California · General contractors
General contractor insurance in California
General liability, workers’ comp, commercial auto, builders risk, and the additional-insured wording your GCs and owners demand. We place California general contractors standard markets find too complex — including non-renewed and post-claim accounts.
Most general contractors hold a CSLB Class B (General Building) license and carry a $25,000 contractor bond.
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Why Setpoint for General contractors?
We read the contract before the policy: additional-insured, primary-and-noncontributory, and waiver-of-subrogation wording that owners and GCs require.
Independent and specialty-focused — we shop the surplus lines markets retail agents can’t reach directly.
One licensed point of contact from first message to bound policy.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
What insurance does a general contractor need in California?
A California general contractor typically carries general liability, workers’ compensation, commercial auto, and tools/equipment (inland marine) coverage, with builders risk on active projects and an umbrella for larger contracts. Most contracts also require specific additional-insured endorsements, which matter as much as the limits.
Does a general contractor need workers’ comp with no employees?
Yes. As of January 1, 2026 every CSLB-licensed contractor in California must carry workers’ compensation under SB 216 — even with no employees. A minimum-premium "ghost" policy is the common way solo contractors satisfy the requirement.
What is a certificate of insurance and why do GCs ask for one?
A certificate of insurance (ACORD 25) is proof of your coverage that a general contractor or owner requires before you start work, usually naming them as an additional insured. The endorsement behind the certificate is what actually extends coverage — a certificate alone does not.
Why is general contractor insurance hard to place?
Construction defect exposure, subcontractor risk, and the breadth of work a Class B license allows make underwriters cautious, so generic small-business policies often exclude the very work you do. After a claim or a non-renewal, a complete submission presented to specialty markets is what gets the account written.
How much does general contractor insurance cost in California?
Premium is driven by your annual receipts, payroll and trade mix, how much work you subcontract, your loss history, and the limits your contracts require. Because two contractors with the same revenue can price very differently, an accurate submission is what produces a fair quote.
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Tell us about your operation
Send a few details about your business and where you are in your policy term. Non-renewed or post-claim? That's our specialty — it won't shock us.