Washington Demolition Contractor Insurance
General liability that meets L&I registration, pollution liability, stop gap, equipment and your contractor bond for Washington demolition contractors. Same-day certificates of insurance. Call our Washington line: (509) 355-9480.
What Does a Washington Demolition Contractor Need to Register With L&I?
Demolition contractors register with the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) as a specialty or general contractor before they bid, advertise or work. Registration requires a $15,000 bond for specialty contractors or $30,000 for general contractors, plus general liability of at least $200,000 public liability and $50,000 property damage, or $250,000 combined single limit, with L&I listed as certificate holder. Specialty contractors can't hire subs, so if you hand off hauling, abatement or crane work you may need general contractor registration. Before demolition, the property owner must have a good faith asbestos inspection done and give the written report to every contractor. In King, Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish counties, the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency requires notification for any demolition of a structure with more than 120 square feet of roof area, even when no asbestos is present.
Many contractor policies exclude demolition outright, limit you to interior work, or exclude the asbestos, lead and dust that come with tearing down older buildings, and a lapse in your bond or insurance suspends your registration. The Hard Hat Insurance team, the construction division of Bearstar Insurance Services, places Washington demolition contractors with carriers that write wrecking work, sends your bond and certificate to L&I, and reads the exclusions before you sign. Whether you clear infill lots in Seattle and Bellevue, take down commercial buildings around Tacoma and Everett, or demolish farm and industrial structures in Spokane, Yakima and the Tri-Cities, we match your coverage to your registration, your equipment and your contracts.
Commercial General Liability
Demolition General Liability
General liability pays when your work damages someone else's property or injures someone who isn't your employee. For demolition contractors, the most common claims are damage to neighboring buildings, fences and vehicles from falling debris or vibration; broken water, gas and sewer lines; dust on adjacent property; and passers-by hurt near the site. That's why you need a policy that covers structural demolition, not just interior or incidental demo work.
Limits matched to L&I minimums and your contracts.
Additional insured, waiver of subrogation and primary/non-contributory wording when your GC requires it.
Surety Bonds
Washington L&I Contractor Bond
Every Washington contractor must keep a bond on file with L&I: $15,000 for specialty contractors and $30,000 for general contractors. We can often issue L&I bonds the same day, with a quick quote and no long application.
Bad credit programs available.
Specialty and general contractor bonds.
Washington is a monopolistic state: workers' comp comes only from L&I, not from private insurers. Demolition is reported under risk class 0518-03, Building wrecking or demolition, which covers wrecking iron, steel, concrete or wood buildings by hand, machine or explosives, along with hauling away debris and barricading the site. Premiums are reported by hours worked, and Washington counts some 1099 workers as covered workers. Because L&I coverage doesn't include employers liability, contracts usually require a stop gap endorsement on your general liability policy, and we add it to your GL.
Stop gap (employers liability) endorsement on your GL.
Help with L&I account setup and risk class review.
Workers' Compensation
What We Cover
Commercial Auto
Work Truck & Fleet
Dump trucks, roll-off trucks, lowboys and the trailers that move your machines need commercial auto. A personal policy won't cover a truck used for hauling debris, and a loaded trailer changes how the vehicle is rated. Commercial auto covers your trucks, trailers and the drivers you hire, with higher limits when a contract calls for them.
Builders Risk
Builders Risk (Course of Construction)
Protect your project from fire, wind, water damage and theft of materials, all common on Washington job sites. We cover the structure from the ground up until the job is signed off.
Covers materials on-site and in transit.
Required by most lenders for new construction and remodels.
Contractor's Equipment (Inland Marine): Covers your excavators, skid steers, hydraulic breakers, shears, grapples and crushers against theft, vandalism, fire and accidental damage, on site, in the yard or in transit.
Contractor's Pollution Liability: Covers claims from asbestos, lead, silica and dust released by your work, which standard GL excludes. Often required by developers and public agencies on demolition contracts.
Excess Liability (Umbrella): Developer, GC and public demolition contracts often require $2M to $5M in total liability.
And More
Local Service Area
Serving all of Washington. We insure demolition contractors statewide.
Puget Sound: Seattle, Tacoma, Everett, Bellevue, Olympia.
Eastern Washington: Spokane, Tri-Cities, Yakima, Wenatchee.
Washington line: (509) 355-9480
Jesus Galvan, licensed insurance broker, Washington license #1206881. Se habla español.
Need a COI Today?
Most developers, GCs and public agencies ask Washington demolition contractors for $1M/$2M GL with no demolition exclusion, contractors pollution liability, additional insured, waiver of subrogation, primary/non-contributory wording, $1M stop gap, an umbrella on commercial jobs, and proof of an active L&I account. Send us the contract's requirements and we'll confirm your policy meets them before you sign.
5 Demolition Exclusions That Can Leave You Uninsured
1. Demolition exclusion or interior-only limit
Excludes structural demolition entirely, or covers only interior tear-out. A full teardown can be left uncovered.
2. Height or story limit
Excludes buildings over a set height or number of stories, which matters on commercial and multi-family jobs.
3. XCU exclusion (explosion, collapse, underground)
Excludes damage from collapse, explosions or underground work. Collapse of a neighboring structure is one of the biggest demolition claims.
4. Pollution, asbestos, lead and silica exclusions
Excludes claims from dust, fibers and released materials. Without contractor's pollution coverage, those claims may be yours to pay.
5. No stop gap
Without stop gap, a lawsuit from an injured employee or their family isn't covered by L&I or by a standard GL policy. We review these provisions before you sign and tell you plainly what's covered and what it would cost to fix.
Washington Demolition Contractor Insurance FAQ
Do demolition contractors have to register with L&I in Washington?
Yes. You must register as a specialty or general contractor, with a $15,000 or $30,000 bond and general liability of at least $250,000 combined single limit on file, before you bid, advertise or work.
What L&I risk class covers demolition work?
L&I reports building wrecking and demolition under risk class 0518-03, which covers iron, steel, concrete and wood buildings, including hauling away debris and barricading the site.
Do I have to notify the clean air agency before a demolition?
Often, yes. In King, Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish counties, the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency requires notification for any demolition of a structure with more than 120 square feet of roof area, even when no asbestos is present. Other local agencies have similar rules.
Can I buy workers' comp for my demolition company from a private insurer in Washington?
No. Washington workers' comp comes only from L&I. Because L&I coverage doesn't include employer's liability, most demolition contractors add stop gap coverage to their general liability policy.
Does general liability cover asbestos or dust claims from demolition?
Usually not. Most general liability policies exclude pollution, and many exclude asbestos, lead and silica. Contractors pollution liability is the policy that covers those claims.
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, NV, TX, AZ, OR, CO, and WA.
License numbers available upon request. Coverage availability varies by state.
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