# Minnesota contractor insurance requirements

> What Minnesota 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/minnesota/

## The short version

- Workers' comp required at: 1 employee
- License insurance minimum: $100K/$300K + $25K PD (residential)
- Anti-indemnity statute voids: Own negligence, even in part

## Workers' comp in Minnesota

Minnesota has no minimum number of employees: almost every employer must carry workers' comp, even for one part-time employee.

Agency: [Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry](https://www.dli.mn.gov/business/workers-compensation/work-comp-who-needs-workers-compensation-coverage)

## Contractor licensing and insurance

Minnesota residential building contractors and remodelers must carry general liability of at least $100,000 per occurrence and $300,000 aggregate plus $25,000 in property damage, or a $300,000 single limit.

## Indemnity and additional insured clauses

Minnesota's anti-indemnity statute (Minn. Stat. §§ 337.01 to 337.05) 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 Minnesota project

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

Minnesota has no minimum number of employees: almost every employer must carry workers' comp, even for one part-time employee.

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

Minnesota residential building contractors and remodelers must carry general liability of at least $100,000 per occurrence and $300,000 aggregate plus $25,000 in property damage, or a $300,000 single limit.

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

Minnesota's anti-indemnity statute (Minn. Stat. §§ 337.01 to 337.05) 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. [Minnesota workers' comp requirements](https://onpay.com/insights/workers-comp-requirements-by-state/minnesota/), OnPay, Jun 2026
2. [Residential building contractor license application instructions (Minn. Stat. § 326B.86)](https://dli.mn.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/ccld_lic-01Inst.pdf), Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry
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