PICKET INSTALLATION GUIDE
Picket Installation for Snow Removal: What You Need to Know
At Capital Services, we know that preparing your driveway for winter snow removal is a priority, and one way we help you do this is through our picket installation service. Pickets are essential for marking obstacles that could affect the snow clearing process, ensuring both safety and efficiency during winter storms. Here's everything you need to know about our picket installation schedule, as well as some important guidelines to follow.
Picket Installation: Starting October 20
Picket installations will begin on October 20 for clients who sign up by October 15. If you sign up after this date, don’t worry – we’ll get to you in Round 2, starting in November. Installation will be done using a first-signed, first-installed approach by area.
The installation will follow a priority order based on your service tier:
Supreme clients will have their ⚫ + 🟡 markers installed first.
Standard clients will have their 🟡 + ⚫ markers installed after Supreme clients.
Snowbird clients will have their ⚪ + 🟡 markers installed last in this round.
We install pickets approximately 6 inches into the grass to ensure that we can clear the full width of your driveway, leaving no snow behind. For customers with extended driveways that aren't covered under their contract, we’ll use block pickets to mark the areas we’re not clearing. This helps guide our team and ensures we only clear the agreed-upon areas.
Picket Removal: By April 15
Pickets will be removed by April 15 each year. We ensure all markers are safely taken down at the end of the season to prepare for the warmer months. Remember, pickets are the property of Capital Services, and they must be returned at the end of the season. Please make sure they’re returned intact so we can use them again next winter.
Important City of Ottawa Guidelines
The City of Ottawa has updated its regulations for driveway markers (pickets), and it’s important to be aware of these changes:
Two driveway markers with sleeves per property are allowed.
Detached driveways receive two (2) markers.
Shared driveways receive one (1) marker per side.
All markers must be placed at least 7 feet from the road and 5 feet from the sidewalk to comply with city guidelines.
Your Responsibilities
While we provide up to two (2) fibreglass pickets for detached driveways and one (1) for shared properties, it’s your responsibility to mark any additional obstacles or landscape features (such as retaining walls or garden beds) that could impact snow removal. If you need more pickets, you can either install them yourself or request our team to do so for an additional fee. We recommend using reflective markers that are at least 4ft tall for better visibility during snow removal.
Making Special Requests
If you have specific preferences for where you’d like your pickets installed, please fill out our Submit Picket Notes Form before our team arrives.
If you have any questions about our picket installation service or need more details, please don’t hesitate to contact us.