Every November, townhouse boards across Hamilton and Halton face the same question: is our corporation ready for winter? Townhouse communities rarely have a superintendent on site, so snow clearing, salting and winter repairs depend on contracts and communication that are set up well before the first storm. A clear plan keeps fire routes open, protects owners and reduces the corporation's exposure to slip-and-fall claims.

Here is the snow and ice plan we recommend to townhouse corporations, from the lakeshore in Burlington and Oakville to the Hamilton Mountain and the escarpment communities of Dundas and Ancaster.

1. Read your snow contract before the first snowfall

Most winter problems start with a contract nobody has read since it was signed. Before the season, the board and manager should confirm:

· The trigger: how much snow must fall before the contractor has to plough roads and clear walkways.
· Priorities: which areas are cleared first. Fire routes, main roads and visitor parking usually come before individual driveways.
· Response time: how soon the contractor must arrive, and finish, after a snowfall.
· Salting and sanding: whether it is included, what triggers it and whether there is a cap.
· Pricing: a seasonal fixed price, a per-visit rate or a mix. Each shifts the risk of a heavy winter between the corporation and the contractor.
· Insurance: proof of liability insurance and WSIB coverage that stays current for the whole season.

If the contract is vague on any of these points, settle it in writing now rather than in a February dispute.

2. Map the property for the contractor

Give the contractor a site plan that marks fire routes, hydrants, catch basins, mailboxes, garbage areas, accessible parking and the curbs and garden beds that ploughs damage every year. Mark where snow can be piled and where it must never go, such as on top of catch basins, against units or across sight lines at the entrance. Winters around the west end of Lake Ontario often swing between snow, rain and a hard freeze, and a snowbank sitting on a drain can turn a road into a sheet of ice overnight.

3. Keep records: they matter if someone falls

Slip-and-fall claims are one of the biggest winter risks for a condominium corporation. Since 2021, Ontario's Occupiers' Liability Act has generally required a person injured by snow or ice on private property to give written notice within 60 days. That gives the corporation an early warning, but it does not replace good records.

Ask the contractor for a log of every visit: the date and time, what was ploughed, what was salted and the weather at the time. Your manager should file those logs with any owner complaints and the follow-up, and keep them long enough to answer a claim. When a resident reports an icy walkway, the record of what happened next matters as much as the salt.

4. Look up: roofs, eavestroughs and ice dams

In many townhouse corporations, roofs and eavestroughs are common elements, so winter damage becomes the corporation's problem. Before winter, have eavestroughs and downspouts cleared of leaves, and make sure downspouts drain away from foundations and walkways. During cold snaps, watch for icicles and ice dams along the eaves. They can push water under shingles and into units, and falling ice is a hazard over doors and paths. Your manager should know which roofing contractor to call, and should check whether your declaration makes any part of the roof an owner's responsibility.

5. Protect pipes and building systems

Frozen and burst pipes cause some of the most expensive winter insurance claims. Remind owners to shut off and drain outdoor water lines in the fall, keep the heat on in units that will be empty over the holidays, and report drafts or cold spots near plumbing. If the corporation has a common mechanical room, irrigation system or pool equipment, confirm that it has been winterized and inspected.

6. Tell owners what to expect

A short winter notice prevents dozens of phone calls. Tell owners:

· When the contractor clears roads, walkways and driveways, and in what order.
· Where to move cars on clearing days, and that vehicles left on the road slow everyone down.
· Not to shovel snow from their own steps onto roads, walkways or catch basins.
· How to report an icy walkway or a missed area, and who to call in an emergency.

Owners and residents in Enfield-managed corporations can reach our 24/7 live support line at 905-689-7341 for urgent problems such as a burst pipe or a blocked fire route.

7. Budget for a hard winter

Snow costs change from year to year, especially under per-visit contracts, and a budget built on a mild winter leaves the corporation short when a hard one arrives. Look at the last several winters of snow spending when you prepare the next operating budget. Winter also wears out the things your reserve fund pays for: asphalt, curbs, concrete steps and landscaping take the brunt of ploughing, salt and freeze-thaw cycles, so make sure your reserve fund study reflects how quickly they are ageing.

8. Walk the property in spring

When the snow melts, walk the property with a board representative and note plough damage to turf, curbs, fences and garden beds, then have the contractor repair it under the contract terms. Enfield managers inspect common areas in early spring and late autumn with a representative of the board, so spring clean-up becomes part of the routine rather than a list of surprises.

Winter checklist for your next board meeting

· Snow contract reviewed: trigger, priorities, response times, salting, pricing and insurance.
· Site plan showing fire routes, catch basins and snow storage areas sent to the contractor.
· Visit logs requested and filed after every storm.
· Eavestroughs and downspouts cleared, and a roofing contractor on call.
· Winter notice sent to owners.
· Snow budget checked against recent winters.

How Enfield helps

Winter planning is part of everyday townhouse condo management at The Enfield Group. We arrange competitive quotes from contractors who carry WSIB and full insurance coverage, supervise the work through the season and keep owners informed. If your corporation is in Hamilton or anywhere in Halton Region and wants a steadier winter, call 905-689-7341 or request a proposal.

This article is general information, not legal or insurance advice. Speak with your corporation's lawyer and insurance broker about your situation.