Are Snow Removal Services Covered Under Your Landscaping Policy? What You Need to Know About Snow Removal Insurance

If your landscaping business shifts into snow mode during the winter, you’re not alone. Plenty of major shops keep crews busy in the off-season by plowing lots, salting sidewalks, and clearing driveways. But here’s the big question most business owners don’t stop to ask:

Does your landscaping insurance actually cover snow removal, or are you operating wide open to risk without realizing it?

A lot of folks assume their year-round coverage has them protected. After all, you’ve already got general liability, maybe a commercial auto policy, and probably some kind of inland marine for your equipment. But here’s the catch: snow removal insurance isn’t always included, and if it is, the fine print can make or break you.

This post breaks down what snow removal work really means for your coverage, where the blind spots usually show up, and how to make sure your winter work won’t put your whole business on the line.

Why Your Landscaping Policy Might Not Cover Snow Removal Insurance Risks

Let’s be real, your landscaping operation isn’t some weekend mow-and-go outfit. You’re running a legit business with employees, equipment, and clients who expect professional service year-round. That includes snow removal during the winter months.

But here’s where things get tricky: most standard landscaping policies weren’t designed with winter work in mind. They’re built around services like hardscaping, irrigation, grading, and commercial maintenance, not salting icy sidewalks or plowing snowy parking lots at 3 a.m.

The risk profile changes completely once you roll out for snow jobs.

Think about it: a customer slips on a sidewalk you just cleared. A delivery van skids across a lot your crew plowed and slams into a loading dock. One of your drivers clips a parked car while spreading salt in a tight condo complex.

Those situations are way more common than most people think, and unless your insurance policy specifically accounts for snow operations, you might be footing the bill yourself.

Here’s the part most landscaping pros don’t find out until it’s too late: many general liability policies exclude snow removal entirely unless you’ve had that conversation with your agent. Others may technically include it, but only under narrow conditions, like no municipal contracts or no plowing after dark. Some carriers will even drop coverage altogether once they find out snow work is part of your business model.

That’s why it’s so important to talk about snow removal insurance as a coverage need, not just assume it’s rolled into your existing policy. It’s not about buying a separate policy labeled “snow.” It’s about making sure the work you’re actually doing, clearing commercial sites, operating heavy equipment in freezing weather, and working in low-visibility conditions, is covered, clearly and completely.

Winter is already unpredictable. Your coverage shouldn’t be.

Snow Removal Insurance Fills the Liability Gaps Landscaping Policies Leave Behind

Let’s say you’ve got a solid landscaping policy in place. Maybe it’s bundled with your general liability, commercial auto, and even inland marine for your gear. On paper, you’re covered.

But here’s the reality: most standard policies have quiet exclusions that don’t show up until there’s a problem. And snow removal? It’s often one of those landmines.

We’ve seen it happen more than once. A crew is out plowing a strip mall at 5 a.m., someone walks across the lot an hour later, slips, and breaks an ankle. The lawsuit lands in your lap. You file the claim thinking it’s no big deal, only to find out your policy excludes any snow work done during non-business hours. Or maybe it excludes municipal or government contracts, which you’ve already signed for the season.

That’s when business owners realize they’re not just under-covered, they’re exposed.

This is where the right snow removal insurance setup comes in. It’s not a special policy with a neat label on the folder. It’s about making sure your current policy is built to handle the work you’re actually doing in the field.

Here’s what can fall through the cracks if your coverage hasn’t been adjusted:

• Third-party injuries due to slips, falls, or accidents on cleared properties.
• Damage to client property, think curbs, landscaping, or commercial structures hit by plows.
• Completed operations claims, where something happens after the job is finished but still ties back to your work.
• Subcontractor mistakes, if you bring in outside help for big snow events.
  
  

Most importantly, many insurers want a detailed breakdown of your operations before agreeing to cover snow removal. They want to know how much of your annual revenue comes from it, what types of properties you service, and what your safety protocols look like. If that info isn’t disclosed, or if your broker never asked for it, there’s a good chance your current policy isn’t fully aligned with your winter work.

So, what’s the move? Don’t wait for a denied claim to figure this out. Snow removal insurance isn’t about tacking something on last-minute, it’s about protecting everything you’ve built.

What Snow Removal Insurance Covers That Your Landscaping Policy Doesn’t

Let’s clear something up: snow removal isn’t just “off-season landscaping.” It’s a whole different operation with a totally different risk profile. That’s why assuming your standard policy will stretch to cover it can lead to major gaps when things go sideways.

