Live road activity
Open the Road Conditions map
See plow and sanding equipment activity and which priority roads were cleared.
Check Calgary road conditionsCalgary, AB winter guide
Calgary snow plow and parking guide.
Calgary focuses first on major roads, then community and transit routes. Residential streets are normally kept as passable hardpack rather than plowed curb to curb, so use the road map and Priority Snow Plan before reporting a concern.
Reviewed September 1, 2026City of Calgary Roads
MAJOR ROUTESFirst 18 hours
COMMUNITY ROUTES18 to 36 hours
PARKING BANUp to 72 hours
Start with the official answer
Three useful ways to check Calgary
These links go directly to the city tools residents need during a storm.
Parking
Check the snow-route ban
Use the status, address lookup, and route map before leaving a vehicle on a signed route.
Open parking-ban guidanceClearing order
Read the Priority Snow Plan
See what Calgary handles before, during, and after the first 36 hours.
Open the Priority Snow PlanHow the response unfolds
What happens before your street is finished
Calgary follows a local sequence. Knowing the phase explains why one road can be clear while another is still waiting.
- 1During snow
Protect high-volume roads
Crews work on roads such as Crowchild Trail, Glenmore Trail, Macleod Trail, and Memorial Drive while snow is falling.
- 20 to 36 hours
Major, community, and transit routes
The first 18 hours focus on the busiest routes. The next 18 hours add community, transit, emergency, and cycling routes.
- 3After 36 hours
Finish routes and level residential ruts
Crews finish priority work, improve crossings, and level residential ruts as needed. Most residential streets are not cleared to bare pavement.
Before leaving the car
Calgary parking rules that matter
- A snow-route ban normally begins after advance notice and can last up to 72 hours.
- Vehicles on signed snow routes can receive a ticket or be towed while the ban is active.
- Do not return to a route just because it looks plowed; wait for the city to lift the ban.
Resident checklist
What to do during the storm
- 1
Check the Road Conditions map and current snow update.
- 2
Look up the address on the snow-route map before parking.
- 3
Clear the public sidewalk bordering private property within 24 hours after snowfall ends.
- 4
Use Alberta 511 for Deerfoot Trail, Stoney Trail, and Tsuut'ina Trail because the province maintains them.
Service boundaries
Who clears what in Calgary
The city plow department is not responsible for every road, sidewalk, driveway, alley, or parking area.
City of Calgary
Maintains city priority roads, selected sidewalks, paths, cycle routes, bus stops, and residential trouble spots.
Province of Alberta
Maintains Deerfoot Trail, Stoney Trail, and Tsuut'ina Trail through provincial contractors.
Property owners and occupants
Clear adjacent sidewalks within 24 hours plus private driveways and the plow windrow at the driveway.
If the street looks missed
Residential hardpack can be the completed result
Calgary does not normally plow residential streets to bare pavement or curb to curb. Report a safety or access issue, not ordinary hardpack.
- 1Check the road owner and route priority.
- 2Review the current road map and snow update.
- 3Submit a 311 request for a remaining safety or accessibility concern.
Local questions answered
Calgary snow plow FAQ
Short answers for the questions residents usually have during an active storm.
Does Calgary plow every residential street?
Not usually. Residential work focuses on levelling ruts and adding traction material, and a hard snow pack may remain.
Who clears Deerfoot and Stoney Trail?
The Province of Alberta, not the City of Calgary, maintains Deerfoot Trail, Stoney Trail, and Tsuut'ina Trail.
Can I park once a snow route looks clear?
Not until Calgary officially lifts the parking ban. Plows can return for additional passes.
Verify the answer
Official Calgary sources
Storm conditions and emergency rules change. These are the public-agency pages used for this guide.
More official guides