of activities and ideas to enjoy the most of that season. For the Active Kitchener Page, click HERE
SIDEWALK SNOW CLEARING - Because safety is a priority and we want sidewalks accessible for all, property owners must clear the sidewalks around their property of both snow and ice within 24 hours of a snowfall. These sidewalks must be maintained to bare pavement on an ongoing basis. if you're on a corner lot, this includes clearing snow and ice at the pedestrian access to the road. The technical word for the snow there is called a windrow.
If you see a sidewalk that hasn't been cleared within 24 hours, you can notify our bylaw department by calling our 24 Contact Centre at 519.741.2345. A bylaw officer wil visit the area if they determine the sidewalk is not clearwill issue a notice to the property owner. The property owner will then have another 24 hours to clear it to the bare pavement standard. If the sidewalk has not been cleared after that, a contractor may be hired to clear your sidewalk and add the cost of the clearing is added to your property tax bill. We also have proactive bylaw officers who look for infractions. Their goal is to educate and inform so the property owner understands the importance of clearing their sidewalk snow.
If you need help clearing your sidewalk there are agecncies who provide paid for service help. Try contacting Community Support Connections, 519-772-878 or The Working Centre, 519-743-1151
The City removes snow from Sidewalks that surround city-owned property, like community centres, sidewalks within the downtown core, in connection with the Downtown Kitchener BIA, ‘back lot’ sidewalks that run along the back fence of properties that owners do not have to maintain under the bylaw, walkways between neighbourhoods, crossing guard locations and some crosswalks
FREE SAND FOR YOUR SIDEWALK - Kitchener provides free sand for citizens to put on the sidewalk to help with traction and prevent slips and falls. You'll need to bring your own shovel and containers. To find the closest sandbox to you just use this locator. HERE
SNOW EVENTS - There are times when we get a significant snowfall and our snow clearing crews need to quickly clear the snow from our streets in a short period of time including overnight hours. When this happens we declare a Snow Event. We usually declare a snow event by 5pm to give you time to move your car. During a Snow Events, parking on city streets is not allowed until the Snow Event is declared over you can't park on city streets. Cars that are parked on a street during a snow event may be tagged and towed. We let you know about Snow Events by updating our Storm and emergency updates page at kitchener.ca,, post on our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts, sending an email to our snow web page subscribers and through the local media. you can subscribe to receive Storm and Emergency updates by subscribing to website page updates here STORM & EMERGENCY UPDATES
WINTER OVERNIGHT PARKING - Overnight parking (between 2:30 - 6am) on city streets is not allowed between December 1 and March 31. You can apply for an exemption up to 5 times for each license plate. You must apply before 2am. To request a parking exemption call our 24 hour contact centre at 519.741.2345 or apply online HERE
ROAD SNOW CLEARING - The Province sets the regulations for the order that snows are cleared of snow. Basically, the major roads that carry the most traffic and transit routes get cleared first. Here is the order the Province sets:Priority 1 - Mains roads and major arteries. All priority 1 and 2 routes and all GRT bus routes are maintained until complete.
Priority 2 - Hills, curves and GRT routes. Work on priority 2 streets begins only after priority 1 streets have been completed. If snow resumes while in priority 1 or 2, then clearing priority 1 roads is restarted.
Priority 3 - The balance of backstreets, completing a full plow of the city. Work on priority 3 routes starts only after priorities 1 and 2 have been completed. If snow resumes while in priority 1 or 2, then clearing priority 1 roads is restarted.
Check to see if your street is a Priority 1, 2 or 3 street HERE
TRAILS AND PATHS - The City maintains most of the hard surface paths and trails that run through parks and open spaces, but not all. We don't clear snow from trails that don't have a hard surface because we don't want to damage them. Multi use paths that run alongside roads are cleared of snow through a partnership with the city and the Region of Waterloo.
WINTER ACTIVITIES - In every season, including winter Kitchener offers lots of activities and ideas to enjoy the most of that season. For the Active Kitchener Page, click HERE