---
title: "Prince George snow clearing, winter parking and roads"
description: "How Prince George plows its streets, when your road gets cleared, winter parking rules, spring sweeping, road closures and reporting potholes."
url: https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/snow-and-roads/
markdown: https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/snow-and-roads.md
site: PG Pulse (https://princegeorgepulse.ca), The pulse of Prince George, British Columbia
generated: 2026-10-16T15:51:54.158Z
---

# Snow clearing, winter parking and roads

How Prince George plows its streets, when your road gets cleared, winter parking rules, spring sweeping, road closures and reporting potholes.

Updated September 30, 2026

![A line of snowploughs clearing a wide road during a snowstorm (Toronto, shown as a generic example)](https://princegeorgepulse-media.s3.ca-central-1.amazonaws.com/prince-george/guides/line-snowploughs-clearing-wide-road-during-snowstorm-toronto-3c5890-1280.webp)

Photo: Jose San Juan / City of Toronto, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

## At a glance

- Streets are plowed by priority: red (arterials, downtown, hospital area), then green (collectors, bus routes, hills), then grey (residential).
- After a snowfall of 7.5 cm or more in 24 hours, red and green routes are cleared within 48 hours of the snow stopping.
- Winter parking restrictions run October 15 to April 15. Tickets are $50 per offence and vehicles may be towed.
- In residential areas, no street parking 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. in winter; odd-numbered side is allowed 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. unless signed.
- Report potholes, missed plowing or buried hydrants to 311 or the cityofpg app.

The City maintains roughly **735 km of roads** and **200 km of sidewalks**. In winter, everything is cleared according to a colour-coded priority system. Knowing your street’s colour tells you roughly when to expect the plow.

## The priority system

Look up your street on the City’s **snow priority map** (linked above).

| Priority | What’s included |
| --- | --- |
| **1: Red** | Arterial roads and the sidewalks beside them, downtown streets, lanes and sidewalks, the hospital district, major facility entrances and City parking lots |
| **2: Green** | Collector roads, priority hills, commercial and industrial roads, transit routes not already red, and bus stops on red routes |
| **3: Grey** | Residential streets and lanes, designated sidewalks, park pathways and minor facility lots |

### How fast

- A **snow event** means at least **7.5 cm** of snow in 24 hours. Once the snow **stops**, red and green routes are cleared within **48 hours**.
- Grey (residential) routes are then cleared within **72 hours** after red and green are finished.
- A **heavy snowfall declaration** (20 cm or more in 24 hours) adds 24 hours to completion times for each extra 8 cm. Downtown night-time removal also starts an hour earlier.

Lanes that are impractical to plow may be closed for the winter.

## Winter parking rules (October 15 to April 15)

On-street parking restrictions keep the roads clear for plows:

| Area | No on-street parking |
| --- | --- |
| Priority 1 (red) routes and hospital district | 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. |
| Downtown | Midnight to 7 a.m. |
| Residential streets | 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (overnight, 6 p.m. to 8 a.m., park on the **odd-numbered** side unless signed) |

Illegally parked vehicles get a **$50 ticket per offence** and can be towed. For year-round parking rules, see [parking](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/parking/).

![A car buried under heavy snow on a residential street](https://princegeorgepulse-media.s3.ca-central-1.amazonaws.com/prince-george/guides/car-buried-under-heavy-snow-residential-street-after-51f4b5-1280.webp)

Cars left on the street slow the plows down. Move yours during winter parking restrictions. (Generic example from Quebec City.) Photo: Wilfredor, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

## Driveways and windrows

- On curb-and-gutter streets cleared with graders and loaders, crews open **standard driveways up to 8 m wide**. Loaders can run 20 to 30 minutes behind the grader.
- On streets cleared by **truck plows** (often streets without curbs), driveways aren’t opened.
- If a qualifying driveway was missed, call 311.
- Wider driveways may not be fully opened if there’s nowhere to put the snow.

## Sidewalks

The City clears sidewalks along priority routes and designated pedestrian areas, not every sidewalk. For your own frontage, check the City’s bylaws or call 311.

## Sand, salt and ice

- **Traction material** (crushed rock and sand) goes on intersections, hills, curves and walkways on red and green routes. Grey streets get it only when conditions call for it.
- **Liquid salt** is used to pre-wet sand and, on red and green roads, for anti-icing up to 24 hours before a storm.
- **Rock salt** is used after snow removal on red and green routes when surface temperatures are above -7°C.

