Snow removal contract template
Updated · Reviewed by Israel Margulies, founder and CEO of High Point GPS
A contract between a snow removal contractor and a property owner or manager: what gets cleared, when the crew comes out, how it's priced for the season, and who is responsible for what.
Most snow removal disputes come down to three things: when the crew should have come, what they should have cleared and how the bill was worked out. A contract that sets the trigger depth, the service areas and the pricing model answers all three before the first storm.
This template is a starting point, not legal advice. Liability for slips and falls is a big part of snow contracts and varies by state; have a lawyer and your insurer review it.
Snow removal contract
Fields: Contractor · Contractor phone and insurance · Client · Property address · Season start · Season end · Site map attached (yes/no)
- Services. Plowing of lots and drives, sidewalk clearing, salting or de-icing, snow stacking or hauling.
- Trigger. Snow depth that starts service (for example 2 inches) and whether service runs during or after the storm.
- Timing. When areas will be cleared, for example before 7 a.m. on business days.
- Pricing. Per push, per event, per hour or a seasonal fee, and how salt is billed.
- Exclusions. Roofs, areas not on the site map, damage to unmarked objects.
- Liability and insurance. Who is responsible for monitoring and treating ice between visits, and the insurance the contractor carries.
- Payment and term. Invoice timing, payment terms and how either side can end the contract.
Fill it in the right way
- Walk the site with the client and mark service areas, stacking spots and hazards on a map.
- Fill in both parties, the property and the season dates.
- Agree the trigger depth, timing and the services included.
- Choose a pricing model and how salt is billed.
- Spell out exclusions, liability and insurance.
- Have it reviewed, then both sides sign before the season starts.
Tips
- Mark curbs, hydrants and islands with stakes before the ground freezes.
- Log each visit with the time, depth and what was done; it's your best defense in a slip-and-fall claim.
- Check plows, spreaders and trucks before the season, not after the first storm.
- Agree how the client tells you about ice between storms.
Do it in FleetZap
- Plows, spreaders and trucks can each have a PM schedule in FleetZap by engine hours or the calendar, so they're ready before the season.
- Operators do a pre-use check by scanning the machine's QR label; a failed item opens a repair.
- Every repair and its cost goes on the machine's history.
- FleetZap Dispatch can plan routes for your crews' stops.
FleetZap Maintenance
Work orders, PM, parts, compliance, assets and KPIs. Explore FleetZap Maintenance.
Frequently asked questions
What should a snow removal contract include?
The parties, the property and service areas, the trigger depth, timing, the season dates, the pricing model, exclusions, liability and insurance, payment terms and signatures.
What's the difference between per push, per event and seasonal pricing?
Per push bills each plowing visit; per event bills once per storm however many visits it takes; seasonal is a fixed fee for the whole season, often with a cap on storms or inches.
What is a trigger depth?
The snow depth at which the contractor starts service, often 1 to 3 inches depending on the property.
Is this contract legally binding?
A signed contract can be, but this is a template, not legal advice. Have a lawyer and your insurer review it.