Commercial Snow Removal Checklist for London, Ontario Businesses

4 min read · Thames Valley Snow, London, Ontario

For a business, a snowy parking lot is more than an inconvenience. Customers and staff need safe access the moment you open, and an icy entrance is a liability. Use this checklist to get your site ready before winter.

Before the season

• Sign a written contract that names your site, the season dates and the trigger depth.
• Confirm your opening time with the contractor, so the lot is cleared before you open.
• Ask for a certificate of insurance and proof of WSIB registration, and ask to be named as additional insured.
• Agree where snow will be piled: away from doors, drains, fire routes and parking you need.
• Mark curbs, islands, drains and anything a plow could hit.

During every visit

• Lot plowed at the agreed trigger depth, with return visits in long storms.
• Sidewalks, entrances, ramps and steps hand-cleared and salted.
• A timestamped photo log of every visit. This is your evidence if there is ever a slip-and-fall claim.

Choosing a pricing model

Commercial snow removal in London is usually priced per site, based on the paved area, the walkway length and your opening time. The common options are:

• Fixed seasonal: one price for the whole winter, the easiest to budget.
• Per-visit: you pay for each plow and salt visit, which suits mild winters.
• Seasonal with an event cap: a fixed price covering a set number of events.

Thames Valley Snow offers all three, with monthly billing on request, and sends a written quote usually within 2 business days.

Who this applies to

We clear lots for vet and chiropractic clinics, churches, retail plazas, condominiums, townhouse complexes and property managers across London, including a 24/7 truck stop on Highway 401. See churches and clinics and property managers.

Get a commercial quote

Send your address and opening hours through the quote form, or call or text (548) 888-8702. More details on commercial snow removal in London.

Before the First Snowfall

Walk the site with your contractor in the fall. Mark curbs, islands, fire hydrants, catch basins and speed bumps with stakes so plow operators can find them under snow. Agree on where snow will be piled so it does not block sight lines at exits, cover parking spots you need, or melt across walkways and refreeze. Confirm the contract in writing well before the first storm, including the trigger depth, the hours of service and how salting is handled.

Walkways, Entrances and Accessibility

For most businesses the biggest liability is not the parking lot but the walkways and entrances where customers and staff walk. Make sure the plan covers every door in use, accessible parking spaces, curb ramps and the path to garbage enclosures and loading areas. Ontario businesses have accessibility obligations, so clear and treated paths to accessible entrances should be a priority after every storm.

Salting and Ice Control

Freezing rain and freeze-thaw cycles are common in London, and ice often causes more slips than fresh snow. Decide whether salting is per event or included in a seasonal price, which areas get treated, and whether you need a pet-safe or lower-chloride product near entrances or landscaping. Ask the contractor to keep records of each visit and application so you have documentation if a slip claim is ever made.

Insurance and Records

Ask for a certificate of insurance and confirm the coverage amount meets what your landlord or property manager requires. Keep a log of service dates and times. Good records protect both the property owner and the contractor and make the end-of-season review much easier.

Opening Hours and Timing

Tell your contractor exactly when the lot must be open. A restaurant that opens at 11 a.m. has different needs than a medical clinic that opens at 7 a.m. or a plant running overnight shifts. Clear timing expectations in the contract avoid frustration on the first big storm.

FAQ

How early should a business book snow removal in London?

Ideally by early fall. Routes fill up quickly, and booking early gives time for a site walk and staking before the ground freezes.

Is salting included in commercial snow contracts?

It depends on the contract. Some include salting, others charge per application. Make sure the quote spells it out.

What's included… and what's extra

A Thames Valley Snow seasonal residential plan starts from $650 for a standard driveway. It covers plowing or clearing the driveway every time snowfall reaches the trigger depth in your agreement, plus clearing the windrow the city plow leaves at the end of the driveway. Prices for larger driveways are on our snow removal prices page.

Popular add-ons, priced per season: walkway and steps from $150 (walk plus up to 6 steps $175), salting $175 (including freezing rain and refreeze visits), priority early-morning clearing $125, pet-safe de-icer $120, a season extension from Nov 1 to Apr 15 for $95 and city sidewalk clearing $90. Add only what your property needs; we list everything on the quote so there are no surprises.

Ready for a fixed seasonal price? Request a free quote or call or text (548) 888-8702. Learn more about residential snow removal or, for businesses, commercial snow removal.