Nevada contractor insurance requirements

Workers' comp in Nevada

Any Nevada employer with at least one employee must carry workers' comp. On most construction projects, the contractor in charge has to provide coverage for independent contractors working on the job.

The agency in charge is the Nevada Division of Industrial Relations. 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

The Nevada State Contractors Board won't issue or renew a license without proof of workers' comp, or a sworn statement that the contractor has no employees and won't work for or bid to another contractor. A license bond is also required.

Indemnity and additional insured clauses

Nevada's statute (Nev. Rev. Stat. § 40.693) limits indemnity and defense clauses in residential construction contracts signed since February 24, 2015. Commercial contracts are judged under general contract law.

What to check on a contractor COI for a Nevada project

1. Workers' comp. Nearly every contractor with employees needs it in Nevada. A contractor with a crew and no workers' comp on its COI is a gap. For an out-of-state contractor, confirm Nevada is listed on the workers' comp policy.
2. General liability. A Nevada 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.