The giant mound of snow that ends up at the bottom of your driveway after your street is plowed may be your responsibility to clear, depending on where you live in the GTA.
The policies around clearing “windrows,” the snow left at the end of driveways after plowing, vary significantly from one GTA municipality to the next.
Some municipalities offer free windrow-clearing to all residents, while others charge a fee for the service. In Toronto, services vary depending on what part of the city you live in.
Here is a look at how large cities across the GTA handle windrow-clearing for residential driveways.
City of Toronto
In Toronto, the City provides windrow-clearing to around 262,000 households across North York, Scarborough, and Etobicoke.
“It only includes driveways on streets where the specialty plow can operate safely, such as wide streets with limited on-street parking and no boulevard space for storage,” a spokesperson for the City told CP24 in an email.
In other areas of Toronto, the responsibility of clearing snow from the end of driveways falls to residents.
York Region
Markham
The City of Markham has a Snow Windrow Removal Assistance Program that helps clear snow for disabled and elderly residents during the winter.
“To qualify for this program, all individual(s) residing in the household must be 60 years or older (proof of age is required) or younger than 12 years of age,” information on the city’s website read.
“If any members of the household are between the ages of 12 years and 60 years, a current and valid doctor’s certificate confirming they are physically unable to clear snow must be provided.”
Richmond Hill
The City of Richmond Hill said it provides snow windrow clearing service for more than 50,000 local, residential driveways.
“If you do not wish to receive the City’s snow windrow clearing service, you now have the option to opt out,” the City said on its website. “Every year, before the start of the winter season, you can submit your opt-out request online.”
Vaughan
If you live in Vaughan, windrow-clearing service is available to all residential driveways.
“The service does not clear windrows in laneways, windrows left by sidewalk plows, hardened snow, ice or the entire driveway. You are responsible for clearing the small windrow across your driveway created by sidewalk plows,” the City notes on its website.
Peel Region
Mississauga
The City of Mississauga recently implemented a policy to provide windrow-clearing services to all residents with “single, shared and double driveways.” At least a three-metre space will be cleared in the driveway windrow, the City notes on its website.
“No application or registration is required. The City will not clear windrows for condominiums, commercial properties and homes on private roads,” the website read.
Brampton
The City of Brampton does not provide windrow clearing for residential driveways.
Halton Region
Oakville
The Town of Oakville offers a paid windrow-clearing program.
“For the 2025-2026 season, the Phase 1 and Phase 2 program fee will be $184 plus HST ($207.92 with HST included),” the City’s website notes.
Milton
A windrow removal program is available to residents in Milton who are 65 years of age or older or for those who are living with disabilities. The cost for the service is $69.
Durham Region
Pickering
In Pickering, the responsibility of clearing snow left by plows at the end of driveways falls to residents.
Whitby
The Town of Whitby provides free windrow-clearing services to seniors (over the age of 65) and individuals with disabilities.
Ajax
Homeowners are responsible for clearing windrows but the Town of Ajax does have a program to assist seniors and “qualified residents.”
Oshawa
The City provides snow-clearing assistance to those 65 and older and people with disabilities who have “no community members without disabilities under the age of 65 living in the household.”
