California Handyman Insurance Checklist

Business: ________________ Contact: ________________ City: ________________ License status: ________________ Employees or helpers: ________________ Customer type: ________________ Job or client: ________________ Certificate due date: ________________

Use this page to compare your insurance, contractor bond, and certificate documents with the job you plan to take. Confirm license rules with the Contractors State License Board and confirm contract wording before work starts.

• Project value checked: California's handyman exemption generally applies to work under $1,000 in combined labor and materials when the work is not part of a larger project, the worker does not advertise as licensed, and the project does not require a building permit.
• License status checked: Work at $1,000 or more in combined labor and materials usually calls for a licensed contractor.
• Contractor bond separated from insurance: A California contractor license bond is different from general liability, workers compensation, tools coverage, and commercial auto.
• Workers compensation reviewed: California employers with employees need workers compensation. Licensed contractors should also watch Contractors State License Board filing rules and SB 216 phase-in changes.
• Employee, helper, and subcontractor facts reviewed: Payroll, worker status, and subcontractor use can affect workers compensation, audits, and certificate requests.
• Job type reviewed: Framing, roof work, exterior work at height, commercial work, public agency work, and subcontracted labor can lead to more insurance questions than small interior repair work.

• Certificate of insurance prepared with current policy dates, named insured, limits, and certificate holder details.
• Contract checked for required general liability limits. Property managers and public agencies may ask for $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate, but the contract controls the job.
• Additional insured wording checked. Some contracts require the customer, owner, general contractor, or public agency to be added by endorsement.
• Completed operations wording checked when the contract asks for protection after the work is finished.
• Primary and noncontributory wording checked when the contract says your policy must apply before the customer's insurance.
• Waiver of subrogation checked separately for general liability, workers compensation, or auto when the contract asks for it.
• Auto liability, employer's liability, and subcontractor insurance requirements checked when the job is for a property manager, commercial customer, public agency, or general contractor.
• Copies of endorsements gathered if the customer asks for more than a certificate.

General liability carrier: ______________________________ General liability policy number: _________________________ General liability limits: ________________________________ Workers compensation carrier: ___________________________ Workers compensation policy number: ______________________ Commercial auto carrier: ________________________________ Tools and equipment carrier: _____________________________ Contractor bond company: _________________________________ Bond number: ____________________________________________ Endorsements requested by customer: ______________________ Questions to confirm before work starts: _________________