# North Carolina contractor insurance requirements

> What North Carolina 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/north-carolina/

## The short version

- Workers' comp required at: 3 employees
- License insurance minimum: No statewide minimum
- Anti-indemnity statute voids: Own negligence, even in part

## Workers' comp in North Carolina

North Carolina businesses that regularly employ three or more people must carry workers' comp. Corporate officers count toward the three, even if they exclude themselves.

Agency: [North Carolina Industrial Commission](https://ic.nc.gov/wcinsrqmt.html)

## Contractor licensing and insurance

We found no statewide general liability minimum tied to a general contractor license. North Carolina's general contractor license has financial requirements but no liability insurance minimum we could find. Cities and counties can set their own licensing and insurance rules, so check where the project is.

## Indemnity and additional insured clauses

North Carolina's anti-indemnity statute (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 22B-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 North Carolina project

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

North Carolina businesses that regularly employ three or more people must carry workers' comp. Corporate officers count toward the three, even if they exclude themselves.

### Does North Carolina require contractors to carry general liability insurance?

We found no statewide general liability minimum tied to a general contractor license. North Carolina's general contractor license has financial requirements but no liability insurance minimum we could find. Cities and counties can set their own licensing and insurance rules, so check where the project is.

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

North Carolina's anti-indemnity statute (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 22B-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. [Employers' obligation to obtain and maintain workers' compensation coverage](https://ic.nc.gov/wcinsrqmt.html), North Carolina Industrial Commission
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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