Contractor General Liability Insurance in Stockton, CA

Contractor general liability insurance in Stockton, CA covers claims that your work injured someone or damaged someone else's property, including the cost of your legal defense. It is the policy general contractors, property managers and homeowners ask to see before you start a job. Insurance City is an independent insurance brokerage at 956 W Robinhood Dr in Stockton; we quote contractors with several insurance companies, in English or Spanish.

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What does contractor general liability cover?

Bodily injury to others — a visitor or homeowner hurt at your job site.
Damage to other people's property — for example, water damage to a client's floors from a plumbing job.
Completed operations — claims that come up after the job is finished.
Legal defense — attorney costs for covered claims.

What it does not cover: injuries to your own employees (that's workers' compensation), your work vehicles (commercial auto), your own tools and equipment (an inland marine or tools policy), and, usually, the cost of redoing your own faulty work.

What does California require of contractors?

License bond — every licensee files a contractor license bond with the Contractors State License Board (CSLB).
LLC licensees — a license held by an LLC must also carry liability insurance under Business and Professions Code section 7071.19. Check the CSLB for the current minimum amounts.
Workers' compensation — required once you have employees, and the CSLB has its own rules for some classifications. Check the CSLB's current requirements for your license.

Certificates and additional insured for general contractors

Most general contractors require a certificate of insurance before you start, and many require that they be named as an additional insured, sometimes with a waiver of subrogation. Those endorsements must be on the policy itself, not just on the certificate. Send us the contract's insurance section so the policy is quoted with the right endorsements. Once the policy is active, our Stockton office issues certificates on request.

What we need to quote your contractor policy

CSLB license number and classification (for example B, C-10 or C-36).
Years in business and years of experience in the trade.
The type of work: residential, commercial, remodel or new construction, and the share of each.
Estimated annual revenue and how much you pay subcontractors.
Payroll and number of employees.
Claims in the last few years and your current policy, if you have one.
The insurance requirements in the contracts you are signing.

What affects the price?

The trade you work in, residential versus commercial work, new construction, annual revenue, whether your subcontractors carry their own insurance, your claims history, and the limits you need. We don't publish prices because they vary widely between trades and contractors. The insurance company's quote is the only reliable number, and approval depends on underwriting.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need general liability insurance for a California contractor license?

It depends on how the license is held. Every licensee must file a contractor license bond with the CSLB. If the license is held by an LLC, California also requires the LLC to carry liability insurance (Business and Professions Code section 7071.19); the CSLB publishes the current minimums. Sole owners and corporations usually buy general liability because general contractors, property managers and clients require it.

How much general liability do general contractors usually ask for?

Many contracts ask for $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate, with the general contractor named as an additional insured. Your contract controls, so send it to us before we quote.

Can a new contractor get general liability?

Yes, many insurance companies quote newly licensed contractors. Years of experience in the trade help. Approval depends on underwriting.

Does general liability cover my employees if they get hurt?

No. Injuries to your own employees are covered by workers' compensation, which California requires once you have employees. General liability covers injuries and damage to other people and their property. Contractors licensed as C-8 (concrete), C-20 (HVAC), C-22 (asbestos abatement), C-39 (roofing) or D-49 (tree service) cannot use the CSLB no-employees exemption and must carry workers' compensation even with no employees (Business and Professions Code §7125).

Reviewed by Santo Militello, California-licensed Property & Casualty agent (CA License #1737723) and owner of Via Rapida Services — CA Insurance License #6003045. Our licensed team brings more than 70 years of combined insurance experience. Insurance City Agency, LLC · Call (209) 670-1556.