Snowdrifts Snow Fences Caledon

During the winter months, particularly this year, intense snow squalls and drifting have led to significant snow buildup on rural roads bordered by open fields. As a result, driving conditions have become hazardous, with numerous vehicles ending up in ditch.

There are several regional and municipal programs in place to manage snow squalls and drifting, including funding for wooden snow fences, natural snow fences and living snow fences. However, participation is ultimately the decision of the landowner and town nor the region can force someone to participate. 

Town of Caledon Programs on Municipal Roads

Wooden Snow Fences:

• can be installed on residential properties annually in the fall and removed in the spring by authority of the Municipal Act.

2006, c. 32, Sched. A, s. 25 - 01/01/2007

Entry on land, snow fences

60 Despite section 19, a municipality may, at any reasonable time, enter upon any land within the municipality or within an adjoining municipality and lying along any highway under its jurisdiction, including land owned by the Crown in right of Ontario, for the purpose of erecting and maintaining a snow fence.  2001, c. 25, s. 60.

MUNICIPAL ACT 

“highway” means a common and public highway and includes any bridge, trestle, viaduct or other structure forming part of the highway and, except as otherwise provided, includes a portion of a highway; (“voie publique”) https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/01m25#BK68

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION and HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENT ACT

“road” has the same meaning as highway; (“route”) https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/90p50/v8

Natural Snow Fences

• Natural Snow Fences use existing corn crops purposely left on the field over the winter season to act as a natural barrier to blowing snow. Farmers are financially compensated for leaving the crop standing over the winter and can harvest it in the spring. Farmers must agree to leaving 12 to 15 rows of crop for it to be affective. The funding is $2.75 per meter and the farmer must fill out an application to receive the funding. Town of Caledon is responsible for compensating farmer on municipal roads. 

At the bottom of this blog is the application. 

Region Of Peel Programs on Regional Roads 

(I strongly encourage anyone who is eligible to take advantage of the Living Snow Fence Program while it’s still available. Once the Town of Caledon assumes ownership of Regional roads in 2026, this program—and its associated funding—will no longer be offered unless Town decides to implement a similar initiative. This is a valuable opportunity to enhance property beautification, while contributing to road safety and mitigate snowdrift issues.)

Wooden snow fences:

• can be installed on residential properties annually in the fall and removed in the spring by authority of the Municipal Act.

2006, c. 32, Sched. A, s. 25 - 01/01/2007

Entry on land, snow fences

60 Despite section 19, a municipality may, at any reasonable time, enter upon any land within the municipality or within an adjoining municipality and lying along any highway under its jurisdiction, including land owned by the Crown in right of Ontario, for the purpose of erecting and maintaining a snow fence.  2001, c. 25, s. 60.

Natural snow fences:

• use existing corn crops purposely left on the field over the winter season to act as a natural barrier to blowing snow. Farmers are financially compensated for leaving the crop standing over the winter and can harvest it in the spring.

• Snow fences force wind to go around and through a fence. This causes the wind to lose energy and speed. As the speed of the wind slows, the snow forms a drift before or behind the snow fence. How much snow a fence traps depends on the height of the fence and the amount of snow that falls.

Peel Region installs manufactured snow fences on residential properties next to roadways that experience lots of blowing snow.

Alternatively, a natural snow fence is a snow face created by corn crops. The rows of standing corn left after the harvest provide a barrier that controls blowing and drifting snow.

Participating farmers keep roads safer

Peel Region established the Natural Snow Fence Program with the help of Peel farmers whose properties were next to Regional roads.

Peel Region uses a small portion of the farm corn crop (approximately 12 to 15 rows of corn) as natural snow fences during the winter to improve winter road safety.

As a participating farmer, you'll:

• • Receive money as compensation from Peel Region same as the Town of Caledon $2.75 per meter.

  • Help minimize snow drifts and ice to keep Peel Region's roads safer.

  • Help us save on material and fuel costs of operating snow plows.

Qualifying

To qualify for Peel Region's Natural Snow Fence Program:

• • You must be able to leave up a portion of your corn crop (approximately 12 to 15 rows of corn) as a barrier.

  • Your property must be located next to a Regional road.

Living snow fences:

• use planted trees and shrubs located just outside of the road right-of-way along rural roads to reduce the effects of blowing snow. Plants are considered a permanent fixture and are supplied at no cost to the landowner in a partnership with Conservation Authorities.

• A living snow fence is a barrier created by plants, shrubs, and trees to reduce snow blown across roads.

Planting trees and shrubs is not only more attractive and more environmentally-friendly than building a wood fence, but also more convenient than putting up and taking down traditional snow fences.

Benefits of participating

When you take part in the Living Snow Fence program, everyone wins.

You:

• Get free trees and shrubs!

• Get year-round beautification and the plants help screen your property from the road.

• Enhance your property.

We:

• Work with you to pick the trees and shrubs that best suit your property.

• Customize a planting plan.

• Buy the trees and shrubs for you and do the planting work for free.

• Improve road safety as the living fence grows.

Qualifying for a living snow fence

You'll qualify for a living snow fence if:

• Your property fronts the west or north side of a Peel Regional Road.

• You have approximately 30 metres of set back from the right-of-way.

• You currently have one or more wooden snow fences installed in the winter.

To learn more about the Living Snow Fence program, call 905-791-7800 ext. 4409.

Partners

Peel Region partners with the following organizations to build living snow fences throughout Peel:

• Toronto and Region Conservation Authority

• Credit Valley Conservation

Region of Peel Link https://peelregion.ca/transportation-roads/road-maintenance/winter-operations/snow-fences