General Liability Insurance for Contractors
Protect your construction business from lawsuits, property damage, and jobsite claims across CA, NV, TX, AZ, OR, CO & WA.
What Is General Liability Insurance?
General liability insurance helps protect contractors and tradesmen from third‑party claims involving bodily injury, property damage, or personal injury caused by business operations, employees, or completed work.
This coverage is commonly required to obtain or maintain a contractor’s license, meet contract requirements, and issue certificates of insurance.
Why Contractors & Tradesmen Need General Liability Insurance
Construction work involves risk. Even experienced contractors can face claims that lead to costly lawsuits, project delays, or lost contracts. General liability insurance helps protect your business and financial stability.
Protects against third‑party injury and property damage claims
Helps meet state licensing and permit requirements
Satisfies insurance requirements from general contractors and property owners
Supports business growth and larger project eligibility
Helps protect personal and business assets
General Liability Coverage for Hard‑to‑Place Contractors
Not all contractors qualify for standard insurance programs. We specialize in helping hard‑to‑place construction risks secure general liability coverage through specialty and excess markets.
High‑risk trades
New ventures and startups
Prior claims or loss history
Lapses in coverage
Multi‑state operations
Large or complex projects
Fast Binding & Same‑Day Certificates of Insurance
Contractors often need insurance quickly to start or continue work. In many cases, we can bind general liability coverage the same day and deliver certificates of insurance without delays.
Same‑day binding available in many cases
Fast certificates of insurance (COIs)
Additional insureds added quickly
Coverage limits adjusted to meet contract requirements
General Liability Insurance Across the Western United States
We provide general liability insurance solutions for contractors operating in the following states:
California • Nevada • Texas • Arizona • Oregon • Colorado • Washington
Coverage availability and eligibility vary by state and carrier underwriting guidelines.
What General Liability Doesn't Cover
General liability covers injuries to other people and damage to their property. It doesn't cover everything a contractor can be sued or billed for, and those gaps are where most denied claims come from.
Injuries to your own employees. That's workers' compensation.
Your own tools, equipment and trucks. Those need inland marine and commercial auto.
Repairing or redoing your own faulty work. Resulting damage to other property may be covered, but the fix itself usually isn't.
Pollution, mold and asbestos claims. Those need contractor's pollution liability.
Design or professional mistakes. Those need professional liability.
Work your policy excludes, such as roofing, work above a height limit, new residential or tract homes, or jobs done by uninsured subcontractors.
We read the exclusions before you buy and tell you plainly what's covered and what it would cost to fix the gaps.
General Liability Requirements by State
Whether you're required to carry general liability depends on where you're licensed and how. Most general contractors ask subs for $1M per occurrence / $2M aggregate either way.
California: Not required for most licenses. Contractors licensed as an LLC need at least $1 million, and contractors building single-family homes must disclose in writing whether they carry commercial general liability. See California contractor insurance.
Oregon: Required for a CCB license, from $100,000 to $1,000,000 depending on your endorsement. See Oregon contractor insurance.
Washington: Required to register as a contractor with L&I. See Washington contractor insurance.
Nevada, Arizona, Texas and Colorado: Depends on your license type and the cities you work in.
Schedule a General Liability Insurance Consultation
Speak with a licensed broker who specializes in construction insurance. We’ll review your trade, coverage needs, and timeline to help you secure the right general liability policy.
General Liability Insurance FAQ
Is general liability insurance required for contractors?
In many states, general liability insurance is required to obtain or maintain a contractor’s license and is commonly required by contracts.
What general liability limits do contractors need?
Most contractors carry 1,000,000 per occurrence and 2,000,000 aggregate, though requirements vary by state and contract.
Can you insure high‑risk or hard‑to‑place contractors?
Yes. We work with specialty carriers that insure high‑risk trades and contractors declined elsewhere.
How fast can general liability coverage be bound?
In many cases, coverage can be bound the same day, depending on underwriting requirements.
How quickly can I get a certificate of insurance?
Certificates of insurance are often issued the same day or within 24 hours after binding.
What doesn't general liability insurance cover?
Injuries to your own employees, your own tools, equipment and vehicles, the cost of redoing your own faulty work, pollution, and professional or design errors. Many contractor policies also exclude certain trades, work above a height limit, new residential or tract homes, or jobs done by uninsured subcontractors, so read the exclusions before you buy.
How is general liability priced for contractors?
Carriers price it by your class code, your payroll or gross receipts, the limits you choose, your claims history and how much work you subcontract. Most policies are audited at the end of the term, so if your payroll or receipts come in higher than estimated, you'll owe additional premium.
What is completed operations coverage?
It covers injury or damage caused by your work after the job is finished, like a deck that collapses or a leak that damages a home months later. It's part of most contractor general liability policies, but limits and exclusions vary, and many general contractors require it for several years after a project.
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 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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