Mississauga drivers could face costly new penalties this winter if they leave their vehicles parked on the street during major snowfalls. A proposal going before city council’s general committee this week recommends a $150 fine for vehicles blocking snowplows, part of a broader effort to keep streets clear and improve winter maintenance services.
The city says parked cars have become a growing obstacle during recent winters, preventing plows from clearing roads effectively and leaving neighbourhoods unsafe and impassable. This winter the challenge will be even greater, as Mississauga prepares to launch city-wide windrow clearing for the first time, removing piles of snow left at the end of more than 134,000 driveways. Officials warn that vehicles parked on the street or across driveway boulevards will directly interfere with the new service.
Sam Rogers, Mississauga’s commissioner of transportation and works, said on-street parking has been a persistent problem when heavy snowfalls trigger plowing operations. “The large equipment required for snow clearing cannot safely maneuver around parked vehicles, and in many cases the space left between vehicles parked on opposite sides of the street is too narrow for plows to pass through,” he explained in his report. “This results in safety issues, operational inefficiencies, increased costs, time delays and uncleared roadways.”
City staff reviewed policies in more than a dozen Ontario municipalities, including Brampton, Toronto, Ottawa, Hamilton, and Oakville, and found that all already impose some form of winter parking restrictions when snow events are declared. Fines in those municipalities range from $30 to $150, while Mississauga currently has no such penalties in place.
The proposed fine structure would bring Mississauga in line with its neighbours and ensure that roadways remain accessible for plows and service crews. Staff argue that clear and consistent enforcement is necessary to protect public safety, reduce costs, and guarantee timely service for residents throughout the winter season.
Council is expected to debate and potentially vote on the proposal at Wednesday’s meeting. If approved, the new rules would take effect before the first major snowfall of the 2025–26 season.