How Property Managers Reduce Winter Liability With Proper Snow Planning

How Property Managers in Winnipeg Reduce Winter Liability With Proper Snow Planning

For property managers, winter isn’t just about snow removal, it’s about risk management.

In our experience, liability concerns are one of the biggest sources of stress during the winter season. Slip-and-fall incidents, vehicle accidents, and access issues can quickly turn into claims, disputes, or legal action. Most of these situations don’t arise because of one extreme storm. They arise because of gaps in planning, inconsistent service, or unclear responsibility.

In a city like Winnipeg, where winter conditions are prolonged and unpredictable, proper snow planning plays a direct role in reducing liability exposure for commercial properties.

What Creates Winter Liability on Commercial Properties

Winter liability typically develops where snow and ice interfere with safe access.  In our experience working with property managers, common risk areas include:

Our property management clients often ask where liability actually comes from. In most cases, it’s not the presence of snow itself, but whether reasonable steps were taken to manage it.

Why Planning Matters More Than Reacting After the Storm

Reactive snow removal increases risk.

In our experience, waiting until snowfall ends before responding often leads to:

    • Compacted snow that’s harder to remove
    • Ice forming before treatment is applied
    • Gaps in service during overnight or early-morning conditions

Repeated snowfall compounds these issues. Snow piles grow, access routes narrow, and previously low-risk areas become hazards. Proper planning shifts snow removal from reaction to prevention.

Common Liability Gaps Caused by Poor Snow Planning

We see the same planning gaps appear repeatedly on properties that experience winter issues:

    • Inconsistent response times, especially during extended storms
    • No documented service plan, making it difficult to demonstrate due diligence
    • Snow pushed into pedestrian routes, creating secondary hazards
    • Ice control treated as optional, rather than essential
    • No plan for mid-season snow hauling when storage space runs out

In our experience, these gaps increase exposure even when snow removal is being performed.

How Courts View Winter Maintenance Responsibilities in Manitoba

While every case is different, Manitoba courts generally look at whether a property owner or manager took reasonable steps to maintain safety during winter conditions.

In slip-and-fall cases heard by the Manitoba Court of King’s Bench and the Court of Appeal, courts often examine:

    • Whether snow and ice control was performed in a timely manner
    • Whether conditions were monitored as weather changed
    • Whether there was a consistent plan in place
    • Whether documentation supported the property’s actions

Snowfall alone does not automatically remove responsibility. Courts tend to assess whether winter maintenance was proactive, reasonable, and consistent given the conditions.

Examples of How Poor Planning Has Led to Liability in Winnipeg

Patterns seen in Winnipeg-area winter claims often involve similar failures rather than extreme events.

Examples drawn from Manitoba case law and legal commentary include:

    • Properties relying on infrequent clearing schedules during active snowfall
    • Walkways left untreated overnight during freeze-thaw conditions
    • Delays in ice control following daytime melting and evening refreeze

In several Manitoba decisions, courts have pointed to delays, lack of documentation, or insufficient planning as contributing factors. In our experience, these situations are rarely the result of one mistake, they develop when planning fails to adapt as conditions change.

What Proper Snow Planning Looks Like From a Liability Perspective

Effective snow planning focuses on reducing risk before incidents occur.

In our experience, strong winter plans include:

    • Site-specific snow and ice strategies
    • Clear prioritization of entrances, walkways, and high-traffic areas
    • Defined response expectations during snowfall
    • Integrated ice control for freeze-thaw conditions
    • Mid-season reassessment of snow storage and access

Our commercial customers often say that clear expectations and consistent execution are what give them confidence during winter.

Documentation and Communication: The Often-Missed Protection

Documentation is one of the most overlooked aspects of winter liability protection.

In our experience, service logs, weather monitoring, and clear communication play a critical role if an incident occurs. Property managers who can demonstrate consistent service and active monitoring are in a much stronger position than those relying on informal or undocumented arrangements.

Clear communication during storms also helps tenants and staff understand what’s happening and when conditions will improve.

Why Contractor Selection Directly Affects Liability

A snow removal contractor becomes part of a property’s risk profile.

In our experience, property managers reduce liability by working with contractors who:

    • Carry proper insurance
    • Understand commercial site risks
    • Have the capacity to respond during prolonged weather events
    • Adjust service as conditions change

This is why contractor selection is a recurring topic in our Learning Center article on what property managers look for in a commercial snow removal contractor.

How Proactive Snow Planning Reduces Claims and Disputes

Proactive planning doesn’t eliminate winter risk, but it significantly reduces exposure.

In our experience, properties with clear plans and consistent service experience:

    • Fewer incidents
    • Faster issue resolution
    • Less confusion during storms
    • Stronger defensibility if claims arise

Winter liability is managed best when snow removal is treated as an ongoing process, not a last-minute response.

Commercial Snow and Ice Management Across Winnipeg and Surrounding Areas

We work with property managers across Winnipeg and surrounding areas, including:

    • Winnipeg
    • Garden City
    • River East
    • East St. Paul
    • North Kildonan
    • East Kildonan
    • West Kildonan
    • The Maples
    • Rossmere
    • Transcona

Our experience across these areas gives us insight into how winter conditions and liability concerns vary by site and season.

Reducing Winter Risk Through Better Planning

In our experience, most winter liability issues are preventable. Proper snow planning, consistent execution, and clear documentation go a long way toward protecting people, operations, and assets.

Terrace Snow Removal works with property managers who understand that snow removal is part of a broader risk-management strategy. Our Learning Center is designed to help commercial property managers make informed decisions that reduce disruption and liability throughout the winter season.

Reduce Winter Risk Before It Becomes a Problem

Proper snow planning is one of the most effective ways property managers can reduce winter liability. If you’re responsible for keeping people and operations safe through the winter, we can help you build a snow management plan that reflects your site, your risks, and your expectations.

Start the conversation before winter conditions create unnecessary exposure.

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