# Virginia contractor insurance requirements

> What Virginia 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/virginia/

## The short version

- Workers' comp required at: 3 employees (counting those working under you)
- License insurance minimum: No statewide minimum
- Anti-indemnity statute voids: Sole negligence

## Workers' comp in Virginia

Virginia businesses that regularly employ more than two people must carry workers' comp. A contractor counts the employees of the companies working under it toward that number, whether or not those companies have their own coverage.

Agency: [Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission](https://workcomp.virginia.gov/content/employers)

## Contractor licensing and insurance

We found no statewide general liability minimum tied to a general contractor license. Virginia's 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

Virginia's anti-indemnity statute (Va. Code Ann. §§ 11-4.1, 11-4.4) voids construction contract clauses that make a contractor indemnify another party for that party's sole negligence. Clauses that cover shared fault are generally allowed.

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

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

Virginia businesses that regularly employ more than two people must carry workers' comp. A contractor counts the employees of the companies working under it toward that number, whether or not those companies have their own coverage.

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

We found no statewide general liability minimum tied to a general contractor license. Virginia's 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 Virginia construction contract make a contractor cover another party's negligence?

Virginia's anti-indemnity statute (Va. Code Ann. §§ 11-4.1, 11-4.4) voids construction contract clauses that make a contractor indemnify another party for that party's sole negligence. Clauses that cover shared fault are generally allowed.

## Sources

1. [Employers](https://workcomp.virginia.gov/content/employers), Virginia Workers' Compensation 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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Forsured: construction insurance compliance software. https://forsured.ai · hello@forsured.ai