When there is snow in the forecast, we pre-treat Purple Routes (hills, bridges) before the flakes begin to fall. This helps to prevent snow and ice build up on these high hazard areas. We plow Purple Routes within 8 hours of 5 cm accumulation, and then Red Routes (major arterial roads) within 72 hours of 8 cm accumulation.

If the snow keeps falling, we will continuously plow Purple and Red Routes as often as necessary until the snowfall stops. We do this so major roads are drivable and safe but we always remind drivers to drive to the road conditions and stay home if you can until the weather is better.

Blue Routes are Downtown (Snow Zone D) and they are plowed within 4 days of a 5 to 10 cm snowpack (not accumulation). Green and Grey Routes are residential streets and are plowed within 15 days of a 5 to 10 cm snowpack (not accumulation). We call Green and Grey Route plowing Snow Zone plowing. Visit the Snow Zone Plowing page for detailed information on that program.

Sanding provides traction control and plowing is only required when there is accumulation of snow on the road surface. Red Deer experiences many temperature and weather fluctuations and sometimes plowing the road surface would create a road surface that is more slippery than just applying traction control. 

Different weather conditions call for different traction control measures and Roads Crews continuously monitor weather conditions and forecast to ensure they are as prepared as possible to respond.

To learn more about sanding, visit the How it works page.

Many City Transit routes use the Purple and Red Route system. Transit bus routes in residential neighbourhoods are Green Routes and will be plowed with that schedule.

School busses are not included in this schedule as those bus routes are determined in coordination with contracted bus services and school boards. These routes are subject to change without notice to The City. Contact your school administrator if you have questions or concerns regarding school bus routes.

The City is divided into 12 Snow Zones, lettered A-K and O. Snow Zones contain several residential neighbourhoods and are used for scheduling and communicating the snow plowing and street sweeping schedules.  Use our Find Your Snow Zone tool to find out which Snow Zone and Route you're on.

We use a coloured Route system to identify different types of streets and their priority for salt, sand and plowing. Streets are divided into one of six coloured routes:

• Purple Routes: hills, bridges, hazards and hospital routes
• Red Routes: arterial roads
• Blue Routes: downtown streets
• Green Routes: collector roads and bus routes (plowed during Snow Zone plowing)
• Grey Routes: residential streets (plowed during Snow Zone plowing)
• Orange Routes: industrial roads

Each Route is plowed at different times depending on snowfall and conditions. Visit the How it works page to learn more.

We use different types of traction control measures depending on the temperature. In temperatures of -15^oC or warmer, sand is mixed with salt brine to provide traction control. In -15^oC and colder the sand is mixed with Road Guard before being spread on the road surface.

When Road Guard is applied for anti-icing and de-icing it presents a very low hazard to animals (and humans). Brief contact should not cause irritation to paws. While City-cleared and treated sidewalks and trails do not contain any products that would be harmful to your pet, private property owners may use different products. We recommend wiping or rinsing your pet’s paws following winter walks to avoid any potential irritation from traction control products.

Pet owners should also be vigilant and stop their pets from drinking puddled winter water which can contain wide-ranging contaminants including dirt, animal waste, road maintenance materials and other pollutants.

Parks and Public Works crews clear nearly 36 km of trails during the winter season. The Winter Trail Snow Clearing Map (pdf) shows which trails have been selected for clearing. As schedules and weather allow, staff will clear additional trails if we do not receive further snowfall. The secondary priority trails (pdf) shows these areas. It is important to note that when crews have moved onto clearing priority two trails, they will stop priority two clearing if a new snowfall event happens that requires them to begin priority 1 trails. Priority 2 trail clearing is completed as time and weather permits.

During a typical snowfall, here’s when we plow roads:

We also clear snow for sidewalks, trails and transit stops:

No, plowing starts in a different Snow Zone each time residential plowing is triggered. Check the Schedule to see if your Snow Zone has been scheduled for plowing.

We start our residential plowing program, called Snow Zone plowing, once the snowpack reaches 5-10 cm on the roads. This generally takes about 30-40 cm of snowfall, depending on temperature and other factors.

Snow Zone plowing coordinates plowing on Green and Grey Routes. Green Routes are plowed to bare pavement and the snow is removed. Grey Routes are plowed to bare pavement in the center with two small windrows on each side of the road to allow for parking. Check the Schedule to see if your street has been scheduled for plowing. 

Learn more about our Snow Zone Plowing Program.

Sign up for Snow Zone notifications with Notify Red Deer to receive a text, email or phone call when your Snow Zone is scheduled for plowing so you know to move your vehicle off the street.

In addition to Snow Zone Alerts, the start of Snow Zone plowing will be communicated on electronic message board signs in your neighbourhood, on The City’s Facebook and Twitter pages and through local media.