The City screens out traction particles larger than 9.5 mm, and says finer material would blow away and hurt air quality.

## Safety reminders

- **Don’t dig snow caves** in roadside banks. Plows and snow blowers can bury children.
- Give plows room. They need a minimum speed to throw snow clear.
- If a **fire hydrant** or utility box is buried with no marker visible, call 311.
- Snow removal is exempt from the noise bylaw, so night work is normal.

## Spring street sweeping

Each winter the City spreads about **7,500 to 10,000 tonnes** of traction material. Sweeping usually runs from **mid-March to early June**, 24 hours a day, five days a week:

1. Downtown first (then swept twice a week on nights through summer)
2. Red and green routes
3. Residential areas, in an order that rotates each year

Cars in the way of sweepers can be ticketed or towed. The City posts which areas are complete on its street sweeping page.

## Closures and construction

The City’s **traffic disruptions map** shows current and upcoming closures, detours and sidewalk impacts. The written notice is updated at 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on weekdays. For highways (97, 16) and travel out of town, use **DriveBC**.

## Reporting problems

Potholes, streetlights, signs, poor plowing, sanding requests: call **311** (250-561-7600 from outside city limits), email [311@princegeorge.ca](mailto:311@princegeorge.ca), use the **cityofpg** app, or file an online service request.

Related: [parking](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/parking/), [transit](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/transit/), [emergency services and alerts](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/emergency-services-and-alerts/). Live conditions are on the [dashboard](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/dashboard/).

## Common questions

**When will my street be plowed in Prince George?**

After a snow event of at least 7.5 cm in 24 hours, red and green priority routes are cleared within 48 hours after the snow stops. Grey residential routes follow within 72 hours after the red and green routes are done. Check your street’s colour on the City’s snow priority map.

**Where can I park on the street in winter?**

From October 15 to April 15, residential streets have no on-street parking from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Overnight (6 p.m. to 8 a.m.) you may park on the odd-numbered side unless signs say otherwise. Downtown bans street parking midnight to 7 a.m., and red routes and the hospital district ban it 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.

**Will the plow clear my driveway?**

On curb-and-gutter streets cleared by graders and loaders, crews open standard driveways up to eight metres wide. On streets plowed by trucks (usually without curbs), driveways aren’t opened. Call 311 if a qualifying driveway was missed.

**Can my kids build snow forts in the roadside snowbanks?**

No. The City warns that plows and snow blowers can collapse snow caves along the road, trapping or seriously injuring anyone inside.

**How do I report a pothole?**

Call 311, email 311@princegeorge.ca, use the cityofpg app, or submit an online service request.

## Sources

- [City of Prince George: Snow Clearing](https://www.princegeorge.ca/city-services/roads-transportation/snow-clearing)
- [City of Prince George: Street Sweeping](https://www.princegeorge.ca/city-services/roads-transportation/street-sweeping)
- [City of Prince George: Roads & Transportation](https://www.princegeorge.ca/city-services/roads-transportation)
- [City of Prince George: Traffic Disruptions](https://www.princegeorge.ca/city-services/roads-transportation/traffic-disruptions)

## Official links

- [Snow clearing](https://www.princegeorge.ca/city-services/roads-transportation/snow-clearing)
- [Snow priority map: check your street](https://cityofpg.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=cc5b3e65452c413f95f50d6aec823f6c)
- [Traffic disruptions map](https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/9560c80204ce43b4af4a5bf5ae74d8a3)
- [Street sweeping](https://www.princegeorge.ca/city-services/roads-transportation/street-sweeping)
- [Submit a service request](https://princegeorgebc.citysourced.ca/servicerequests/create)
- [DriveBC highway conditions](https://www.drivebc.ca/)

## On this page

- [The priority system](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/snow-and-roads/#the-priority-system)
- [Winter parking rules (October 15 to April 15)](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/snow-and-roads/#winter-parking-rules-october-15-to-april-15)
- [Driveways and windrows](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/snow-and-roads/#driveways-and-windrows)
- [Sidewalks](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/snow-and-roads/#sidewalks)
- [Sand, salt and ice](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/snow-and-roads/#sand-salt-and-ice)
- [Safety reminders](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/snow-and-roads/#safety-reminders)
- [Spring street sweeping](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/snow-and-roads/#spring-street-sweeping)
- [Closures and construction](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/snow-and-roads/#closures-and-construction)
- [Reporting problems](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/snow-and-roads/#reporting-problems)

