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General Liability insurance is for residential and commercial builders, general contractors, construction managers, design and build firms, and specialty contractors.

Florida-licensed since 2011

Who this is for

  • GC / sub / trade contractorNeed a COI same day for the next job.
  • Consultant / agencyBundle with E&O for full protection.
  • Storefront / service businessSlip-and-fall and on-premises liability.

What's typically covered

  • Contractor coverage
  • Third-party liability
  • Construction projects
  • Legal defense costs

Florida rules to know

  • Same-day COI turnaroundAdditional-insured endorsements out the same business day.
  • Tools / equipment carve-outInland marine usually needed separately.

Florida is one of the toughest GL markets in the country, especially for construction trades. Roofers, framers, exterior trades, and anything tied to water intrusion or stucco see the most carrier restrictions and the steepest premiums; some standard markets won't quote roofing at all and the work goes to surplus lines (Lloyd's, Lexington, Scottsdale). The state DBPR requires a specific contractor license for most regulated trades, and Florida ties your required GL coverage to that license class — your certificate of insurance has to name DBPR/CILB and show your correct license number. Additional-insured endorsements are required on almost every commercial project here — usually on a CG 20 10 or CG 20 37 form — and the form version matters because it controls whether ongoing work or completed operations is covered. We make sure the right form is on the policy before you ever need the certificate.

General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules, limits, and thresholds change over time — confirm current requirements with the relevant state or federal agency, or ask us about your specific situation.

Insured

General Liability

What this coverage includes

General liability is the policy that pays when a third party is hurt or their property is damaged by what your business does. It's the backbone coverage for contractors, trades, event businesses, retail, and most service work — and it's what every GC, landlord, or municipality will ask for proof of.

We write GL for the full range of Florida trades: roofing, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, handyman, tree work, janitorial, landscaping, artisans. We can issue certificates and add additional insureds the same day you have a bid deadline, and we'll match the limit to what's actually being asked of you rather than overselling coverage.

Coverage examples

  • Tile install scratches client's hardwood floor

    A tile crew dragging a saw across a homeowner's living room damages the original hardwood. The repair quote comes back at $14,000. General liability pays under property damage to third parties — deductible (usually $500-$2,500), then the carrier handles the rest up to the per-occurrence limit. The carrier also typically defends you if the homeowner escalates. Without GL, that $14,000 is yours, and the GC the job came through is likely to cut ties for next time.

  • Roof falls behind, gets sued for water damage

    A roofer leaves a job 60% torn off when a storm hits overnight. Interior water damage runs $35,000. GL completed-operations coverage often picks this up — if the policy form is current and the work falls within the policy period. Many roofing policies in Florida exclude exterior trades' water-damage claims past a certain limit, or carry a 7-day weather-event cutoff. We read the exclusions before binding so you know exactly what's covered before something goes wrong.

  • Customer slips at storefront entrance

    A customer slips on a wet tile floor at your retail storefront and sustains an ankle injury. Medical bills + lost wages claim totals $42,000. GL bodily-injury coverage pays up to the per-occurrence limit (usually $1M) and includes legal defense. Florida is a modified comparative-fault state (since 2023, a plaintiff found more than 50% at fault recovers nothing), so the carrier will investigate whether warning signs were posted and whether the customer contributed to the fall. Settlements here tend to land lower than in major plaintiff-bar states, but defense costs add up fast.

Why Us

Why customers choose First Choice

General Liability

Frequently asked questions

I need a certificate today for a job. Can you do that?
Almost always, yes. If you're already a client we can issue a certificate within a couple of hours during business days. If you're new, we can usually quote, bind, and issue a COI same day for most standard trades.
What limit do I actually need?
Most Florida GCs and municipalities ask for $1M per occurrence / $2M aggregate. Some large commercial projects require $2M/$4M and an umbrella on top. Tell us what's being asked of you and we'll quote that limit specifically.
Does GL cover damage to my own tools?
No — that's inland marine / tools-and-equipment coverage, which we usually add as a separate endorsement. GL is strictly for third-party injury or third-party property damage.
How fast can you add an additional insured?
Same business day for existing clients in most cases. We email the endorsement and an updated COI showing the GC, owner, or property manager as additional insured — usually on a CG 20 10 (ongoing operations) or CG 20 37 (completed operations) form. There's no separate premium for a standard additional insured on most GL policies; some carriers charge $25-$100 per project endorsement. Tell us the exact entity name (matching their W-9), the project address, and whether they need both forms or just one.
What's the difference between GL and E&O?
General liability covers bodily injury and property damage you cause to third parties — physical, tangible harm. Errors and omissions (also called professional liability) covers financial harm from professional advice or services that turned out wrong: a faulty engineering calculation, a missed deadline, a bad consult. Trades carry GL. Architects, engineers, consultants, real estate agents, and insurance agents carry E&O. If you do design-build work, you usually need both.
Can I get a project-specific policy for one job?
Yes — surplus lines carriers will write a single-project GL or owners and contractors protective (OCP) policy for one specific construction project. Typical use case: a one-off commercial buildout where the GC requires limits higher than your normal practice policy. Premiums are based on the contract value, duration, and trade class. We can usually quote a project policy within 48 hours for standard trades and bind once the contract is signed.
Does GL cover my equipment or stolen tools on the job?
No — that's inland marine, specifically a contractor's equipment or tools-and-equipment policy. GL handles only third-party injury and property damage. Tools insurance covers theft from a locked truck or jobsite, fire, vandalism, and physical damage to your power tools, ladders, generators, and small equipment. Limits typically start at $5,000 and scale with how much gear is on the road. We bundle it onto the GL policy where the carrier allows.

General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules, limits, and thresholds change over time — confirm current requirements with the relevant state or federal agency, or ask us about your specific situation.

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