Plumbing contractor insurance secures leaks in your coverage.

Contractors insurance in Florida refers to the package of coverages a contractor needs to operate legally and protect the business — typically Commercial General Liability (CGL), Workers Compensation, commercial auto, and an equipment floater.

Coverage

General Liability (CGL)

Third-party bodily injury and property damage claims arising from your operations

Workers Compensation

Injuries to your employees — required by Florida law for most contractors with employees

Commercial Auto

Accidents involving company vehicles, including trucks and trailers

Equipment Floater

Loss, theft, or damage to tools and equipment on and off the job site

Builders Risk

Physical damage to a structure under construction before completion

Umbrella / Excess Liability

Additional liability limits above the CGL and auto policies

Yes. Florida law requires licensed contractors to carry Commercial General Liability insurance and Workers Compensation insurance as conditions of licensure through the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR).

Minimum CGL limits vary by license type and county. Beyond state requirements, most commercial property owners and general contractors require subcontractors to carry higher limits — typically $1 million per occurrence / $2 million aggregate — and to be listed as additional insureds before allowing work on their properties.

 ⚠️ Operating without required coverage can result in license suspension, fines, and personal liability exposure if a jobsite injury or property damage claim occurs without insurance in force.

Contractors general liability (CGL) covers third-party bodily injury and property damage claims arising from your contracting operations — if someone is injured at your job site, or you damage a client’s property while working, CGL responds to pay the claim and legal defense costs.

Standard CGL includes: premises and operations liability, completed operations liability, personal and advertising injury, and products liability. It does NOT cover your own employees (Workers Comp), your own tools and equipment (equipment floater), the structure you’re building (builders risk), or professional errors in design (professional liability).

Builders risk insurance covers a structure under construction against physical damage — fire, wind, vandalism, theft of materials — from groundbreaking through project completion. It terminates when the building is occupied or the project is finished.

Neither the owner’s homeowners policy nor the contractor’s CGL provides this coverage. In Florida, hurricane-season construction creates significant builders risk exposure — an incomplete structure is extremely vulnerable to wind damage.

 🌊 Naples / Collier County

New luxury residential and commercial construction in Southwest Florida carries some of the highest per-project builders risk values in the state. Underwriters scrutinize coastal projects carefully.

🐴 Ocala / Marion County

New equestrian facility construction — barns, arenas, stabling — represents significant builders risk exposure. These structures are often large and constructed over months, creating extended storm season exposure.

An additional insured is a party other than the named insured who is granted coverage under a policy. Property owners and general contractors routinely require subcontractors to add them as additional insureds on the sub’s CGL policy — so if the sub’s work causes a claim, the property owner or GC has coverage under the sub’s policy.

Additional insured endorsements are typically added at no cost or minimal cost to the sub’s policy. Florida contractors should carry sufficient CGL limits to accommodate multiple additional insured relationships.

Contractors insurance costs vary widely based on trade, annual revenue, number of employees, prior claims history, and types of work performed. Roofing, general contracting, and demolition carry significantly higher premiums than landscaping, painting, or handyman work.

CGL alone: Typically $800-$5,000+ per year depending on trade and revenue.

Workers Compensation: Priced per $100 of payroll — roofing can run $25-$40 per $100 payroll, while clerical workers run under $1.

Full program: CGL, Workers Comp, commercial auto, and equipment coverage for a mid-size Florida contractor often runs $15,000-$60,000+ annually.

Contractors equipment insurance (inland marine equipment floater) covers tools, machinery, and equipment against loss, theft, or physical damage — on the job site, in transit, and in storage. It is not included in general liability or commercial property policies and must be purchased separately.

🐴 Ocala / Marion County

Contractors on equestrian facilities and rural residential projects often have high equipment values spread across remote, lower-security job sites — making off-site and in-transit coverage especially critical.

  🌊 Naples / Collier County

Southwest Florida’s construction boom and coastal job site exposure — including hurricane vulnerability and theft near dense urban projects — make a well-structured floater essential.

No. A CGL policy covers third-party liability — it does not cover physical damage to your own tools and equipment. Those are completely separate coverage needs requiring a separate policy.

Some Business Owner’s Policies include a tools and equipment sub-limit, but those limits are typically far below what a working Florida contractor has at risk. If your excavator, skid steer, or generator is stolen from a job site, your CGL will not respond.

An equipment floater can cover virtually any contractor equipment: heavy machinery (excavators, backhoes, cranes, aerial lifts, skid steers), power tools, hand tools, scaffolding, generators, compressors, survey equipment, trailers, attachments, and rented or leased equipment in your care.

Scheduled basis: Each item listed individually with its own value — recommended for high-value items.

Blanket basis: All equipment covered up to an aggregate limit.

Yes — most equipment floaters can be endorsed to cover rented, leased, or borrowed equipment in your care, custody, and control. This is critical because rental agreements hold you fully liable for all damage to rented equipment, regardless of cause.

Rental counter damage waivers are overpriced and limited. A properly structured floater provides broader protection at better cost.