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Half-Load Season2026Tiny, Tay, Springwater, Oro-Medonte, Collingwood
Half-Load Season in Simcoe County: Dates and Delivery Checker
Half-load season in Simcoe County usually runs from about March 1 to April 30, when most township roads limit trucks to 5 tonnes per axle; in 2026 Tiny ran March 9 to April 30, Springwater lifted April 28 and County roads lifted April 27. During that window full gravel, sand, stone and topsoil deliveries mostly stop. Below are the verified dates by town and a quick checker for your delivery date.
Updated October 2026 · Georgian Bay Siteworks, the site work division of ICFHome.ca
Insured to $2,000,000Site work division of ICFHome.caBuilding since 1979250+ projects in Simcoe County
Check your delivery date
Will my delivery hit half loads?
Pick the date you want gravel, sand, stone or soil delivered, and the road it comes in on. Dates change every year, so treat this as a first check, not a promise.
How we calculate
- March 1 to April 30 = “likely restricted”. That is the standard window in the Tiny, Tay, Springwater and Collingwood notices.
- February 15-28 and May 1-15 = “check first”. Start dates move each year (Tiny moved its 2026 start from March 1 to March 9), Tiny and Tay both say restrictions can be extended into May, and Essa’s typical window runs to May 1.
- Any other date = “likely fine”, as far as half loads go.
- Where a town has posted 2026 dates (Tiny March 9 to April 30, Springwater March 9 with an April 28 lift, County roads lifted April 27), a 2026 date is checked against those instead.
- Restrictions are set each year by each road authority based on frost and road conditions. Always check the town’s notice for the year you are booking.
What half-load season actually is
Every spring the frost comes out of the ground from the top down. For a few weeks the road surface has thawed but the ground under it is still frozen, so meltwater has nowhere to go. The roadbed turns to porridge under a thin crust of asphalt or gravel.
Run a loaded tri-axle over that and the road breaks up. So municipalities use section 122 of the Highway Traffic Act to set a reduced load period. On restricted roads, no commercial vehicle or trailer may run with more than 5,000 kg (5 tonnes) on any axle. Tay’s notice spells it out that way.
A loaded gravel truck carries far more than 5 tonnes per axle, so on a restricted road it is either a tiny part load or nothing. That is why gravel, sand, stone and topsoil deliveries mostly stop, and why the first dry week after the lift is the busiest week of the year for every truck in the county.
Builder truth: the road is not being difficult. It is just soft. Ruin it in April and you will be driving on the potholes, and paying for them in your taxes, all summer.
Verified dates by town
These are the dates we could confirm from each town’s or the County’s own notice. Where a town lifted early, that is shown. Towns not listed did not have a notice we could verify, so call their public works department.
| Road authority | Year | Restricted period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tiny Township | 2026 | March 9 to April 30, 5 t per axle. Start moved from March 1 because of conditions; may extend into May. | tiny.ca |
| Springwater Township | 2026 | Started March 9, lifted April 28. 5 t per axle on most roads. | start, lift |
| County of Simcoe roads | 2026 | Lifted April 27 on the listed County roads. | simcoe.ca |
| Tay Township | 2025 | March 1 to April 30, possible extension into May. Nine named roads exempt. | tay.ca |
| Tay Township | 2024 | Set for March 1 to April 30, lifted early April 17. | tay.ca |
| Oro-Medonte | 2024 | Lifted April 17. | oro-medonte.ca |
| Collingwood | 2024 | Normally March 1 to end of April, 5,000 kg per axle. Lifted April 17. | collingwood.ca |
| Essa Township | 2024 | Typical period March 1 to May 1, 5 t per axle. Lifted early April 18. | essatownship.on.ca |
Midland, Penetanguishene and Wasaga Beach: we could not find a posted notice to quote, so check with each town before you book. Also remember your delivery may cross more than one road authority: a truck from a pit in Springwater to a lot in Tiny can run on Springwater, County and Tiny roads in one trip, and the strictest one wins.
How to plan around it
- Get the driveway base in before the frost. A driveway built in October carries the first spring deliveries; one built in April waits for May.
- Book early for the lift. When restrictions come off, every contractor in the county calls the pit the same morning. If you are on the list before then, you are in the first week, not the third.
- Do the paperwork during half loads. Entrance permits, septic permits and locates all take time anyway. Tiny’s entrance permit review can take up to 2 weeks, and Ontario One Call locates are legislated at 5 business days.
- Stockpile if you can. If you know you will need stone or sand in March, have it delivered in February before the roads go soft, and keep it on your own lot.
- Do not try to sneak a load in. A broken-up road in front of your lot is a conversation with the township you do not want.
For the bigger picture on scheduling, read the best time of year for site work in Ontario. If you are working out how many loads you need, try the gravel driveway calculator or the topsoil and fill calculator.
Book for the first week loads come off
Get on our list now and your gravel, stone or topsoil goes out as soon as the township lifts restrictions, not three weeks later.
Related guides
Frequently Asked Questions
When is half-load season in Simcoe County?
Usually about March 1 to April 30, set each year by each road authority. In 2026 Tiny ran March 9 to April 30, Springwater lifted April 28 and County of Simcoe roads lifted April 27.
What is the weight limit during half loads?
On restricted roads, no commercial vehicle or trailer may carry more than 5,000 kg, or 5 tonnes, on any axle. That rules out full gravel and stone loads.
Why are half loads lifted early some years?
Restrictions follow road conditions. In 2024 improving weather and road conditions let Tay, Oro-Medonte and Collingwood lift on April 17 and Essa on April 18.
Can I get gravel delivered during half-load season?
Usually not in full loads. Some suppliers run small part loads, and a few named roads are exempt, but expect to pay much more per tonne or to wait until restrictions lift.
Do half loads apply to County roads too?
Yes, the County of Simcoe sets its own reduced load period on listed County roads. In 2026 those restrictions were lifted April 27.
How do I find this year’s dates for my town?
Check the town’s news or public notices page in late February, or call public works. Dates change every year with the weather.