We start Snow Zone Plowing once Green and Grey Routes reach a 5-10 cm snowpack. A number of tools are available to help you find out when your Snow Zone will be plowed:

• Sign up to receive Snow Zone alerts by text, email or phone and we will let you know when your Snow Zone is scheduled. Sign up using Notify Red Deer.
• Check the Schedule. Search by address or by Snow Zone to know when you can expect to see plows in your neighbourhood.
• Call the Snow Zone hotline at 403-406-8796.
• Watch for no parking signs around your neighbourhood. Remember, we don't put signs on every street; when Grey Routes are plowed, signs are placed at the entrances to each neighbourhood.

It takes significant resources to sign individual streets, and our resources are focused on plowing to ensure streets can be plowed quickly and efficiently. Signs are used as follows:

• Green Routes: The red “No Parking” signs are placed on streets approximately every 50 metres, at least 12 hours in advance of plowing.
• Grey Route: Large signs are placed at the entrances to neighbourhoods at least 12 hours in advance of plowing.

Avoid a parking ticket this winter! Sign up for Snow Zone Alerts with Notify Red Deer to receive a text, email or phone call reminder when it's time for you to move your vehicle off the streets.

Going door to door is not a sustainable practice given the size of our growing city; our resources are focused on plowing to ensure our streets are safe and drivable.

We do send text, email and phone alerts to Notify Red Deer users before each Snow Zone is plowed so residents know to move their vehicles.

Green Routes

Snow is removed from Green Routes so there are no windrows. Green Routes are collector routes, meaning they typically have higher traffic volumes and provide access from residential streets to arterial routes, transit routes and schools. Removing snow from Green Routes helps to keep traffic moving efficiently after a snowfall.

Grey Routes

These streets are surfaced plowed, leaving windrows on both sides of the street. Windrows from driveways facing the street are cleared by City crews and added to the existing windrows on the street.

On Closes and Cul-de-sacs, snow is placed in a pile in the centre rather than leaving windrows along the curb.

According to The City’s Traffic Bylaw 3186/97 (pdf) , a vehicle can’t be left parked on the street for longer than 72 hours, so if you’re out of town for an extended period of time you should make alternate arrangements for parking, especially during the winter. Make use of your off-street parking spots or make arrangements with a family member or friend to move your vehicle and ensure your sidewalks are cleared.

There is a significant cost to removing all the snow from streets, and we currently do not have capacity at The City’s two snow storage sites to handle snow from residential streets.

Residents can hire a private Snow Clearing Contractor to clear windrows from Grey Routes. Private contractors must have a valid Seasonal Use of Streets Permit and snow removed cannot be placed back on the street or median, or on other City property (e.g., parks). It must either be placed on appropriate private property or taken to one of The City’s snow storage facilities (standard fees will apply).

The City’s Land Use Bylaw requires that all single dwellings and duplexes must have a minimum of two off-street parking spots. These parking spots can either be in the front or rear of the lot.

On Grey Routes, windrows are left on both sides of the street. If you wish to park on the street, you can clear the windrow or hire a private contractor to do it. Private contractors must have a valid Seasonal Use of Streets Permit to clear windrows from driveways and streets. Snow removed from driveways or streets can’t be placed back on the street or median, or on other City property (e.g., parks). It must either be placed on appropriate private property or taken to one of The City’s snow storage facilities (standard fees will apply).

Parks & Public Works crews will create breaks in the windrows for front driveways, back lane access, fire hydrants and where residents have an on-street City-approved accessible parking sign. Contact Parks & Public Works at 403-342-8238 if you need a space cleared.

Visit the Engineering Traffic page to learn more about the requirements for or how to apply for an accessible parking zone.  

In accordance to The City’s Traffic Bylaw, motor vehicles are required to be parked parallel to the curb, including in Closes and Cul-de-Sacs. By parallel parking, there is adequate space to provide one row of parking, a driving lane and a snow storage pile in the centre.

If you feel that your parking ticket was issued in error and you are not guilty of the offence, a request for a review can be made by visiting our  Received a Ticket web page.

A Seasonal Use of Street Permit allows private contractors to clear windrows from driveways and streets. Snow removed from driveways or streets can’t be placed back on the street or median, or on other City property (e.g., parks). It must either be placed on appropriate private property or taken to one of The City’s snow storage facilities (standard fees will apply). Contractors will need to register with Parks & Public Works before using a snow storage site. Please contact Parks & Public Works at 403-342-8238 to register for use of the snow storage sites.

You can apply for a Seasonal Use of Streets Permit by filling out the application form. Please read the form carefully to ensure you meet all of the requirements. Visit the Snow clearing contractors page for more details.

Yes, contractors can only plow after City crews have left the Snow Zone.

We send text, email or phone notifications using Notify Red Deer to let you know when Snow Zone Plowing has started and when your Snow Zone is scheduled so you can move your vehicle off the street.

