What a Commercial Snow Removal Contract Should Include

If you manage a commercial property, an HOA, or an apartment community in the Spokane area, your snow contract is one of the most important documents you'll sign all year. It decides whether your property is open at 7 a.m. after a storm, and what you can prove if someone falls. Here's what a solid seasonal agreement should include.

A Site Map

Before anyone plows, the contractor should walk the property with you and produce a site map: priority areas (entrances, ADA routes, drive-thrus, emergency access), hazards under the snow (curbs, islands, speed bumps, drains, hydrants), stacking zones, and sidewalk routes. If a contractor can't show you a map, they're planning to figure your property out at 3 a.m. in a snowstorm.

Trigger Depths, by Area

The trigger depth is the accumulation that automatically starts a service, commonly one to two inches on commercial lots. It should be written down, and it can vary by area. A 24-hour entrance may carry a lower trigger than an overflow lot.

Service Windows

When will the property be serviced? Overnight and before opening is the standard for commercial sites. The contract should say so, and it should address return visits during extended storms.

Ice Control

Plowing without ice management is half a program. Look for anti-icing ahead of storms, de-icing after them, and a clear statement of which surfaces are treated: lots, walks, entrances, and stairs.

Sidewalks and Public Frontage

Local ordinances generally require property owners to keep adjacent public sidewalks clear. Your contract should list every walking surface that's covered so there's no gap between what you assume and what the crew does.

Priority Order

Two properties with the same trigger depth can get very different service if the order isn't written down. Your contract should say which surfaces are cleared first (entrances, accessible routes, and drive lanes before interior stalls) so the sequence is a decision made in the fall rather than a judgment call at 3 a.m.

Hauling

Where does the snow go when the stacking zones are full? A good contract plans for relocation and haul-off before the season, not after the lot has lost twenty stalls.

Insurance

Require a certificate of insurance naming your ownership or management entity. Licensed, bonded, and insured is the minimum.

PNW Snow Services builds every one of these into our seasonal agreements. Contact us for a free site walkthrough and proposal.