City of Owen Sound Outlines Winter Snow Removal Plan and Resident Responsibilities
Owen Sound outlines its 2025–2026 snow removal plan, including what residents can expect from City crews and what they’re asked to do during the winter season.
As winter approaches, the City of Owen Sound has released its seasonal snow removal plan, outlining how municipal crews will manage snow and ice and what residents are expected to do to support safe, efficient operations.
According to the City’s November 7 update, winter control operations will continue to follow Ontario’s Minimum Maintenance Standards, which set the baseline for road and sidewalk maintenance during snow events.
Priority roads (higher-class roads) are cleared more quickly, while residential streets and sidewalks fall under longer timelines. The MMS are minimum requirements, and municipalities can choose to exceed them — but are not required to do so.
The City maintains approximately 282 lane kilometres of roadway and 105 kilometres of sidewalks over the winter season. Staff say snow removal services operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and are carried out entirely by in-house staff, and that no contracted services are used within city limits.
The City’s winter fleet includes:
4 plow trucks
2 graders
1 loader
4 sidewalk plows
Because of Owen Sound’s geography, staff say hilly areas and main roads are prioritized during snowfall. In heavy snow, these areas may require multiple passes to remain safe and accessible.
Sidewalks are also part of the City’s maintenance responsibilities and are cleared using four multi-vehicle sidewalk plows, which the City says can operate up to 12 hours a day as needed.
The City notes that frequent or back-to-back snowfalls can delay sidewalk clearing, and encourages residents to be patient during major storms.
During prolonged or severe winter weather, the City may declare a Significant Weather Event, which temporarily extends maintenance timelines until conditions improve and snow-clearing operations can safely resume and be completed.
What Residents Are Expected to Do
Winter safety and access are described by the City as a shared responsibility. Residents are asked to do the following:
Avoid overnight parking: Parking is not allowed on City streets or in non-designated municipal lots between 1:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m., from December 1 to March 31.
Overnight parking passes are available at City Hall or the Transit Terminal for use in Municipal Lots 5 and 9.
Don’t push snow onto streets or sidewalks: This is prohibited, and doing so can interfere with snow-clearing operations or create safety hazards.
Help with sidewalk and hydrant clearing: While City crews are responsible for sidewalk maintenance, residents who are able are encouraged to help clear the sidewalk in front of their property and to clear around nearby fire hydrants. This helps ensure safe pedestrian access and emergency response.
Place waste bins properly: Garbage and recycling should be placed at the end of driveways — not on snowbanks or on the road — to prevent damage and ensure collection is not disrupted.
Keep children off snowbanks near roads: Snowbanks may seem like a fun play area, but can pose serious safety risks, especially when near plow routes or intersections.
The City also asks residents to check for obstructions (like parked cars) before reporting snow-clearing issues, as these can prevent crews from completing their routes effectively.
Full details on the City’s winter control plan, including road classification maps and service levels, can be found at owensound.ca/WinterControl.
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