General Contractor Insurance in Ohio
Ohio requires Workers' Compensation for general contractors. See the checklist below for the full breakdown and costs.
Ohio runs a state-fund workers'-comp system, so general contractors buy that one coverage differently than everything else on this page.
The detail that sets Ohio apart for anyone handling other people's animals is liability: the state follows a strict liability standard when a dog bites, which is exactly why the coverage priorities below look a little different here than they would a state over.
How Ohio regulates general contractors
Workers' comp · State fund (monopolistic)
Ohio is a monopolistic workers'-comp state: coverage must be bought through the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC), not a private insurer. A commercial package or BOP from a private carrier will not include workers' comp here — you buy it separately from the state fund, and you add employer's-liability (“stop-gap”) coverage through a private carrier because the BWC fund doesn't provide it.
Dog-bite liability · Strict liability (statutory)
Ohio Rev. Code § 955.28Ohio imposes strict statutory liability on a dog's owner, keeper, or harborer for injury the dog causes, regardless of the dog's prior behavior. Because a pet-care professional in physical control of a client's dog can be deemed its “keeper,” this statute can attach liability directly to your business — making general-liability and animal-bailee coverage especially important in Ohio.
Licensing & permits
Ohio requires annual county dog registration and licenses high-volume breeders under ORC Ch. 956 (Commercial Dog Breeders), overseen by the Ohio Department of Agriculture. There is no statewide license for sitters, walkers, or trainers; boarding kennels follow county rules.
SOURCE · State statutes & regulators as cited · Last reviewed 2026-07
Ohio coverage requirements
| Coverage | Required? | Minimum | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Workers' Compensation | Required | Statutory | Workers' comp is purchased through the state fund (monopolistic state). |
State regulator: Ohio Department of Insurance
Coverage checklist
| Coverage | Requirement | Annual cost |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial AutoCA | Required | $1,400–$2,800/yr |
| General LiabilityGL | Required | $700–$1,800/yr |
| Workers' CompensationWC | Required | $2,500–$8,000/yr |
| Inland Marine / Tools & EquipmentIM | Recommended | $400–$1,200/yr |
| Business Owner's PolicyBOP | Optional | $800–$2,500/yr |
| Commercial PropertyCP | Optional | $800–$3,000/yr |
| Professional Liability / E&OPL/E&O | Optional | $800–$2,500/yr |
Cost breakdown
- ·Fleet size
- ·Vehicle type
Required for work trucks.
- ·Project values
- ·Crew size
- ·Masonry vs. framing
- ·Subcontractor oversight
Required by virtually every state license and project contract; often $1M/$2M limits or higher.
- ·Payroll
- ·Trade mix
- ·Experience mod
Required once you have employees; many project owners also require proof even for GCs without direct employees.
- ·Equipment value
- ·Job-site storage
Covers generators, scaffolding, and heavy tools at job sites.
- ·Office/shop value
If you have an office or shop.
- ·Office/shop ownership
If you own/lease an office or yard.
- ·Design-build work
- ·Project size
Relevant for design-build GCs.
Best carriers for general contractor
General Contractor insurance in Ohio — FAQ
Do general contractors need workers' comp in Ohio?+
Yes, once you have employees — but in Ohio you buy it from the state fund, not a private insurer, and add stop-gap employer's-liability separately. Solo general contractors with no staff are generally exempt.
If a dog in my care bites someone in Ohio, am I liable?+
Ohio imposes strict statutory liability on a dog's owner, keeper, or harborer for injury the dog causes, regardless of the dog's prior behavior. Because a pet-care professional in physical control of a client's dog can be deemed its “keeper,” this statute can attach liability directly to your business — making general-liability and animal-bailee coverage especially important in Ohio. That's why general-liability and animal-bailee coverage are worth prioritizing for general contractors working in Ohio.
Does a general contractor need insurance?+
Yes — and at higher limits than most trades. General liability is required by virtually every state license and project contract, and workers' comp is required once you have employees. Most GCs carry $1M/$2M liability limits or more.
How much does general contractor insurance cost?+
General liability runs $700–$1,800+ per year for a small GC, and workers' comp $2,500–$8,000 depending on payroll and the trades you oversee. Total core coverage often reaches $5,000–$12,000 per year for a small crew.
Do I need workers' comp if I only use subcontractors?+
Many project owners require GCs to carry workers' comp even without direct employees, and you may be liable if an uninsured sub is injured on your site. Most states require WC once you have W-2 employees.
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