What's Your Snow IQ?
Snow may be a rare occurrence in Burnaby, but occasionally we get a big dump of the white stuff. During winter conditions, everyone has a role to play to ensure streets and sidewalks are safe. What's your role?
Our Role as a City
Your Role as a Resident or Business
Our Role as a Community
Frequently Asked Questions
Resources and Contacts
Our Role as a City
Roads
During snow and ice conditions, the City of Burnaby's Engineering Department crews are prepared  and ready to respond 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Our road clearing priorities are set to maintain safety and access to core facilities and traffic routes. this includes hospitals, emergency response routes, transit routes, and residential areas with limited access.
We plow, in order of priority:
- Main arterial streets (e.g.Lougheed, Kingsway, Canada Way).
- Bus routes and collector streets; streets abutting senior and longterm care facilities.
- Local roads with steep grades and have only one outlet; local roads abutting elementary schools.
- All other local roads. Snow accumulations on all other streets will be cleared only when the other priorities are met and resources are available.
Snow accumulations on all other streets will be cleared only when the other priorities are met and resources are available.
Sidewalks
Burnaby’s priorities in clearing sidewalks are also designated to ensure safety and access. We clear:
- Bus stops and wheelchair ramps beginning with those along arterial streets, followed by collector streets.
- Sidewalks adjacent to municipal facilities (such as libraries and community centres).
- Pedestrian overpasses
Garbage, Yard Waste and Recycling Collection
In the event of hazardous road conditions due to snow and/or ice, there could be delays or a temporary cancellation of garbage, recycling and yard waste collection. For more information relating to collection during inclement weather, visit www.burnaby.ca/sanitationandrecycling or call 604-294-7972.
Your Role as a Resident or Business
 Residents and businesses have an important role during periods of snow and icy weather. Here are ways that You can Help Us Clear the Way for You:
Clear the way by 10am -According to the City of Burnaby’s Street and Traffic Bylaw, the owner and/or occupier of every commercial, industrial or multifamily building is required to remove accumulated snow from sidewalks abutting the property by 10:00am of any day in which the premises are open or occupied by the public.
Be a good neighbour, shovel your sidewalk – Keeping sidewalks clear of snow and ice is important for everyone’s safety, particularly seniors, children and people with disabilities.
- Do clear snow and ice from sidewalks abutting your residential property.
- Do lend a helping hand for those who need help removing snow from their properties, if possible.
- Don’t shovel snow from sidewalks or driveways onto the road, this creates a traffic hazard and interferes with drainage of melting snow
Adopt a Storm Drain or Fire Hydrant – by keeping storm drains and fire hydrants clear you help reduce the risk of local flooding due to melting snow and ice, and ensure quick access to a hydrant in the case of a fire. To locate a storm drain or fire hydrant on your steet, visit www.burnaby.ca, and click on the Burnaby Map.
(For Burnaby Map: Storm drain information is found under Engineering, Sewer, Catch Basins, while fire hydrants are found under Engineering, Water Network, Water Hydrants).
Our Role as a Community
Get in the Know about Snow
Here are some snow-smart tips to help prepare you for winter: 
- Stay informed about the latest weather warnings and forecasts
- Don’t wait until it’s too late - Keep a shovel and bag of salt or sodium chloride handy to keep your sidewalks and driveways clear of ice and snow
- Prepare an emergency kit for your home
- When shovelling snow, pile snow on your property – not on the sidewalk or street
- Do not use warm or hot water to clear areas of snow or ice
- Keep children safe: don’t let them play in snow piles or roadside snow banks
- Check on neighbours that may be in need of assistance
- Get winter car-smart:
- If you can, take transit instead of driving. If you must drive, give yourself extra time to reach your destination, drive only with snow tires and remove all snow from your vehicle before driving, not just the windows.
- Keep an emergency kit in your car. Be sure to include a shovel and sand in case you get stuck.
- While on the road, reduce your speed and keep a larger space between you and the car ahead, and watch for pedestrians.
Get the Scoop on Shovelling
One of the most common back injuries during the winter months is caused from shovelling snow. Help reduce your chance of a back injury this winter season by following these snow shovelling tips:
- Pick the right shovel. An ergonomic snow shovel, one with a curved or adjustable handle will make snow removal easier.
- Warm up thoroughly. Cold, tight muscles are more prone to injury than warm muscles. Do your back a favour by warming up five to ten minutes prior to shovelling, by going for a brisk walk, marching in place, or another full body activity.
- Pace yourself. Removing small amounts of snow frequently is less strenuous than removing a large pile at once.
