Do You Need Insurance for Commercial Snow Removal? WSIB & Liability

Snow & Winter · Published September 10, 2026

If you manage a commercial property in London, the insurance status of your snow contractor isn't paperwork — it's the difference between being protected and being personally exposed when someone slips. Here's what actually matters.

Why Liability Insurance Is Non-Negotiable

Snow and ice are the leading cause of slip-and-fall claims at commercial properties in winter. If someone falls in your lot and your contractor isn't properly insured, the claim can land on you and your property. Commercial general liability coverage on the contractor's side is the first thing to verify.

What WSIB Coverage Protects

WSIB (Workplace Safety and Insurance Board) coverage protects the workers clearing your property. If an uninsured worker is injured on your site, you can be drawn into that too. A contractor who maintains WSIB coverage and provides a clearance certificate removes that risk from your desk.

Get Certificates Before the Season

A professional contractor provides both a certificate of insurance and a WSIB clearance certificate before work begins — not when you finally ask in January. Most property managers require both on file as a condition of the contract. If a contractor hesitates to provide them, that's your answer.

Documentation Backs You Up

Insurance protects against claims; documentation helps you defend one. Time-stamped, photo-confirmed records of every clearing and salting visit prove the property was maintained. Together, insurance and records are what let you sleep through a storm. Our commercial snow removal page describes how we document service.

Questions to Ask Any Contractor

Ask: Do you carry commercial general liability insurance, and for how much? Do you maintain WSIB coverage? Will you provide both certificates before the season? Do you document each visit? A serious commercial operator answers all four without flinching. See how we handle it on our commercial services page.