Windrow Removal in Ottawa: What Homeowners Need to Know
You finish clearing the driveway, put the shovel away and head inside. A few hours later, the street plow comes through and leaves a dense ridge of snow across the entrance.
That ridge is called a windrow. In Ottawa, clearing it is the property owner’s responsibility, even though a City plow created it.
The frustrating part is usually the timing. Your driveway may need to be cleared before your street is plowed, especially if you have to leave for work or an appointment. When the plow eventually arrives, the entrance may need a second pass.
When will the City plow a residential street?
Ottawa clears roads according to a priority system. Highway 174, the Transitway and major roads are handled first, followed by secondary roads and minor collectors. Residential streets and lanes are lower on the list.
Under the City’s current winter-maintenance standards, residential roads and lanes are plowed after at least 7 centimetres of snow has accumulated. Once the snowfall ends, completing those routes may take 10 to 16 hours.
Those figures are service standards, not an appointment time for your street. Conditions, equipment and the length of a storm can all affect when a particular plow arrives. If Ottawa declares a Significant Weather Event, the normal maintenance timelines are suspended until the event ends, although snow-clearing operations continue.
This is why a driveway can be clear for much of the day before a windrow appears across it.
Can you push the snow back into the street?
No. Ottawa’s Use and Care of Roads By-law prohibits placing snow or ice on the City’s right-of-way, including streets, sidewalks, pathways and parks.
Snow from the driveway and windrow should remain on your property unless it is taken to an authorized disposal site. The City also asks residents to keep fire hydrants and catch basins clear where possible. City snow-disposal facilities are reserved for snow collected from public property, so private contractors cannot use them for residential snow.
For homes with little storage space, this becomes harder as winter goes on. Ask a contractor about pushing the banks farther back, relocating snow elsewhere on the property or hauling it to an authorized facility. Make sure the quote says where the snow will go.
Does a snow-removal contract include the windrow?
Sometimes, but the words “driveway clearing” do not settle the question. A contractor may clear the driveway once during a storm and treat a later windrow as a separate visit. Another may include one or more return passes in a seasonal contract.
Before signing, ask one direct question:
If the City plow leaves a windrow after you have cleared my driveway, will you return, and is that visit included in the price?
The answer should appear in the written agreement. It should also explain the snowfall trigger, the areas included and how the contractor handles long storms. A useful contract will tell you:
- whether the driveway, walkways and steps are included;
- whether the full driveway entrance will be cleared;
- whether windrow clearing is included;
- how many visits may be made during a long storm;
- whether salting or other ice control costs extra;
- whether heavy snowfall or seasonal accumulation limits can lead to extra charges;
- what happens when there is no room left to store snow; and
- who is responsible for property damage.
Ottawa requires businesses that use vehicle-operated plows to clear private property to hold a snow-plow contractor licence. People working only with handheld shovels or manual snow blowers, along with qualifying farmers clearing snow in rural areas, are exempt. The City publishes a list of licensed contractors that homeowners can check before signing.
When is a second visit worth paying for?
Not every snowfall requires two visits. A return pass is most useful when the contractor cleared before the municipal plow arrived, snow continued after the first visit, drifting covered the driveway again or a packed windrow made the entrance too narrow.
If you are clearing the windrow yourself, try to deal with it before it freezes. Freshly plowed snow is often wet and compacted, but it becomes much harder to move after a thaw-and-freeze cycle. Clear the full width of the entrance when possible. A narrow opening may get you out today, but it leaves less room for the next storm.
A shovel or snow blower may be enough for a modest windrow. Hiring help makes more sense when the ridge is deep, frozen or unusually heavy; when the entrance is wide; when snow storage is limited; or when clearing it would be physically unsafe.
What does windrow removal cost in Ottawa?
There is no standard City rate, and contractors price the work differently. Driveway width, snow depth, access, travel time, equipment and available storage can all affect the quote.
As one current example, Snow Removals Ottawa advertises the following ranges for the 2026–27 season:
| Service | Advertised price |
|---|---|
| Windrow-only clearing | $60–$100 per visit |
| Driveway and walkway clearing | $80–$140 per visit |
| Single-driveway seasonal service | $440–$580 per season |
| Double-driveway seasonal service | $520–$700 per season |
These are one company’s published prices, checked in August 2026. They are not market averages. Before comparing quotes, confirm the total with tax, the snowfall trigger, the work included and any charges for return visits or heavy storms.
Help for older adults and people with disabilities
Ottawa funds two snow-clearing support programs. Snow Go matches adults aged 60 or older and people with disabilities with individuals or contractors who can clear private driveways and walkways. The resident negotiates the price and pays the provider directly.
Snow Go Assist reimburses part of the cost for eligible low-income older adults and people with disabilities. Eligibility, income limits, funding and application dates can change from one season to the next, so check the City’s program page for the current details before applying.
The practical takeaway
A windrow is an ordinary part of street plowing, but it is easy to overlook when arranging private snow removal. Ottawa property owners are responsible for clearing the ridge, and they cannot put that snow back on the road.
If you hire a contractor, do not assume the windrow is included. Ask whether the crew returns after the City plow, what triggers that return and whether it costs extra. One clear clause in the contract can prevent a great deal of confusion during the first major storm.