If you plow in winter, your summer policy may not cover it.

Many landscapers in Idaho, Utah, Colorado, and the mountain parts of Oregon and Washington plow snow in winter, and it is a different risk than mowing lawns. Slip-and-fall liability after you plow is a serious exposure, plow contracts often push heavy indemnification onto you, and some general liability carriers exclude snow and ice work entirely. Here is how to cover winter operations correctly.

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Snow and ice removal carries slip-and-fall liability that some general liability carriers exclude, so a landscaper who plows in winter may need coverage that specifically includes it. Plow contracts often include hold-harmless and indemnification language that shifts liability onto you, and the coverage and the contract terms have to be reviewed together so a winter slip-and-fall does not fall outside your policy.

Why snow is a different risk

Plowing and de-icing create slip-and-fall exposure long after the work is done, someone falls on a lot you cleared and the claim comes back to you. That completed-operations liability is more severe than typical lawn-maintenance exposure, which is why some general liability carriers exclude snow and ice work outright. If you plow, the policy has to be written to include it, not assumed to carry over from your summer coverage.

Hold-harmless and indemnification in plow contracts

Commercial plow contracts frequently include hold-harmless and indemnification clauses that shift liability for slip-and-fall claims onto the contractor, sometimes beyond what your insurance would normally cover. Signing one without understanding it can leave you responsible for claims your policy will not pay. We read the contract language against your coverage before you sign.

Seasonal coverage and carrier appetite

Winter operations can be added seasonally, and carrier appetite for snow and ice varies, some exclude it, some price it separately, some require specific limits. Because the exposure is concentrated in a few months and can be severe, getting the right carrier and the right endorsement matters more here than for routine maintenance.

How we handle it

We confirm your general liability actually includes snow and ice work, add seasonal winter coverage where you plow, and review the hold-harmless and indemnification language in your plow contracts against what your policy covers. We place it with carriers whose appetite includes winter operations so a slip-and-fall is not a denied claim.

Reviewed for insurance accuracy by Richard Sweet, Vantage Point Risk. Last reviewed July 16, 2026. How we review this.

Frequently asked

Common questions.

Does my landscaping policy cover snow removal?

Not always. Some general liability carriers exclude snow and ice work because of the slip-and-fall exposure it carries. If you plow in winter, your summer landscaping policy may not cover it, and you may need coverage that specifically includes snow and ice. We confirm your policy includes it so a winter claim is not denied.

Why do some carriers exclude snow and ice work?

Because slip-and-fall claims after plowing and de-icing are a serious, long-tailed liability, someone can fall on a lot you cleared and the claim comes back to you well after the work. That severity leads some general liability carriers to exclude snow and ice entirely, which is why a landscaper who plows needs a carrier and endorsement that include it.

What is the hold-harmless language in a plow contract?

Commercial plow contracts often include hold-harmless and indemnification clauses that shift liability for slip-and-fall claims onto you as the contractor, sometimes beyond what your insurance covers. Signing without understanding it can leave you responsible for claims your policy will not pay, so it is worth having the language reviewed against your coverage first.

Can I add winter coverage seasonally?

Often, yes. Winter operations can be added seasonally where you plow, and carrier appetite for snow and ice varies. Because the exposure is concentrated and can be severe, placing it with a carrier whose appetite includes winter work, at the right limits, is what makes a snow claim actually respond.

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Is your plow work actually covered?

Some carriers exclude snow and ice, and plow contracts shift liability onto you. We check both before winter.

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We confirm snow and ice work is included

We review plow-contract indemnification language

We place with carriers that write winter ops

You get a clear read, no obligation

Related resources

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Coverage

Cover the winter work your summer policy may exclude.

Tell us where and how you plow, and we will place winter coverage and review the contract language.