Georgia contractor insurance requirements

Workers' comp in Georgia

Georgia businesses with three or more workers, counting regular part-time workers, must carry workers' comp.

The agency in charge is the Georgia State Board of Workers' Compensation. It can tell you whether a specific business needs coverage, and most states let you look up an employer's policy online.

Contractor licensing and insurance

Georgia's licensing board requires general liability of at least $500,000 for general contractors and residential-light commercial contractors and $300,000 for residential-basic contractors, plus proof of workers' comp as state law requires.

Indemnity and additional insured clauses

Georgia's anti-indemnity statute (Ga. Code Ann. § 13-8-2(b)) voids construction contract clauses that make a contractor indemnify another party for that party's sole negligence. Clauses that cover shared fault are generally allowed. Some commentators read the statute as also voiding additional insured coverage for the other party's sole negligence.

What to check on a contractor COI for a Georgia project

1. Workers' comp. A contractor below Georgia's threshold can legally go without it, but your project requirements can still require it. Decide what you'll accept, and get an exemption or a policy in writing. For an out-of-state contractor, confirm Georgia is listed on the workers' comp policy.
2. General liability. A Georgia license only shows the contractor met the state's floor. Compare each limit on the COI with your project requirements, which are usually higher.
3. Additional insured. The endorsement is a separate promise from the indemnity clause, so check both. Ask for the endorsement itself, not just a box ticked on the certificate.
4. Dates. Every policy should run through the end of the job. A COI only shows coverage on the day it was issued, so check again at each renewal.

Forsured checks every contractor COI against your project requirements, then keeps checking for the life of the project. Send us one project's requirements and a contractor COI or two for a free COI risk check.