Florida contractor insurance: what to verify before hiring

For most substantial home work, you want a contractor who carries general liability insurance and, if they have employees, workers' compensation coverage. Liability insurance responds if the contractor damages your property; workers' compensation covers a worker injured on your job. Requirements can vary by license type, trade, and whether the business has employees, so rather than assume, ask for a certificate of insurance from the contractor's own agent and confirm the coverage is current before work begins. This is general information — confirm specifics with the contractor, their insurer, and the relevant Florida authority.

They cover different risks. General liability insurance responds when the contractor's work causes property damage or injury to others — for example, damaging your home or a neighbor's. Workers' compensation covers medical costs and lost wages if one of the contractor's own workers is injured on your job. A contractor can carry one and not the other, which is why you should ask about both, especially for work involving a crew, ladders, or heavy equipment. Request a certificate of insurance showing each.

Ask for a certificate of insurance (COI) sent directly by the contractor's insurance agent, not a forwarded PDF, and check that the policy is current and names the correct legal business. For larger jobs, you can ask to be listed as a certificate holder so you are notified if the policy changes. Verifying insurance is separate from verifying the license — do both. See our guide on how to verify a Florida license for the licensing side.

If a contractor or their worker is injured on your property and there is no applicable workers' compensation coverage, you may face questions about liability, and your own homeowner's policy may or may not respond. The specifics depend on your policy, the contractor's status, and the circumstances, so this is exactly the situation to avoid by confirming coverage in advance. Ask your own insurer how your policy treats work by contractors, and require a certificate of insurance before hiring. This is general information, not legal or insurance advice.