# Florida contractor insurance requirements

> What Florida 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/florida/

## The short version

- Workers' comp required at: 4 employees; construction 1
- License insurance minimum: $300K liability, $50K PD (GC)
- Anti-indemnity statute voids: Own negligence, unless capped

## Workers' comp in Florida

Construction businesses in Florida need workers' comp with one or more employees, counting owners who are corporate officers or LLC members. Other businesses need it at four. Owners can opt out of coverage for themselves by getting an exemption from the Division of Workers' Compensation. The exemption covers the owner, not the company's employees.

Agency: [Florida Division of Workers' Compensation](https://www.myfloridacfo.com/division/WC/employer/coverage.htm)

## Contractor licensing and insurance

Florida's Construction Industry Licensing Board requires certified and registered general and building contractors to carry at least $300,000 in public liability and $50,000 in property damage coverage. Residential contractors and most specialty trades need $100,000 and $25,000.

## Indemnity and additional insured clauses

Florida Statutes § 725.06 voids construction clauses that make a contractor indemnify another party for that party's own negligence unless the clause carries a monetary limit that bears a reasonable commercial relationship to the contract and is part of the project specifications or bid documents. Section 725.08 sets separate limits for design professionals.

## Exemptions are common on Florida jobs

Because Florida construction owners can exempt themselves, you'll see contractors with an exemption certificate and no policy. That only works if the exempt owner is the only one on site. Anyone else working for that contractor needs coverage.

## What to check on a contractor COI for a Florida project

1. **Workers' comp.** A contractor below Florida'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 Florida is listed on the workers' comp policy.
2. **General liability.** A Florida 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.

## Common questions

### Do contractors need workers' comp in Florida?

Construction businesses in Florida need workers' comp with one or more employees, counting owners who are corporate officers or LLC members. Other businesses need it at four. Owners can opt out of coverage for themselves by getting an exemption from the Division of Workers' Compensation. The exemption covers the owner, not the company's employees.

### Does Florida require contractors to carry general liability insurance?

Florida's Construction Industry Licensing Board requires certified and registered general and building contractors to carry at least $300,000 in public liability and $50,000 in property damage coverage. Residential contractors and most specialty trades need $100,000 and $25,000.

### Can a Florida construction contract make a contractor cover another party's negligence?

Florida Statutes § 725.06 voids construction clauses that make a contractor indemnify another party for that party's own negligence unless the clause carries a monetary limit that bears a reasonable commercial relationship to the contract and is part of the project specifications or bid documents. Section 725.08 sets separate limits for design professionals.

## Sources

1. [Coverage requirements](https://www.myfloridacfo.com/division/WC/employer/coverage.htm), Florida Division of Workers' Compensation
2. [Fla. Admin. Code R. 61G4-15.003, Public liability insurance](https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/florida/Fla-Admin-Code-Ann-R-61G4-15-003), Legal Information Institute
3. [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
4. [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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Forsured: construction insurance compliance software. https://forsured.ai · hello@forsured.ai