# Louisiana contractor insurance requirements

> What Louisiana 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/louisiana/

## The short version

- Workers' comp required at: 1 employee
- License insurance minimum: $100K (residential)
- Anti-indemnity statute voids: Own negligence, even in part

## Workers' comp in Louisiana

Almost every Louisiana business with one or more employees, including part-time and seasonal workers, must carry workers' comp.

Agency: [Louisiana Workforce Commission, Office of Workers' Compensation](https://www.laworks.net/FAQs/FAQ_WorkComp_EmployerCoverage.asp)

## Contractor licensing and insurance

Louisiana's licensing board requires residential and home improvement contractors to keep at least $100,000 in general liability and to show workers' comp. Commercial license applicants don't file insurance with the board.

## Indemnity and additional insured clauses

Louisiana's anti-indemnity statute (La. Rev. Stat. § 9:2780.1) voids construction contract clauses that make a contractor indemnify another party for that party's own negligence, even in part. Clauses limited to the contractor's own share of fault generally hold up.

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

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

Almost every Louisiana business with one or more employees, including part-time and seasonal workers, must carry workers' comp.

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

Louisiana's licensing board requires residential and home improvement contractors to keep at least $100,000 in general liability and to show workers' comp. Commercial license applicants don't file insurance with the board.

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

Louisiana's anti-indemnity statute (La. Rev. Stat. § 9:2780.1) voids construction contract clauses that make a contractor indemnify another party for that party's own negligence, even in part. Clauses limited to the contractor's own share of fault generally hold up.

## Sources

1. [Louisiana workers' comp requirements](https://onpay.com/insights/workers-comp-requirements-by-state/louisiana/), OnPay, May 2026
2. [Checklist of items required for initial license and to maintain license](https://lslbc.gov/checklist-of-items-required-for-initial-license-and-to-maintain-license/), Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors
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.

---
Forsured: construction insurance compliance software. https://forsured.ai · hello@forsured.ai