Service Priority

Many factors impact snow clearing operations. Drifting, rain, or a sudden temperature drop could delay our snow clearing timelines. While the City uses its best efforts to clear snow on time, our harsh climate can impact snow clearing.

Street ice control

We will complete one application of ice control on streets within three hours of ice conditions.

Street plowing

For snowfalls of up to 25 centimeters, we will complete an initial cut on streets within 12 hours following the end of the storm. For snowfalls greater than 25 centimeters, the time to complete the initial cut will increase. Circumstances such as drifting conditions and extreme snow accumulations may extend timelines.

Sidewalk ice control and plowing

We have 161 km of sidewalks identified for snow clearing and ice control. These are typically “collector” and “arterial” streets that generate a higher amount of pedestrian and vehicular traffic.

Local and residential streets are not included in the City's sidewalk snow clearing program. Sidewalk snow clearing and ice control operations are completed in priority and can be seen on this map.

Depending on the amount of snow on the ground, most streets in the sidewalk program will be plowed within four to seven days following the end of the storm. The time to complete this will increase if a new storm happens during this time frame.

Sidewalk snow clearing priority

In the downtown, St. John's Snow Removal regulations require properties adjacent to designated downtown streets to keep their sidewalks clear of ice and snow.

Outside downtown, we clear and salt sidewalks on at least one side of many arterial and collector streets. School zones, however, are given top priority for sidewalk clearing operations.