- Take a break. While shovelling, take a 10 or 15 minute break. Use the opportunity to stretch your arms, shoulders and back to keep them warm and flexiable
- Keep your feet on the ground. Slippery conditions while shovelling can lead to slipping and/or falls and strains that can injure your back. Shoes or boots with good treads will help to minimize the risk of slipping. Spreading sand, rock salt, or kitty litter on your sidewalk or driveway will increase traction and reduce the likelihood of slipping.
- Bend your knees. It is always best to push snow to one side rather than lifting it. If lifting is necessary, make sure to bend your knees not your back.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is it determined what road is plowed first?
Who is responsible for clearing sidewalks after a snowfall?
Why are some streets cleared more than once while others haven't been cleared yet?
Why did the snow plow push snow onto my cleared driveway?
Can I park my car on the street during and after a snow storm?
Will my garbage, yard waste and recycling get picked up during or after a snow storm?
What is the chance flooding can occur in winter?
What else should I consider after a snowfall?
How is it determined what road is plowed first?
In snow and ice conditions, City engineering crews begin salting and plowing operations on City streets. Our priorities are set to maintain safety and access to core services and hospitals, access for emergency response vehicles, transit and residential areas with limited access.
We plow, in order of priority:
- Main arterial streets – (e.g Lougheed Hwy, Kingsway, Canada Way).
- Bus routes and collector streets; local roads abutting senior and longterm care facilities.
- Local roads with steep grades and have only one outlet; local roads abutting elementary schools.
- All other roads. Snow accumulations on all other streets will be cleared only when the other priorities are met and resources are available.
Who is responsible for clearing sidewalks after a snowfall?
The City Burnaby’s priorities in clearing sidewalks are designated to ensure safety and access. We clear:
- Bus stops and wheelchair ramps beginning with those along arterial streets,
 followed by collector streets.
- Sidewalks adjacent to municipal facilities (such as libraries and community centres).
- Pedestrian overpasses
The City of Burnaby’s Street and Traffic Bylaw states that the owner and/or occupier of every commercial, industrial or multifamily building is required to remove accumulated snow from sidewalks abutting the property by 10:00am of any day in which the premises are open or occupied by the public. For all other properties, the City asks all residents to be a good neighbour to help keep everyone safe, especially the elderly, children and those with disabilities keeping sidewalks abutting their property clear of snow and ice.
Why are some streets cleared more than once while others haven’t been cleared yet?
Depending on the length and severity of a snowstorm, a street could be plowed several times after the initial pass. More snow could have fallen, or it could be a simple clean-up of areas where cars or other obstructions had prevented proper clean-up initially. If the street is a priority street, City crews must ensure they are cleared sufficiently in order to allow access to core services such as hospitals, emergency vehicles and transit.
Why did the snow plow push snow onto my cleared driveway?
City streets must be plowed sufficiently to expose catch basins. Catch basins must be cleared to allow water from melting snow to drain. On most streets, snow plows must make multiple passes to clear all the snow, which may resulting snow being pushed back into cleared driveways. When clearing your driveway, pile the snow on the left side of your house, when looking at it from the road. In many cases this will reduce the amount of snow that the plow pushes back into your driveway. Please do not shovel snow onto the sidewalk or road at any time.
Can I park my car on the street during and after a snow storm?
When possible try not to park on the road after a snowfall. Parked vehicles impede the snow plow to clear the streets properly.
Will my garbage, recycling and yard waste get picked up during or after a snow storm?
In the event of hazardous road conditions due to snow and/or ice, there may be delays or a temporary cancellation of garbage, recycling and yard waste collection. For more information relating to collection during inclement weather, visit www.burnaby.ca/sanitationandrecycling or call 604-294-7972.
What is the chance flooding can occur in winter?
Flooding can occur during snow melt periods if catch basins are buried under snow and ice. City crews plow roads and where possible clear catch basins of snow and ice. You can help the City by adopting a storm drain on your street and ensuring it stays clear of snow and ice. To locate a storm drain on your street, visit www.burnaby.ca and click on Burnaby Map.
(For Burnaby Map: Storm drain information is found under Engineering, Sewer, Catch Basins).
What else should I consider after a snowfall?
Here are some snow-smart tips:
- Keep your children safe: don’t let them play in snow piles or roadside snow banks
- Parked vehicles hamper snow plows; if possible, don’t park on the street after it snows
- When shoveling snow, pile it on your property, not on the sidewalk or street
- Place your garbage, yard waste and recycling containers in a cleared area – don’t perch them on top of snow piles
- Maintain the drains on your roof (rainwater leaders), driveway and yard. Rain or snow can cause leakage problems and structural problems (collapsing in severe conditions)
- Remove snow where appropriate but be careful on roofs
For more winter safety tips, see the Get in the Know about Snow section of this page.
Resources and Contacts
City of Burnaby SnowIQ brochure and posters:
Contacts
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