Contractor Insurance in Houston, Texas
Contractor insurance in Houston: general liability, workers' comp and permits for general contractors, remodelers, electricians, drywall and painting crews.
INSURANCE TIPS
11/10/20264 min read
Whether you remodel homes in the Heights, hang drywall in Katy or build new homes in Cypress and Pearland, your insurance has two jobs. It helps you meet city requirements to pull permits, and it gets you onto jobs where the general contractor wants proof of coverage before you start. Here is what contractors in Harris County and the surrounding area need.
Step 1: Permits and registration in Houston
Texas has no state license for general contractors, painters, carpenters or drywall installers. In Houston, permits go through the Houston Permitting Center:
General contractors and remodelers: no state license; you pull the building permit at the Permitting Center, and the builder or owner asks for your certificate of insurance.
Electricians, plumbers and HVAC: a state trade license registered with the City of Houston to pull permits; your license, insurance and registration must be in good standing to pass inspections.
Katy, Sugar Land, Pearland, Pasadena and other cities: each runs its own permit process, and unincorporated Harris County has its own.
We prepare the certificate of insurance each city or builder asks for and track your renewal dates.
Step 2: Meet what general contractors ask for
Most Houston builders and general contractors ask their subs for:
General Liability of $1M per occurrence / $2M aggregate
Additional insured status for the GC (and often the owner)
Waiver of subrogation and primary/non-contributory wording
Proof of Workers' Compensation, even though Texas doesn't require it
We quote both minimum and contract-ready limits so you can compare the cost of each.
Step 3: Workers' comp insurance in Houston
Texas is the only state where most private employers can choose not to carry workers' comp. Without it you lose key legal defenses if an injured worker sues, and you must notify the state and your employees. Most Houston builders require it before you step on site, and on public projects and at Ship Channel industrial plants every subcontractor must carry it. We shop private carriers, with Texas Mutual as a backstop for trades others won't write.
Step 4: The coverage that protects your trucks and tools
Commercial Auto. Your personal policy may not cover an accident while driving for work on I-10, I-45, 610, Beltway 8 or 290.
Tools & Equipment (inland marine). Covers theft of your generator, compressor and tools from the job site or your truck.
Builders Risk. Protects the structure and materials during construction. On the coast, ask about windstorm coverage during hurricane season; flood is usually quoted separately.
Contractor insurance by trade in Houston
General contractor insurance in Houston
As a general contractor you answer for everything on the job, including your subs' work. You need general liability with completed operations, because a leak, moisture or crack claim can show up years later. After storms and hurricanes there is a lot of repair work in Houston, and owners and insurers ask for certificates before they pay. Builders risk and certificates from every sub, with you as additional insured, round it out.
Remodeling contractor insurance in Houston
Kitchen, bath, flooring and water-damage remodels need general liability with completed operations, so you stay covered after the job is done. We build the policy around your work, residential or commercial.
Pricing: General Liability for interior carpentry and finish work from $1,000 a year (about $83 a month).
Electrical contractor insurance in Houston
Electricians need a TDLR license registered with the City of Houston and general liability that meets state minimums and what each builder or plant asks for. We quote general liability and workers' comp for your helpers and apprentices.
Pricing: General Liability for Texas electricians from $700 a year (about $58 a month).
Drywall and painting contractor insurance in Houston
Drywall and painting crews work several jobs at once, and almost every builder asks for workers' comp and additional insured status. We quote general liability that covers damage to customer property and workers' comp with the right class code so you don't overpay at audit.
Pricing: General Liability for Texas painters from $750 a year (about $63 a month).
Other trades
Landscaping and irrigation: general liability, Commercial Auto for trailers and equipment, and certificates for HOAs.
Carpenters and framers: general liability with completed operations and workers' comp with the right class code.
Trucking and hauling: Commercial Auto for work trucks, dump trucks and hot shot rigs.
Roofers: we work with carriers that want roofing. See Texas roofing contractor insurance.
Excavation and concrete: general liability with XCU coverage and equipment. See Texas excavation contractor insurance.
These starting prices are for a new or small business with no prior claims; your actual price depends on your work, limits, employees, payroll and experience. Pricing updated November 2026.
Katy, Sugar Land, The Woodlands and Nearby Cities
We work with contractors across the Houston area and Harris, Fort Bend and Montgomery counties: Katy, Sugar Land, Pearland, Pasadena, Baytown, Cypress, Spring, Humble, The Woodlands and Conroe. Each city runs its own permit process, but builders ask for the same things: $1M/$2M general liability, additional insured status and proof of workers' comp. We send the certificate the same day.
Get covered in Houston
Hard Hat Insurance is the marketing division of Bearstar Insurance Services, licensed in Texas (#2964780). Get a free quote or call (949) 868-7350. Se habla español.
Related: Texas contractor insurance · Dallas contractor insurance · San Antonio contractor insurance · Austin contractor insurance
Contact
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info@hardhatinsurance.net
Hard Hat Insurance is a specialized marketing division of Bearstar Insurance Services.
Insurance services provided by Bearstar Insurance Services.
Jesus Galvan is a licensed insurance broker in CA, ID, NV, OR, TX and WA, serving contractors in AZ, CO and across the western U.S. California License #4291921.
Other license numbers available upon request. Coverage availability varies by state.
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