When we talk about snow removal insurance, we’re really talking about making sure the types of coverage you already have, like general liability, commercial auto, or property damage, actually apply to the work you’re doing in winter conditions.

So what should that protection include? Here’s a breakdown of what proper coverage for snow operations typically looks like:

• Slip-and-fall liability: This one’s huge. If someone slips on a surface your crew just cleared, you could be named in a lawsuit, even if the job was done correctly. Without this type of coverage clearly spelled out, your policy might not respond.
  
  
• Property damage: You’re dealing with curbs, signage, landscaping features, fences, you name it. One wrong move with a plow or skid steer and you’re replacing more than just a few shrubs.
• Completed operations coverage: Problems don’t always pop up right away. If ice refreezes after a job and causes an accident, you need coverage that protects you even after the work is done.
• Equipment protection: Your snow-specific gear, plows, spreaders, blowers, may not be listed under your standard landscaping equipment. That’s a problem if something gets damaged or stolen.
• Subcontractor liability: If you hire help during a big storm, make sure your policy accounts for their work. Some policies exclude claims tied to subcontractors unless they meet strict requirements.
  
  

And here’s something most people overlook: some insurance companies want to know whether you’re plowing residential, commercial, or municipal properties. Each one carries different risk levels, and your coverage needs to reflect that. If you’re doing retail centers or government lots and your policy is based on residential work, that could become a costly oversight.

Having proper snow removal insurance doesn’t mean you’re buying a separate policy, it means your current setup is reviewed and adjusted to fit your actual winter workload. Without that, you’re just hoping everything lines up when a claim hits. And hope is not a strategy.

Think You Have Snow Removal Insurance? Here’s How to Know for Sure

A lot of business owners assume they’re covered just because they told their agent, “Yeah, we do some plowing in the winter.” But here’s the problem, that’s not enough.

The only way to know for sure if your snow removal operations are protected is to look at the actual policy language. Not the summary, not what someone said over the phone, the details in black and white.

So, how do you check if your current setup includes proper snow removal insurance coverage?

Start with these three steps:

1. Look for Exclusions in Your General Liability Policy
   Buried deep in the fine print, you might find clauses that completely exclude snow removal, especially for certain types of jobs. Some common red flags:

• No municipal or government contracts
• No plowing between dusk and dawn
• No coverage for ice treatment (salting or sanding)
• Subcontractor work not covered unless strict guidelines are met

If any of those are part of your operation, you could be flying without a net.

2. Ask the Right Questions About Your Current Coverage
   It’s not enough to ask, “Am I covered for snow?” You need to get specific:

• Does my policy cover both plowing and salting?
• Are all types of properties I service included, residential, commercial, and municipal?
• What kind of documentation do I need in case of a claim?
• Are the subcontractors I use in compliance with the policy requirements?

These questions help uncover whether your policy is structured around your actual day-to-day operations or based on assumptions from years ago.

3. Review Your Equipment and Auto Coverage
   Snow equipment often gets bolted onto existing vehicles, trucks, skid steers, UTVs. But just because a plow is attached doesn’t mean it’s covered. If that vehicle is involved in an accident or if the plow gets damaged, will your commercial auto or inland marine coverage respond?

Not all carriers handle snow gear the same way, and this is where many policies fall short.

This is exactly why serious operations take snow removal insurance seriously. It’s not a checkbox. It’s about knowing, with confidence, that if something happens, your crew, your client, or your equipment, your business won’t take the hit.

If you’re not sure, don’t wait until you’re staring at a denied claim. A quick policy review with someone who understands both landscaping and winter operations can save you a world of stress.

Winter Work Can Build Your Business, If You’re Covered

Snow removal is a smart way to keep your crews working and revenue flowing through the colder months, but only if your insurance is set up to handle the risks that come with it. The truth is, one icy misstep, one overlooked exclusion, or one contractor mistake could unravel an otherwise profitable season. That’s why reviewing your coverage now, before the snow starts falling, is one of the smartest moves you can make.

If you’re not 100% sure your policy accounts for winter work, now’s the time to ask the right questions. Whether you need help updating your current protection or you’re looking for a policy that fits both your landscaping and snow operations, check out our Landscaping Contractor Insurance options for a better way to stay protected year-round.