Snow Clearing

• On your waste collection day, make sure your garbage container, blue boxes and green cart are visible. Do not place items on top of snow banks or behind snow banks where the waste collectors cannot see them.
• If it is windy on your garbage day, secure your recyclables so that items do not blow away. Place heavier items on top of lighter items. (For example, place magazines or catalogues on top of loose paper). This prevents litter on your neighbourhood streets and properties when the snow melts.
• Keep your vehicles off the road during and immediately following a snowfall. This ensures thorough ploughing of roadways and prevents your vehicle from being plowed in.

Material Application

Winter maintenance vehicles are dispatched prior to the start of a winter event to apply an anti-icing treatment if required.

Additionally, prior to the storm winter maintenance equipment will then work continuously applying material as required.

• Primary roads and Escarpment Accesses: Roads with the greatest volume of traffic called primary roads, and Escarpment Accesses, are salted or sanded first.
• Secondary roads: Secondary roads that lead to primary roads are salted or sanded next.
• Residential streets: Residential streets generally receive sand/salt treatment at intersections, hills and sharp curves.

Road salt is the conventional deicing/anti-icing chemical for maintaining winter safety because of its cost, effectiveness and ease of handling. However, when used excessively, it’s considered harmful to the local environment and poses a risk to plants, animals, lake and stream ecosystems and groundwater.

To ensure the City of Hamilton continuously improves and manages the amount of salt used in it’s winter maintenance operations, it has releases its 2021 Salt Management Plan that sets out a policy and procedural framework for salt usage. The dynamic plan will allow the City to phase in and test new approaches and technologies in a way that is responsive to fiscal demands, considers environmental impacts and ensures that roadway safety is not compromised.

Through the City of Hamilton’s Salt Management Plan will continue to provide the public with the safe and efficient transportation systems they expect, while minimizing effects on the environment through prudent salt use.

Learn more about The City’s Salt Management Plan(PDF, 3.38 MB)

Residents can also protect the environment by using less salt with these tips:

• Before snow is expected to fall or the temperature is expected to drop below freezing, spread a small amount of salt on your driveway and walkways to help stop ice and snow from sticking to the surface.
• To reduce the likelihood of needing salt, clear snow and ice from your driveway and walkways as soon as possible – this helps reduce ice build-up.
• After a snowfall, use salt sparingly in the required areas needed to ensure safety and ensure all snow has been cleared first.
• Salt is less effective at temperatures below -10 degrees. Residents should consider alternative materials like sand, grit, non-clumping kitty litter or magnesium chloride.

Hamilton Plow Tracker

The City of Hamilton’s Roadway Maintenance team is managing the winter weather similar to other snow events. At this time, the public-facing plow tracker online tool is offline due to the ongoing Cybersecurity Incident. 

The City of Hamilton’s Plow Tracking map allows you to see where our maintenance vehicles have been in the last 2, 4, 12 and 24 hours.

Launch Plow Tracker

Note: These vehicles are not only used for winter activities but also used for general maintenance programs.

Further information can be obtained by calling 905-546-2489

Disclaimer: We try to ensure the most accurate and reliable information is displayed on the Plow Tracker. However, the City assumes no responsibility for any errors and is not liable for any damages of any kind resulting from the use of, or reliance on, the information contained herein.

Looking for Sidewalk Snow Plowing? Learn more about Sidewalk Snow Clearing

Frequently Asked Questions

When will my street be plowed?
Roads are plowed based on priority. The first priority is main routes and escarpment crossings. The second priority is collector roads and the third priority is neighbourhood streets.

Why does the number of plows differ from day to day?
Vehicles appear on the map only when they are moving. Parked vehicles will not be displayed.

Why does it look like a plow flew across town?
An interruption in the data due to a vehicle breakdown or loss of cellular connection can cause this data irregularity.

What do the pink links on the map mean?
The pink lines are the travelled path of the vehicles. They provide a history of the routes that the trucks have driven during the previous 2, 4, 12 and 24 hour timespans.

There is no snow, why are the plows out?
The vehicles used for snow clearing are also used for other maintenance activities. The tracking tool monitors the travelled path of the vehicle regardless of activity performed.

