City of Canandaigua Street Cleaning & Winter Information

Streets are swept and cleaned in all residential areas every 10 to 15 days during the spring. Less often schedules are imposed in these areas once the wintertime buildup has been collected.

Snow and ice control efforts are performed as required on a variable basis. The City's efforts include plowing all streets and parking lots and applying treated salt as well. Sidewalk snow removal is accomplished through the efforts of the Public Works for those walks adjacent to City property. Parking restrictions are strictly enforced to supplement these services.

Under section 4.12.115 of the Municipal Code it is the duty of the owner and occupant, jointly, of every parcel of real estate adjoining a public sidewalk to keep the sidewalks adjoining the property free from snow and ice.

Snow and ice must be removed from sidewalks within 24 hours after the end of a snowfall. In addition, sidewalks in front of commercial establishments and commercial parking lots must be kept free of snow and ice at all times between the hours of 8 am and 4 pm. If snow and ice on any sidewalk are frozen so hard that it cannot be removed without damaging the sidewalk, sand, ashes or other suitable material should be applied to the sidewalk as a temporary measure, and then the sidewalk should be completely cleared as soon as conditions allow. If the owner or occupant fails to remove the snow and ice from the sidewalk, the City may remove the snow or ice and bill the owner or occupant for the cost.

To report a hazardous road condition call 585-396-5060, ext. 2151.

Street Cleaning & Winter Information

Plowing the Roads

The Department of Public Works works as quickly as possible during inclement weather to safely remove snow from all city streets. Providing clear streets and unobstructed travel for emergency vehicles and our residents is our primary goal. Your patience, cooperation, and understanding will help the road crews to clear the roads faster, while keeping everyone safe. When you are driving during snow removal operations, please be patient and give snow plows a wide berth. You should never pass a snow plow unless the operator indicated that you should.. Snow plows have limited visibility and must often make sudden moves to avoid parked cars and other roadside obstacles.

Damage to Mail Boxes

Property owners occasionally contact the Department of Public Works requesting that they be reimbursed for damaged or broken mail boxes. While any damage is an unintended consequence of clearing snow and ice, there is no statutory or legal responsibility which grants a property owner any right to place a mailbox within the Right-of-Way. While property owners' may have an informal license, this does not endow the owner of the mailbox any legal rights in the highway when needed for highway purposes.

Highway Law Section 319 supports this policy as does an opinion from the Attorney General stating that, "The owner has no right to interfere with the speedy and efficient removal of snow by placing the mailbox in such a position as to cause this result, and no liability results on the party of the public official charged with the duty of snow removal if such box is so placed that it may be injured by proper highway maintenance." Property owners' may reduce the risk of mailbox damage due to snow and ice removal by ensuring their mailbox is properly erected. The U.S. Postal Service may be consulted for general mailbox guidelines.

The Department appreciates your understanding in this matter and would like to remind all property owners that clearing the highways of snow and ice during the winter months is done with the intent of providing safe passage on City streets. The Department undertakes this mission so that everyone may travel safe, well maintained highways during the winter.

If a mailbox is damaged by a City snowplow during a snow event, the property owner can still submit a claim to the City's insurance company for a determination of any City negligence by submitting a written request to the Clerk/Treasurer's Office.

Shoveling Your Driveway

If it is possible, wait to shovel out your driveway until after the snow plows pass through your street. If you cannot wait, shovel the entrance to your driveway last. If you shovel it first and a plow passes by while you shovel the rest, the snow that the plow is pushing will empty into the opening you just created.

Another important tip to make shoveling your driveway easier is to pile the snow on the opposite side of the snow plow's approach. On a standard two-way street this would be the right side of your driveway as you face the street. This way, when the plow passes by, less snow will be pushed back into your driveway (see diagram at right).

It is a public hazard and against New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law to shovel snow into the street. This creates a slushy mix on the side of the road that the snow plows may not be able to reach due to parked cars or other roadside obstacles. If you use a snow blower, point the blower away from the street. The Police Department can cite citizens for shoveling or blowing snow into the street. If you hire a contractor to plow your driveway or shovel your walk, you should make certain that they do not plow or shovel snow into the street. When shoveling, snow blowing or plowing, you cannot block visibility at a street corner or block pedestrian access to the sidewalk.

Shoveling Your Sidewalk

Property owners and occupants are responsible for clearing snow and ice from the sidewalks in front of their property. If you fail to clear the sidewalk within 24 hours after the end of a snow fall, you may be ticketed and also will be liable for the cost of any snow removal. It is also the homeowner's responsibility to shovel out fire hydrants on or near their property. If a fire were to break out, the Canandaigua Fire Department would lose valuable time attempting to locate and dig out a buried fire hydrant.

Commercial businesses must keep sidewalks in front of their business free of snow and ice at all times between 9 am and 5 pm.

The Department of Public Works clears the sidewalk for all city-owned properties and parks.

Parking Your Car

If you have a driveway, please use it to keep the streets as clear of obstacles as possible. When parking your car on the street during a snowstorm or prior to a forecasted snowstorm, park as close to the curb as possible. If possible, park so that another car is not directly across from you.

Parking is prohibited on the City Streets between 2 and 5 am. Limited overnight parking is available in certain posted municipal parking lots. This restriction applies throughout the entire year, but its application becomes more critical during the winter months. Parking in the streets during or following snowfall hampers the snow plowing efforts, restricts traffic flow, and increases the potential for accidents. Please do not park vehicles across the sidewalk. NYS Vehicle and Traffic Law prohibits the parking of vehicles on sidewalks. Cars that are parked in violation of these parking regulations will be ticketed and may be towed during a snow event.

Sanitation & Garbage Collection

Residents are asked to accommodate sanitation personnel by placing all garbage cans, recycle bins, and garbage bags in an area that can be reached from the street. Placing solid waste materials on or behind high snow banks can create trip and slip hazards for employees.

We'll Work With You

If you have questions or concerns regarding snow removal, conduct of snow plows, parking during a snowstorm, or problems with snow removal on your street or neighborhood, please contact us. We will work with you to determine the source of the problem and an appropriate resolution.