# District of Columbia contractor insurance requirements

> What District of Columbia law says about workers' comp, contractor license insurance and indemnity clauses, and what to check on a contractor COI for a project there.

Reviewed Oct 28, 2026 by Forsured. Source: https://forsured.ai/coi-requirements/district-of-columbia/

## The short version

- Workers' comp required at: 1 employee
- License insurance minimum: No statewide minimum
- Anti-indemnity statute voids: No general statute

## Workers' comp in District of Columbia

Employers with one or more employees in the District of Columbia must carry workers' comp. Employers with staff working outside DC need a policy that covers those workers under the other states' laws too.

Agency: [DC Office of Workers' Compensation](https://does.dc.gov/page/workers-compensation-does)

## Contractor licensing and insurance

We found no statewide general liability minimum tied to a general contractor license. Cities and counties can set their own licensing and insurance rules, so check where the project is.

## Indemnity and additional insured clauses

District of Columbia has no general construction anti-indemnity statute. Courts there generally enforce a clause that covers a party's own negligence only when the clause says so clearly (see Parker v. John Moriarty & Assocs., 189 F. Supp. 3d 38 (D.D.C. 2016)).

## What to check on a contractor COI for a District of Columbia project

1. **Workers' comp.** Nearly every contractor with employees needs it in District of Columbia. A contractor with a crew and no workers' comp on its COI is a gap. For an out-of-state contractor, confirm District of Columbia is listed on the workers' comp policy.
2. **General liability.** District of Columbia doesn't set a statewide floor for a general contractor license, so your project requirements set the bar. Compare each limit on the COI with what the contract asks for.
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.

## Common questions

### Do contractors need workers' comp in District of Columbia?

Employers with one or more employees in the District of Columbia must carry workers' comp. Employers with staff working outside DC need a policy that covers those workers under the other states' laws too.

### Does District of Columbia require contractors to carry general liability insurance?

We found no statewide general liability minimum tied to a general contractor license. Cities and counties can set their own licensing and insurance rules, so check where the project is.

### Can a District of Columbia construction contract make a contractor cover another party's negligence?

District of Columbia has no general construction anti-indemnity statute. Courts there generally enforce a clause that covers a party's own negligence only when the clause says so clearly (see Parker v. John Moriarty & Assocs., 189 F. Supp. 3d 38 (D.D.C. 2016)).

## Sources

1. [Office of Workers' Compensation employer brochure](https://does.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/does/page_content/attachments/OWC%20Employer%20brochure.pdf), DC Department of Employment Services
2. [Anti-Indemnity Statutes in All 50 States (2023)](https://grsm.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Anti-Indemnity-Statutes-2023.pdf), Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani, 2023
3. [State Workers' Compensation Officials](https://www.dol.gov/agencies/owcp/wc), U.S. Department of Labor

General information, not legal advice. Confirm with the state agency, your broker or your attorney.

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