Who can I contact for further information?
You can contact the Customer Contact Centre at 905-546-2489 and they will direct your call.

I see the vehicle on my street but it doesn’t show it on the map?
The map shows all moving, City owned road snow clearing vehicles as well as deployed contracted vehicles. 

Why do the vehicles keep going up and down the same street?
The City works to maintain the levels of service. Roads are cleared on a priority basis and continue to be travelled until that service level is met.

Roads are plowed based on priority. The first priority is main routes and escarpment crossings. The second priority is collector roads and the third priority is neighbourhood streets.

Find the Plowing Priority of a Road in Hamilton

To find the snow plowing winter class priority of a street, enter the street name or address into the search box. Once located, select the street to show the class and route information.

Winter Class Priorities

*Target Completion Time: clock starts after the completion of the winter event which includes but is not limited to: stopped snowing, no drifting, blowing snow, freezing rain.

The Provincial highways that run through the city of Hamilton are maintained by the Ministry of Transportation

Frequently Asked Questions

During heavy snowfalls, property owners are encouraged to assist the City’s snow removal crews by:

• Getting vehicles off the streets and parking in your driveway
• Keeping all catch basins clear of snow and ice for proper drainage during a thaw
• Keeping fire hydrants clear and visible

Tips for Residents

Preparing Roads for Snowstorm

Before a snowstorm, we apply anti-icing material which is a salt brine solution that helps keep snow and ice from bonding to the roadway. Once the storm begins, City crews and contractors begin by applying de-icing material such as salt or a sand/salt mixture and plowing roadways throughout Hamilton. We want to ensure that Hamilton’s roads remain open for emergency vehicles, buses , business and major institutions like schools and hospitals.

Roads are plowed based on priority:

• First priority is main routes and escarpment crossings
• Second priority is collector roads
• Third priority is neighbourhood streets

Snow Emergencies

Certain roads are snow emergency routes. When the City declares a snow emergency, it is illegal to park on these roads. Vehicles that block snow routes during an emergency may be ticketed and/or towed at the owner's expense.

Snow emergency routes may be signed with:

• No Stopping Anytime
• No Parking Anytime
• No Parking Snow Route

Snow emergencies are announced on local radio stations.

Report damage from a snow plow to your private property by calling the City at 905-546-2424 ext. 5742. You need to report:

• where you live
• a description of the damage

Damage to mailboxes? If a snow plow damages your mailbox, we will issue a temporary mailboxes within a few business days. We will give you a permanent mailbox in the spring when the ground thaws.

Damage to landscaping? The City does not replace or repair damaged landscaping items located within the City's road allowance.

Submit a Claim for Property Damage

You must submit a claim for property damage in writing to:

City of Hamilton
Risk Management Services
71 Main Street West
Hamilton, ON L8P 4Y5
Email [email protected]

You must describe:

• what was damaged
• how it happened
• date and time of occurrence
• names of contractors, equipment, operators where possible
• Your name, address and phone number

Each claim is examined individually.

When Risk Management Services receives your claim, they start an investigation. You will receive a written reply in the mail to let you know they received your claim. A decision on your claim is made when all of the information has been reviewed. You are advised of the decision as quickly as possible. Payment of a claim is contingent upon legal liability on the part of the City.

If you have experienced property damage or injury which you feel is related to City of Hamilton snow clearing efforts you can make a claim to the City.

Submit a Claim for Injury

You may submit a written claim within 7 calendar days of the incident to:

City of Hamilton
Office of the City Clerk
71 Main Street West
Hamilton, Ontario L8P 4Y5

Your claim must include:

• Your name, address and phone number
• Date and time of the incident
• Location
• What damage  or injury occurred as a result of the fall

An investigation starts when we receive your claim. You will receive a written reply in the mail to let you know they received your claim. A decision on your claim is made when all of the information has been reviewed. You are advised of the decision as quickly as possible. Payment of a claim is contingent upon legal liability on the part of the City.

To discuss the claims process, contact:
Risk Management Services
Call 905-546-2424 ext. 5742