## More in city services

- [Moving to Prince George: a new resident checklist A checklist for settling into Prince George: utilities, garbage day, alerts, MSP and a family doctor, ICBC, voting, schools and winter readiness.](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/moving-to-prince-george/)
- [Garbage, recycling and the landfill How curbside garbage and recycling work in Prince George: cart sizes and costs, set-out times, bear rules and where to take what the cart won’t.](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/garbage-and-recycling/)
- [Water, sewer and sprinkling rules Where Prince George tap water comes from, year-round sprinkling rules, frozen pipes, leaks, water meters and what not to flush.](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/water-and-sewer/)
- [Property taxes and utility bills Prince George property tax and utility due dates, how to pay, the home owner grant, MyCity accounts, utility rates and what if you fall behind.](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/property-taxes-and-utilities/)
- [Getting around by bus A practical guide to Prince George Transit: fares, Umo, passes, handyDART, free-ride days, trip planning and service alerts.](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/transit/)
- [Parking downtown and around the hospital Parking in Prince George: free three-hour street parking, downtown lots and parkades, monthly and residential permits, paying or disputing tickets.](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/parking/)

## Data

Machine-readable data behind this page, from the free PG Pulse API (https://princegeorgepulse.ca/developers/).

### Guide facts, FAQ and sources

Source: [PG Pulse guides (plain-language guides with links to official sources)](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/). Licence: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Updated 2026-09-30T00:00:00.000Z.
JSON: https://princegeorgepulse.ca/api/v1/guides/city/snow-and-roads?fields=summary,faq,officialLinks,sources,updated

- **summary**: Streets are plowed by priority: red (arterials, downtown, hospital area), then green (collectors, bus routes, hills), then grey (residential)., After a snowfall of 7.5 cm or more in 24 hours, red and green routes are cleared within 48 hours of the snow stopping., Winter parking restrictions run October 15 to April 15. Tickets are $50 per offence and vehicles may be towed., In residential areas, no street parking 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. in winter; odd-numbered side is allowed 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. unless signed., Report potholes, missed plowing or buried hydrants to 311 or the cityofpg app.
- **updated**: 2026-09-30T00:00:00.000Z

#### faq

| q | a |
| --- | --- |
| When will my street be plowed in Prince George? | After a snow event of at least 7.5 cm in 24 hours, red and green priority routes are cleared within 48 hours after the snow stops. Grey residential routes foll… |
| Where can I park on the street in winter? | From October 15 to April 15, residential streets have no on-street parking from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Overnight (6 p.m. to 8 a.m.) you may park on the odd-numbered … |
| Will the plow clear my driveway? | On curb-and-gutter streets cleared by graders and loaders, crews open standard driveways up to eight metres wide. On streets plowed by trucks (usually without … |
| Can my kids build snow forts in the roadside snowbanks? | No. The City warns that plows and snow blowers can collapse snow caves along the road, trapping or seriously injuring anyone inside. |
| How do I report a pothole? | Call 311, email 311@princegeorge.ca, use the cityofpg app, or submit an online service request. |


#### officialLinks

| label | url |
| --- | --- |
| Snow clearing | https://www.princegeorge.ca/city-services/roads-transportation/snow-clearing |
| Snow priority map: check your street | https://cityofpg.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=cc5b3e65452c413f95f50d6aec823f6c |
| Traffic disruptions map | https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/9560c80204ce43b4af4a5bf5ae74d8a3 |
| Street sweeping | https://www.princegeorge.ca/city-services/roads-transportation/street-sweeping |
| Submit a service request | https://princegeorgebc.citysourced.ca/servicerequests/create |
| DriveBC highway conditions | https://www.drivebc.ca |


#### sources

| title | url |
| --- | --- |
| City of Prince George: Snow Clearing | https://www.princegeorge.ca/city-services/roads-transportation/snow-clearing |
| City of Prince George: Street Sweeping | https://www.princegeorge.ca/city-services/roads-transportation/street-sweeping |
| City of Prince George: Roads & Transportation | https://www.princegeorge.ca/city-services/roads-transportation |
| City of Prince George: Traffic Disruptions | https://www.princegeorge.ca/city-services/roads-transportation/traffic-disruptions |

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Markdown version of https://princegeorgepulse.ca/city/snow-and-roads/. Guide for AI agents: https://princegeorgepulse.ca/llms.txt. Free API: https://princegeorgepulse.ca/developers/