What is a snow removal contract?
A snow removal contract is an agreement to plow and clear a property through the winter. It sets the price, when you come out, which areas you clear, and who is responsible for what. Snow work is unpredictable, so a clear contract matters more here than for most seasonal work.
How to write a snow removal contract
- Name the parties and the property.
- Set the season. Start and end dates.
- Set the trigger depth. The snowfall that starts service, often 1 to 3 inches.
- List the areas. Driveway, walks and steps, parking lot, and anything else, such as where to pile snow.
- Choose a pricing model. See the table below.
- Decide on salting and de-icing. Included, extra per application, or not offered.
- Set a response time. How long after snow stops you'll finish.
- Cover markers and damage. Who stakes the edges, and how fast damage gets reported.
- Say who watches conditions between visits.
- Set payment terms and sign.
Snow removal pricing models
| Model | How it works | Who carries the risk |
|---|---|---|
| Per push | A set price each time you plow. | The client. A snowy winter costs them more. |
| Per inch / per event | Price tiers by snowfall, such as 2 to 4 inches, 4 to 8 inches. | The client, but big storms are priced fairly. |
| Seasonal flat rate | One price for the season, paid in installments. | You. A heavy winter means more work for the same pay. |
| Hourly | A rate per hour on site, with a minimum. | The client. Common for lots and large sites. |
For seasonal contracts, consider a storm limit: a single storm over a set depth is billed separately. The form has a field for it.
Salting, ice and conditions between visits
Snow and ice change after you leave. Melting and refreezing, drifting and new snow can make a cleared surface slippery again. The template says you're responsible for doing the work carefully on each visit, and that between visits the client watches conditions and calls for more service. It doesn't promise the property will stay free of ice. Slip-and-fall liability depends on state law and the facts, so this clause doesn't settle who is liable after an accident. Ask an attorney and your insurer how to word it, especially for commercial lots.
Seasonal snow removal contract tips
- Get signed contracts before the first snow, and ask for the first payment up front.
- Walk the property before the season and stake hidden edges together.
- Agree where snow gets piled.
- Log each visit with the time and depth, so invoices are easy to back up.
Questions
What should be in a snow removal contract?
The season dates, trigger depth, areas to clear, pricing, salting, response time, markers and damage, who watches conditions between visits, payment terms, and signatures.
What is a per push snow removal contract?
The client pays a set price each time you plow the property. A long storm can mean more than one push.
How much is a snow removal contract?
It depends on the size of the area, your local market and the pricing model. Price one push from your time and equipment cost, then build the seasonal or per-inch price from that.
Does this contract protect me from slip-and-fall claims?
No contract can promise that. This one says what you're responsible for and that the client watches conditions between visits, but liability depends on your state's law and the facts. Talk to an attorney and your insurer.