Roads Services is responsible for the City’s snow and ice control program. It is committed to helping make Ottawa’s roads, sidewalks and cycling network safe and passable for vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists. An effective winter maintenance program is essential to allow the City to function under normal winter weather conditions.
If you see a pothole that needs to be filled on a City street please make a service request or call 3-1-1.
Potholes are a result of the freeze/thaw weather cycles that deteriorate our road surfaces. During the freeze/thaw, water seeps into the crevices of the road. Fluctuations in temperature, vibrations and traffic volumes all create stress on the asphalt road surface, which can result in potholes.
Snow removal is based on a road-priority system, with high-use roads and emergency and transit routes cleared first.
Under extreme winter storm conditions (i.e. those that exceed normal conditions), snow and ice control operations will be carried out based on the capacity of resources in as continuous a manner as practicable. This will give crews the flexibility to provide relief in residential areas while simultaneously maintaining and clearing priority roads.
After the last snowflake falls:
If your sidewalk has not been cleared 72 hours after the end of a snowfall, please call 3-1-1. The City does not clear snow from driveways or private sidewalks leading to a residence.
A snow windrow is a pile of snow that accumulates at the end of driveways and on the sides of streets during plowing. It is the responsibility of the home owner to remove their own driveway windrows.
Place garbage containers and bags and recycling bins at the curb. Do not place them behind or on top of snow banks.
Between November 15 to April 1, there is no on-street parking between 1 a.m. and 7 a.m. when Environment Canada forecasts 7 cm or more of snow in the Ottawa area. This includes any forecast for a range of snow more than 7 cm, such as 5 to 10 cm.
Vehicles without a residential parking permit that are parked on the street during an overnight parking ban will be ticketed and towed.
When an overnight winter parking ban is made, the City issues a special advisory to the local media and posts it on ottawa.ca. The parking ban ends when snow clearing is completed and the City issues an advisory indicating that it has been lifted.
Residents can park at City parking garages during a winter overnight parking ban. If you leave after the available overnight parking period ends, you will have to pay the regular parking rate for your stay.
Map of City and private parking garages that offer overnight parking
210 Gloucester Street
110 Laurier Avenue West
762 Somerset Street West
170 Second Avenue
70 Clarence Street
141 Clarence Street
33 Mann Avenue (uOttawa Mann garage)
Below is a list of some downtown private parking lots that offer overnight parking. The City does not operate these lots and has no information about rates or availability; they are listed as a courtesy only.
Towed vehicles are usually moved to a nearby street where snow removal has already taken place. If you cannot find your vehicle, call the 3-1-1.
If you have a residential parking permit, your vehicle is exempt from winter overnight parking bans. Removing your vehicle from the street helps City crews clear the street faster.
During planned snow removal, temporary "No Parking" signs are posted along streets to be cleared. This parking ban applies to all vehicles, including vehicles with residential parking permits. Any vehicle parked during a temporary "No Parking" ban will be ticketed and towed.
To make sidewalks safe to walk on in the winter, the City provides do-it-yourself grit boxes close to steep hills and in areas where there are many pedestrians, seniors and persons using mobility devices. Residents are encouraged to spread the grit on slippery spots on sidewalks and other problem areas.
The City of Ottawa's Fleet Services team recently completed the installation of a sideguard on a snow plow. This barrier, which was gifted to the City is intended to serve as an additional safety measure for cyclists and pedestrians.
We would like to remind all residents of the importance of maintaining a safe distance from snow plows when in operation.
After a severe snow storm, operators may have to plow a street twice. Sometimes a grader or dump truck with front and wing plows will do a first pass, followed by a sand/salt truck, to clear a small amount of snow and make sanding/salting more effective.
To clear a cul-de-sac, operators will push the remaining snow to the centre or outside of the street, depending on the available area.
In the early winter, the City removes ruts that have formed on snow-packed surfaces. This keeps catch basis open and helps prevent flooding.
The City applies dry salt, wet salt, sand salt mix, liquid brine and abrasive materials on streets. Salt is spread early during a snowstorm to make a brine solution that prevents the ice from sticking to the asphalt.
To minimize salt use, rock salt is sprayed with a liquid de-icer as it is spread. This speeds up ice melting by making the salt sticky so it can adhere to the road.
Anti-icing is used before or at the beginning of freezing rain or other winter precipitation. The de-icing solution consists of pre-wetted salt or a liquid solution. It is applied to the Transitway and Highway 174 to prevent ice from forming and bonding to the pavement.
Abrasive materials such as sand are used to increase traction in colder temperatures when salt is not effective.
The City aims to distribute snow on both sides of the road. Snow banks are removed or reduced in size when they begin to restrict sightlines, travel widths, and pedestrian and cycling traffic. Snow banks that restrict sightlines at intersections and at pedestrian, school and railway crossings are removed within 24 hours after crews are made aware of the situation. If weather permits, snow banks are pushed back to curbs to provide more driving width on the roads and to make space to store snow.
The City’s snow disposal facilities do not accept snow from private operators. To find private snow disposal facilities, consult the Yellow Pages, Greater Ottawa Truckers Association or Ottawa Construction Association.
Snow fences reduce the build-up of drifting snow and ice on roads, and improve visibility for motorists. The City installs wood-slat snow fences or partners with local farmers for corn or tree fences.
The City encourages landowners who plant corn to participate in the Alternative Snow Fencing Program.
In late summer, participating landowners leave six to 12 rows of standing corn parallel to the road and 20 metres from the road’s right-of-way property line. In December, landowners are paid an amount based on the market value per tonne of the unharvested corn, the yield of tonnes per acre, the actual acres standing and for spring clean-up work
In non-agricultural areas, landowners can plant trees 20 metres from the right-of-way property line.
To find out more, please call 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401).
If the temperature rises above zero degrees Celsius in a short period of time, flooding can occur. The City maintains drainage systems to reduce potential flooding conditions. City crews remove snow and ice from catch basins on roads and sidewalks to ensure melting snow drains when required. It is normal for water to pool around a catch basin in wet weather. Roads are designed to drain based on the sewer capacity. Roadside ditches are cleared at the outlet end of the ditch system to provide drainage for the spring melt.
For all emergency requests call 3-1-1. If this service is not available to you please call 613-580-2400. All other Service Requests will be triaged and addressed as operations allow.
Please call 3-1-1 if the issue is related to the following:
Report a problem with:
Winter road maintenance
Winter sidewalk maintenance
Gravel Shoulder
Area Between Road and Sidewalk (Easement)
For issues regarding general road and sidewalk maintenance (no snow or ice), visit the summer road and sidewalk maintenance page.
While performing City maintenance operations, City equipment may sometimes damage lawns and/or roadside mailboxes.
If your lawn was damaged during winter road maintenance operations, you may report the situation to the City at anytime. The City will investigate these reports in early Spring, once the snow and ice has melted. Areas determined by the City to have been damaged by city vehicles will subsequently be scheduled for repair using topsoil and seed.
If your mailbox was damaged during City maintenance operations, the City will investigate and respond.
You will be required to provide:
