Florida Contractors Insurance & Bonds
Contractor insurance for Florida builders and trades from a broker licensed in Florida. General liability that meets your CILB license minimums, workers’ comp, fast certificates and coverage built for Miami, Tampa, Orlando and Jacksonville. Call (949) 868-7350.
Keeping Your Florida License in Good Standing
Most Florida contractors are licensed through the Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB) at the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). A certified license lets you work statewide, while a registered license is tied to the counties or cities where you hold a local certificate of competency. Either way, Florida requires you to carry general liability for as long as your license is active, and the CILB can audit you and ask for a certificate of insurance within 30 days.
The Hardhat Insurance Team is the marketing division of Bearstar Insurance Services. Jesus Galvan is a licensed insurance producer in Florida, and policies are placed through Bearstar Insurance Services with standard and specialty carriers that write Florida contractors. We issue certificates that meet CILB, general contractor and building department requirements.
Commercial General Liability
Florida General Liability
The CILB sets the license minimum: general and building contractors need at least $300,000 liability and $50,000 property damage, and residential, roofing, plumbing, HVAC, pool and most specialty contractors need $100,000 and $25,000. Most general contractors and commercial jobs ask for much more, usually $1M per occurrence / $2M aggregate.
Certificates that list the CILB as certificate holder when you’re audited.
Additional insured, waiver of subrogation and primary/non-contributory wording when your GC requires it.
Surety Bonds
Florida Contractor Bonds
Florida’s state contractor license doesn’t require a bond for most trades, but many counties and cities ask for a license or permit bond, and public projects usually require payment and performance bonds. We can often issue license and permit bonds the same day.
Bad credit programs available.
License, permit, right-of-way and public works bonds.
In Florida’s construction industry, a business with even one employee must carry workers’ compensation. We compare carriers that write Florida contractors to find a rate that fits your payroll and class codes.
Pay-as-you-go options available (helps cash flow).
Waivers of subrogation for commercial contracts.
Workers' Compensation
What We Cover
Commercial Auto
Work Truck & Fleet
Your personal auto policy may not cover an accident while you’re driving for work. From I-95 and I-4 traffic to long drives between job sites, protect your work trucks and trailers against accidents, theft and uninsured drivers, with higher limits when a contract calls for them.
Builders Risk
Builders Risk (Course of Construction)
Protect your project from fire, windstorm, hurricanes, water damage and theft of materials. In Florida, wind and named-storm coverage drives the price, so we quote each project on its exact location.
Covers materials on-site and in transit.
Required by most lenders for new construction and remodels.
Inland Marine (Tools & Equipment): Covers theft of your generator, compressor, and hand tools from the job site or your truck.
Professional Liability: For design-build contractors and construction managers.
Excess Liability (Umbrella): When the standard $1M limit isn't enough for a big commercial contract.
And More
Building a home or project in Florida?
Builders risk in Florida depends on wind and named-storm exposure, so we quote each project on its exact location. Send us the details and we’ll come back with options, subject to underwriting.
Local Service Area
Serving all of Florida. We insure trade specialists statewide.
South Florida: Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Naples, Fort Myers.
Central & North Florida: Tampa, St. Petersburg, Orlando, Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Pensacola.
Call: (949) 868-7350
Need a COI Today?
Get a certificate your GC, building department or the CILB will accept, often the same day.
Contractor Insurance in Miami, Tampa, Orlando & Across Florida
We insure contractors across Florida. Here is what we see most often in the state’s busiest markets, all with one team and one phone line: (949) 868-7350.
Miami & South Florida
Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach general contractors usually want $1M/$2M general liability, additional insured and waiver of subrogation before you start. Coastal jobs also bring stricter wind requirements for builders risk.
Tampa & St. Petersburg
Steady residential and commercial growth around Tampa Bay keeps framers, roofers and remodelers busy. We package general liability, workers’ comp and builders risk for spec homes and tenant improvements.
Orlando
Central Florida’s new subdivisions, hospitality and commercial work bring high certificate volume. We turn certificates around fast for jobs across Orange, Seminole and Osceola counties.
Jacksonville
Northeast Florida contractors get the same carriers and fast certificates as South Florida firms, with general liability, workers’ comp, commercial auto and bonds in one place.
Fort Myers, Naples & Southwest Florida
Storm rebuilding has kept roofers, drywall crews and general contractors in high demand. We check roofing and water exclusions on every quote so your policy fits the work you actually do.
Tallahassee, Pensacola & the Panhandle
We write coverage for contractors from Tallahassee to Pensacola, including commercial auto and tools & equipment for long drives between jobs.
Florida Workers’ Comp: Exemptions and Stop-Work Orders
Florida is strict about workers’ comp in construction. The Division of Workers’ Compensation at the Department of Financial Services checks job sites, and a construction business without required coverage can receive a stop-work order and penalties.
Corporate officers and LLC members who own at least 10% of the business can apply for an exemption for themselves, with no more than three exempt officers per business. The exemption covers only those owners. Anyone else you pay to work for you still needs coverage.
Uninsured subcontractors can end up on your policy at audit, so collect certificates from every sub.
Class codes and payroll drive your price. We review both before we quote.
Contact
Call
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 all 50 states. California License #4291921.
Other license numbers available upon request. Coverage availability varies by state.
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