Key takeaways
- A snow log records weather, service times, treatments, conditions and inspections for every event.
- Since Kandil-Elsayed (2023), more Michigan slip-and-fall cases reach a jury, where evidence of reasonable care matters.
- Michigan’s general limit for injury claims is three years, so keep logs at least that long.
- Logs are credible when entries are recorded at the time, not reconstructed afterward.
On this page
What is a snow log?
A snow log is a record of what happened on a property during each winter event: the weather, the service, and the condition of the pavement over time. The contractor's service records are one part of it. The property's own inspections and incident reports are the other.
What to record
| Field | Example |
|---|---|
| Date and event | January 14, snow |
| Weather | Started 1:10 a.m., stopped 5:30 a.m., about 3 inches, 22°F |
| Service by area | Accessible spaces and entrances cleared 4:48 a.m.; lot finished 5:36 a.m. |
| Treatment | Walks and ramps treated 5:40 a.m., product noted |
| Conditions | Light drifting at the north entrance; rechecked 9:15 a.m. |
| Follow-up | Second visit 11:20 a.m. after refreeze at the ramp |
| Inspections | Manager walk-through 7:30 a.m., no hazards noted |
| Incidents | None, or a reference to the incident report |
Why it matters more after 2023
For decades, Michigan property owners could often get slip-and-fall cases dismissed by arguing the snow or ice was "open and obvious." In Kandil-Elsayed v F & E Oil (2023), the Michigan Supreme Court changed that. Whether a hazard was open and obvious is now considered as part of breach and comparative fault, which are usually questions for a jury, rather than ending the case at the duty stage.
In practice, more cases get past early motions, and the question becomes what the owner did to address the conditions. A log that shows timely clearing and treatment, and inspections afterward, is the most direct evidence of that.
How long to keep it
Michigan's general statute of limitations for injury to a person or property is three years (MCL 600.5805). Keep snow logs at least that long, and ask your attorney or insurer whether your situation calls for longer.
What makes a log credible
- Recorded at the time. Entries made during the event carry far more weight than notes written the next day.
- Consistent. The same fields every storm, not detail on some days and nothing on others.
- Two sources. The contractor's timestamped service records plus the property's own inspections.
- Weather context. Snowfall start and stop times and temperatures, which explain the timing of service.
- Honest. A log that records a late visit is still more credible than one that records nothing.
The owner's part
Contractors record service. Owners and managers should record inspections, report hazards to the contractor promptly, and document any incident with an incident report the same day. The combination is what shows a system of reasonable care.
Landlords and common areas
Michigan landlords also have a statutory duty under MCL 554.139 to keep premises and common areas fit for their intended use. In Allison v AEW Capital Management (2008), the Michigan Supreme Court held that a residential parking lot is a common area covered by that duty, and that one to two inches of snow did not make the lot unfit for its use in that case. The details of each situation matter, which is why records do.
How we help
Our route board records the time every stop is marked done, and skipped stops carry a reason. Notes and photos can be attached to the visit record, and commercial clients can request their property's record for any date. See proof of service.
Not legal advice
This guide is general information about Michigan law, not legal advice. For your specific property and risk, talk to your attorney and your insurer.
Sources
- Kandil-Elsayed v F & E Oil, Inc. (Mich. 2023) — open and obvious moved from duty to breach and comparative fault
- MCL 600.5805, Michigan Legislature — three-year limit for injury to a person or property
- Allison v AEW Capital Management (Mich. 2008), opinion — landlord duty under MCL 554.139 and snow in a parking lot
Written by the Macomb Lawn & Snow Solutions team in Macomb Township, Michigan. We plow and salt homes and businesses across all 26 Macomb County communities, November 15 to April 15. Published September 28, 2026. About us · How we research these guides · How our dispatch works