Renovation Guides
How to check a contractor's license
Look up a Florida contractor on MyFloridaLicense.com, check local registration in counties like Brevard, verify workers' comp and report unlicensed work.
Renovation Guides
Contractor Insurance in Florida: Liability, Workers' Comp and Exemptions
What insurance Florida contractors must carry, how workers' comp and officer exemptions work, and how to verify coverage before you hire.
Last updated: Checked against official sources: 2 min readBy the Florida Renovation Guide editorial teamTopic: Permits & Contractor Guides
The short answer
- Florida-licensed contractors must maintain public liability and property damage insurance. General and building contractors' minimums are higher than residential and most specialty contractors'.
- Construction businesses with even one employee must carry workers' compensation, and that count includes corporate officers and LLC members.
- Up to three corporate officers who own at least 10% of a construction company can be exempt, but the exemption covers the person, not the company's workers.
- Get the certificate from the insurance agent, and check workers' comp on the state's proof of coverage database.
On this page
Insurance is what stands between you and a large bill if something goes wrong on your project. Florida has specific requirements for licensed contractors, and a few minutes of checking will tell you whether your contractor meets them.
Liability insurance
Florida's Construction Industry Licensing Board requires licensed contractors to have public liability and property damage insurance, and to attest to it at licensing and renewal. The board's rule sets minimums by license category:
| License category | Public liability | Property damage |
|---|---|---|
| General and building contractors | $300,000 | $50,000 |
| Residential contractors and most specialty trades (roofing, air conditioning, pool, plumbing and others) | $100,000 | $25,000 |
These are minimums. Many contractors carry more, and for a large remodel, higher limits are reasonable to ask for. The board audits a sample of licensees, but it doesn't check every policy every day, so verify it yourself.
Workers' compensation
In Florida's construction industry, businesses with one or more employees must carry workers' compensation coverage. The Division of Workers' Compensation counts business owners who are corporate officers or LLC members as employees for this purpose. Non-construction businesses have a higher threshold of four employees.
Officer exemptions
A construction company's corporate officers, or LLC members, can apply to be exempt from workers' compensation if they own at least 10% of the company. No more than three officers per company can hold an exemption. The exemption applies to the individual officer, not to the business or its workers. A small company where the owner is exempt but other people are working on your house still needs coverage for those workers.
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How to verify coverage
- Ask for a certificate of insurance for general liability, sent directly to you by the contractor's insurance agent or insurer, with your name and address as certificate holder.
- Check the dates and limits, and that the named insured matches the company on your contract.
- Check workers' compensation coverage or exemptions on the Division of Workers' Compensation's proof of coverage database. For an exemption, check which officers it covers.
- Ask about subcontractors. Each sub should have its own coverage or exemption. A good general contractor collects these.
Owner-builders
If you pull your own permit as an owner-builder, you take on the contractor's role. People you hire directly may be your employees, and Florida's owner-builder disclosures say you must provide workers' compensation for unlicensed workers you employ.
Put it in the contract
Your contract should require the contractor to keep liability and workers' compensation coverage in force for the whole job, and to provide updated certificates if policies renew mid-project. See our renovation contract checklist, and use the full license and insurance check before you sign.
Frequently asked questions
What does a contractor's liability insurance cover?
Commercial general liability insurance generally covers damage the contractor causes to your property or injuries to other people, subject to the policy's terms and exclusions. It usually doesn't cover poor workmanship itself. Ask what's excluded.
What happens if a worker without coverage is hurt at my house?
That's the situation you want to avoid. Depending on the facts, an injured worker may look to the contractor, the general contractor or even the property owner. Make sure everyone working on your project is covered or properly exempt.
Should I be added as an additional insured?
For larger projects it's worth asking. Being named as certificate holder means you get notified of some changes; being an additional insured can extend the contractor's coverage to claims against you. Ask the agent what's available.
Official sources
- Rule 61G4-15.003, public liability and property damage insurance (Cornell Legal Information Institute)
- Workers' compensation coverage requirements (Florida Division of Workers' Compensation)
- Section 440.05, election of exemption (The Florida Senate)
We summarize official information in our own words and link to the source. Requirements can change, so confirm details with the source before relying on them. Our editorial standards
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