Sign up for Notify Red Deer and select Snow Zone Alerts.

Yes, when you sign up for Notify Red Deer, you can enter any location that you wish to receive alerts for (home, work, school or daycare, family members' homes). You will then receive Snow Zone alerts for all addresses entered in Notify Red Deer.

Parks & Public Works staff clears more than 129 kilometres of sidewalks throughout the city within three days after each snow event. Generally, sidewalks are cleared as follows:

• Purple and Red Routes: The City clears both sides of the street for any sidewalk adjacent to City property measuring more than 10 meters.
• Green Routes: The City will clear sidewalks adjacent to City property measuring more than 10 meters. Sidewalks that are adjacent to residential property are the responsibility of the property owners to clear.
• Grey and Orange Routes: The City does not clear sidewalks on Grey and Orange routes. If there is a green space or park on a grey or orange route with no homes or businesses adjacent to it, the sidewalk on that side of the street will not be cleared.  

Please refer to the Sidewalk Clearing Map (pdf) for a visual of sidewalk clearing responsibility.

Yes, residents are required to clear sidewalks on their property, that are adjacent to the roadway, within 48 hours of a snowfall event or when ice forms on the sidewalk. Failure to clear the sidewalk could result in a fine and a City crew being dispatched to clear the sidewalk at the resident's expense. For more details, please refer to Section 82 of the Traffic Bylaw.

The bylaw does not require residents to clear snow and ice from the sidewalk leading to their house; however, delivery services (including newspaper and mail delivery) may be interrupted if the sidewalk is not clear. Residents are encouraged to maintain safe and accessible sidewalks on their property.

Section 82 of the Traffic Bylaw, mandates 48-hour sidewalk snow removal in all land zoned Commercial, Residential and Direct Control as well as land used for schools.

Section 82 of the Traffic Bylaw, which mandates 48-hour sidewalk snow removal, includes all land zoned Commercial, Residential and Direct Control as well as land used for schools.

Although a landlord may pass the task of snow removal on to a tenant, the landowner is ultimately responsible for keeping the sidewalk clear.

Municipal bylaw officers respond to complaints received through the RCMP complaint line. In areas such as downtown, Bylaw Officers may actively look for infractions.

A probable scenario:

The RCMP receives a complaint from a citizen, Canada Post Representative, utility meter reader or newspaper/flyer carrier. A City Bylaw Officer confirms that 48 hours have passed since the last snowfall. The sidewalk is inspected. If the sidewalk is in violation of the bylaw, the following actions will be taken:

• First offence within a winter: A warning notice is issued to the occupant/owner. If the sidewalk is not shovelled within 24 hours of the warning notice, a ticket will be issued to the occupant/owner. If the sidewalk is not cleared within 48 hours of the ticket being issued, City crews will be sent to remove the snow at the owner's expense.
• Second and subsequent offences within a winter: A ticket is issued to the occupant/owner. If the sidewalk is not cleared within 48 hours of the ticket being issued, City crews will be sent to remove the snow at the owner's expense.

If you would like to report a bylaw infraction, please call the RCMP non-emergency complaint line at 403-406-2200.

A probable scenario:

The RCMP receives a complaint from a citizen, Canada Post Representative, utility meter reader or newspaper/flyer carrier. A City Bylaw Officer confirms that 48 hours have passed since the last snowfall. The sidewalk is inspected. If the sidewalk is in violation of the bylaw, the following actions will be taken: First offence within a winter: A warning notice is issued to the occupant/owner. If the sidewalk is not shovelled within 24 hours of the warning notice, a ticket will be issued to the occupant/owner. If the sidewalk is not cleared within 48 hours of the ticket being issued, City crews will be sent to remove the snow at the owner's expense. Second and subsequent offences within a winter: A ticket is issued to the occupant/owner. If the sidewalk is not cleared within 48 hours of the ticket being issued, City crews will be sent to remove the snow at the owner's expense.

Yes, snow removal fines are $35 plus the cost of The City clearing the snow/ice. For an average-sized residential sidewalk, this could exceed $100.

According to the Traffic Bylaw:

• Snow, ice and other debris from driveways can’t be placed on the road.
• Any person who places snow and ice from their driveway onto the street has 24 hours to remove it from the road, or The City could remove the snow and recover the costs from the person responsible.

When possible, shovel snow and ice onto your own property.

Any resident who may have difficulty clearing their sidewalk are encouraged to make arrangements with a neighbour, a friend or family member.

If you know of a neighbour in need of help, be a Snow Buddy and help them out. You never know when you may need someone to return the favour.

Residents and business owners can pick up free sand for ice control on sidewalk. The sandbox is located at the City Civic Yards at 7721 – 40 Avenue, north of the main front entrance gate (77^th St and Riverside Dr intersection). It is outside the gate in a large yellow bin. Please remember to bring your own sand pail and shovel.