Frequently Asked Questions

During a snow event, City roads are plowed according to a priority system aimed at supporting the greater public safety and public transportation access.

• Priority 1 - Maintain accessibility for emergency vehicles and transit vehicles on collector, arterial and emergency and bus routes that connect major sections of the community.
• Priority 2 - Maintenance of safe travel routes and accessibility for vehicles on streets classified as Priority 2 routes, including non-arterial and collector routes that provide access to school sites, community care facilities, as well as subzones that contain a high percentage of local roads with grades in excess of 10%, during icing and storm conditions. Priority 2 route response may be advanced, or delayed, due to event intensity, severity or duration.
  
• Priority 3 - Maintain safe travel routes and accessibility for vehicles on all remaining routes. Clearing these routes may be advanced or delayed depending on the weather event’s intensity, severity or duration.

You can also report an area of concern by using our Snow Response Request Tool.

The City has a Snow Response Request Tool available. This tool uses Geographic Information Services  technology to provide information to City staff in real-time. 

It is the most efficient way to ensure that your concerns are being put in the queue to be addressed.

Note that while snow is falling, or until primary roads are cleared, the City will not be addressing local roads or lanes.

City plows are set to push snow to the right in order to remove it from the roadway. 

The best way to ensure that snow doesn’t get pushed back onto your driveway or sidewalk is to pile snow on the right side of the driveway when facing the street when shoveling.

Shoveling snow onto the road contributes to unsafe driving and walking conditions, and increases the cost of providing winter road maintenance. 

If you shovel your snow into the roadway, you may be subject to a fine under the City’s Boulevard Maintenance Bylaw.

The City only plows priority lanes, or lanes that are the only access to a home. If your lane has not been plowed, it is unlikely to be plowed during a snow event. 

You can report an area of concern by using our Snow Response Request Tool.

Basketball hoops are not to be placed on city streets. Please move them on to your private property.

All roads are salted according to the same priority route system as plowing. However, it’s  possible that if there was any rain or wet snow, it may have washed away the brining mixture. 

You can report an area of concern by using our Snow Response Request Tool.

Yes, wherever possible the City will attempt to plow curb to curb. We ask residents to park their vehicles in their driveway or somewhere on their private property when snow is in the forecast and during snow events to help our plows clear curb to curb.

The City of Coquitlam does not currently have resources for snow removal, similar to other Metro Vancouver municipalities,  just snow plowing. 

Under normal winter weather circumstances, our warmer climate means that snow typically doesn’t last very long and removal isn’t necessary.

If you have a medical emergency, please call 9-1-1. 

We sympathize with your situation. 

The City must prioritize resources through the community in order to serve the needs of the greater community. 

Please be aware, get prepared and plan ahead before the winter season.

Under the City’s Boulevard Maintenance Bylaw, it is the responsibility of the property owner to clear snow and ice from all sidewalks bordering their property. 

After a snowfall, residents must clear their sidewalks within 10 hours. Remember to shovel the snow to the back of your driveway. If you shovel onto the street, the plow will push the snow back onto your driveway and sidewalk.

To report an area where someone has not cleared their sidewalk, please use the Snow Response Request Tool.

Yes there sure is! 

When shoveling your sidewalk or driveway please do not shovel it onto the roadway. We recommend shoveling the snow onto your yard to the right of your driveway when facing the road to ensure that the plow does not push the snow back onto your sidewalk and driveway.

In many cases this will reduce the amount of snow that gets pushed back onto your driveway from the snow plow.

The City does not clear driveways or sidewalks but we do manage a Snow Angels program where we connect people who are unable to clear snow with volunteers in their area who are willing to help out. 

You can learn more about this program on our Snow Angels page, email Snow Angels or call 604-927-6076. 

Please plan ahead and ensure these arrangements have been made.

You must clear the sidewalk so that there is a walkable path wide enough to accommodate a stroller or a wheelchair. 

Please ensure that you clear the snow towards your property (not onto the roadway side of the sidewalk) in order to allow a place for the snow plow to pile snow on the road side of the sidewalk, and in order to ensure that the plow does not push the snow back onto your sidewalk. If this does happen, you will be responsible for clearing your sidewalk again.

The City is responsible for clearing sidewalks adjacent to City-owned properties, including the Mariner overpass and recreation facilities. 

Sidewalks or overpasses that are private property are the responsibility of those property owners (such as the Pinetree Way overpass, which is the responsibility of School District 43).

It is the responsibility of School District 43 to clear sidewalks adjacent to schools. 

If you’d like to report an area of concern, use the Snow Response Request Tool.