How the City of London Handles Snow (And What It Leaves You)

Snow & Winter · Published September 13, 2026

The City of London runs a large winter operation, but it doesn't clear everything — and understanding the line between city responsibility and yours saves confusion (and fines) all winter. Here's how it works, in general terms.

Roads Come First

The city prioritizes main roads, bus routes and emergency routes, then works toward residential streets. After a major storm, your residential street may not see a plow for a while — the busiest and most critical routes are cleared first for public safety.

The Windrow Is Yours

When the street plow clears your road, it pushes snow to the sides — including across the end of your driveway. That ridge, the windrow, is your responsibility to clear, and you can't push it back onto the road. We explain this fully in our post on windrow clearing.

Sidewalk Plowing Has a Threshold

The city deploys sidewalk plows once accumulation passes roughly 8 cm, aiming to clear within about 48 hours after a storm ends. But certain downtown and main business-zone frontages must be cleared by the property owner, often by 10:00 a.m. Businesses should know which zone they're in — see our sidewalk clearing rules guide.

Parking Bans Help Plows Work

During major storms the city triggers temporary parking bans so plows can clear streets fully. A parked car leaves an unplowed gap and can be ticketed or towed. Watch for bans during big events.

What's Left for You

Your driveway, your walkways, your steps, the windrow, and — in some zones — your sidewalk frontage. That's exactly the gap a snow removal contract fills. See our snow removal page for how we handle the parts the city leaves behind.