Short answer: Mississauga's biggest snow fine is for your car, not your shovel. When the City declares a Citywide Winter Parking Restriction, any car left on the road can get a $150 fine or be towed. The City also now clears a gap in the snowbank at the end of your driveway. Your driveway, walkway and steps are still yours.
The $150 parking fine
The City declares a Citywide Winter Parking Restriction when it needs to plow the roads, which starts once about 5 cm of snow has built up. While it's on:
- No parking on the road, unless a sign says parking is allowed. Temporary and monthly permits are suspended, and the rule includes the newer 15-hour parking areas.
- Cars left on the road can get a $150 fine or be towed. Plows carry cameras, and the City issued more than 2,400 tickets in the first part of last winter.
- Don't park on the sidewalk or the lower end of your driveway either. A car there blocks the windrow crew.
Sign up for snow alerts at mississauga.ca/snow so you know when a restriction starts.
What the City now clears for you
- Your driveway windrow. At single, shared and double driveways, crews open at least a 3 metre gap in the snowbank the plow leaves, usually 4 to 6 hours after your street's final plow, sometimes longer after a big storm. No sign-up needed. Condos, commercial properties and homes on private roads aren't included.
- Sidewalks. Priority sidewalks first, then residential sidewalks, within about 24 to 36 hours after the snow stops.
The windrow crew can't clear around obstacles. Keep bins, basketball nets and cars away from the end of the driveway, or they'll skip you.
What's still on you
- The driveway itself, past that 3 metre gap, plus the walkway, steps and any side entrance.
- Where the snow goes. The City says putting snow from your driveway onto the road is illegal under its Obstructing Highways By-law and can bring a penalty. Ontario's Highway Traffic Act also bans it, with fines up to $1,000. More in can you get fined for shovelling snow onto the road.
- The sidewalk, between City passes. There's no fine for not clearing it, but the City asks residents to clear it, and you can be liable if someone slips on your property.
Where a snow service fits
The City's windrow pass comes hours after the plow, and it's only 3 metres wide. If you leave for work at 7 a.m., you still need the driveway, walkway and steps done before that. Our seasonal routes run across Streetsville, Erin Mills, Port Credit, Lorne Park, Churchill Meadows and the rest of the city. Most driveways are cleared by 7 AM after overnight snow, with salting after every clear, and the snow stays on your property, never the road.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the fine for parking on the street during snow in Mississauga?
$150, or your car can be towed, while a Citywide Winter Parking Restriction is declared.
Do I have to shovel my sidewalk in Mississauga?
There's no fine for it. The City clears residential sidewalks within about 24 to 36 hours after the snow stops and asks residents to help in between.
Does Mississauga clear the end of my driveway?
Yes, at single, shared and double driveways. Crews open at least a 3 metre gap in the windrow, usually 4 to 6 hours after your street's final plow.
Can I push my driveway snow into the street?
No. The City says it's illegal under its Obstructing Highways By-law, and the Highway Traffic Act bans it across Ontario.
Rules can change from one winter to the next, so check the City's winter maintenance announcement and mississauga.ca/snow. Want the whole driveway done before you leave? See your Mississauga seasonal price, from $650 for the winter.