A buried parking lot or an icy entrance costs you customers, tenants and peace of mind. If you manage a plaza, office, industrial site or condo in Hamilton or Brantford, here is what to sort out before the first snowfall.
Sign before the first snowfall
Most contractors build their routes in October and November. Signing early gets your property on a route from the first storm, instead of waiting for someone to fit you in.
Pick the right contract type
- Seasonal contract: one fixed price for the whole winter. Easy to budget, and the contractor carries the risk of a heavy winter.
- Per push: you pay for each plow visit. Cheaper in a light winter, more expensive in a heavy one.
- Per visit or on call: service only when you ask for it. Fine for small lots, but you may wait during big storms.
Choose your trigger depth
The trigger depth is the amount of snow that starts a service visit, often 2 cm or 5 cm. A lower trigger means more visits and a safer lot, at a higher cost. Retail and medical sites with early-morning visitors usually choose a lower trigger.
Don’t forget salting
Freezing rain and freeze-thaw cycles are common in southern Ontario, and they create ice with no snowfall at all. Make sure your contract says what triggers salting and covers sidewalks, ramps and entrances, not just the parking lot.
Keep records of every visit
Ask for a dated log of every plow and salt visit. Since 2021, Ontario’s Occupiers’ Liability Act generally requires anyone injured by snow or ice on private property to give written notice within 60 days, so clear records help if a slip-and-fall claim comes in. This is general information, not legal advice.
Questions to ask any snow contractor
- Are you insured, and can you show proof of coverage?
- How fast do you arrive after the trigger depth is reached?
- Where will you pile the snow, and how will you keep fire routes and drains clear?
- What triggers salting, and is it included in the price?
- How will you report each visit to me?
MCS provides parking lot plowing, sidewalk clearing and salting and ice control across Hamilton and Brantford, with seasonal, per-push or per-visit pricing.
