Snow and ice work produces more slip-and-fall claims than almost any other trade, often months after the storm. Many general liability policies quietly exclude it. Here is how to make sure yours does not.
Coverage is subject to eligibility and carrier underwriting.
Plenty of contractors add plowing and salting to a landscaping, construction, or property maintenance business for the winter. The problem: many general liability policies, particularly ones written for landscapers or general trades, exclude snow and ice removal unless it is specifically disclosed and rated. Others cover it only as a small share of revenue.
The claim typically arrives as a slip-and-fall lawsuit naming you, the property owner, and the property manager. If your policy excludes snow work, you face it on your own — and you may have also promised in your contract to defend the property owner.
If you plow, salt, shovel, or haul snow, make sure your application lists it and your policy does not exclude it. Look for exclusions titled “snow and ice removal” or similar wording. This is the single most important coverage question for a snow contractor.
Slip-and-fall claims, property damage to curbs, lawns, and vehicles, and the defense of those claims — with snow work explicitly covered.
Plow trucks, spreaders, and attached equipment. Plows and salt spreaders should be scheduled.
Skid steers, loaders, snow blowers, and spreaders, on an inland marine or contractor’s equipment policy.
Required for employees in NJ and PA, including seasonal and part-time crews.
Many commercial snow contracts require higher limits than a primary policy provides.
For subcontracted plow trucks and employees driving their own vehicles.
Commercial snow contracts commonly require all of these. Read them before you sign.
| Requirement | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Additional insured | The property owner and manager are added to your general liability policy, often on a primary and non-contributory basis |
| Hold harmless & indemnity | You agree to defend and pay for claims against the owner, sometimes even when the owner shares fault |
| Waiver of subrogation | Your insurer gives up the right to recover from the owner |
| Minimum limits | Commonly $1,000,000 per occurrence, often with an umbrella on top |
| Certificate of insurance | Proof of coverage before the first storm, and on renewal |
Slip-and-fall claims often turn on what was done and when. Keep records of every visit: arrival and departure times, what was plowed and treated, how much salt was applied, weather conditions, and photographs. Records made at the time are worth far more than recollections a year later. Many carriers and contracts now expect it.
The indemnity and hold harmless terms in a snow contract can shift substantial risk onto you. How those terms are interpreted is a legal question, and it is worth having a contract reviewed before you sign a large one.
New Jersey law (P.L. 2022, c. 92) generally requires business owners to carry at least $500,000 of liability coverage. Workers’ compensation is required if you have employees, and your contracts will set their own minimums.
Yes. A driveway client or their guest can slip just as easily, and a plow blade can damage a garage door or a parked car. Coverage for residential snow work is usually less expensive than commercial lots.
Often, if the carrier writes it. Some carriers will not cover snow work at all, and you will need a different carrier or a separate policy. We can tell you which approach fits.
Collect certificates of insurance from every subcontractor before they work, confirm their policies cover snow work, and require them to name you as additional insured. Uninsured subs can become your claim — and your workers’ comp audit charge.
Tell us what you plow, salt, and shovel, and send us your snow contracts. We will check for the exclusion and the contract requirements before the first storm.
Cadabra Asset Protection LLC is a licensed independent insurance agency serving New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Michael Lindner Jr., licensed insurance producer.
Contract terms such as indemnity and additional insured requirements have legal consequences. Nothing on this page is legal advice; consult an attorney about your contracts.
Coverage descriptions on this page are general summaries provided for informational purposes only. Coverage, limits, endorsements, and exclusions vary by carrier and by state, and actual coverage is governed solely by the terms of the issued policy. This page is not an offer of insurance and is not a guarantee that coverage will be issued. All coverage is subject to eligibility and carrier underwriting approval.
Nothing on this page is legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created by its use or by contacting this agency for insurance services.
