Plumbing Contractor Insurance in Florida
What insurance does a Florida plumbing contractor need?
Start with the license: Certified Plumbing Contractor (CFC). Florida specialty (Division II) contractors must carry at least $100,000 public liability / $25,000 property damage to hold the license, with DBPR as certificate holder. But GCs, owners and municipalities contract at $1M / $2M. Add workers' comp from employee #1, commercial auto, and tools & equipment coverage. The defining risk in this trade is water damage, the most frequent contractor GL claim in Florida buildings, which is why the description of your work on the application has to match what you actually do: rough and trim plumbing, re-pipes, water heaters, gas piping, backflow and service work.
Speed up your quote: send these first. Email adolfo@nextguardinsurance.com with:
- Your current dec page (policy declarations) and 3 to 5 years of loss runs, if insured
- Gross receipts, payroll, and how much work you subcontract out
- The insurance requirements from the GC, owner or contract you need to satisfy
- Your license type and a short, accurate description of the work you actually do
Please don't send the same submission to other brokers. Duplicate submissions block carrier markets and slow your quote. Send us one complete submission and we start with the standard Florida markets for speed.
Coverage we place for Florida plumbing contractors
General Liability
$1M / $2M standard, completed operations included, and additional insured for GCs and owners on the endorsement forms their contracts name.
Workers' Compensation
Required from employee #1 in Florida construction. We place it selectively and split payroll correctly across class codes, so the audit matches the quote.
Excess / Umbrella
Up to $1M of excess when a contract requires limits above your primary GL.
Commercial Auto
Work trucks, vans and trailers, plus hired & non-owned auto for personal vehicles used on service calls.
Tools & Equipment (Inland Marine)
GL does not cover your tools when they are stolen from a truck or site. Inland marine does.
Surety Bonds
License and financial-responsibility bonds, and contract bonds when public work requires them.
What carriers look at in plumbing contractor risks
- Water-damage claims are high-frequency. A failed fitting floods the unit below, and condo and HOA work multiplies that exposure floor by floor.
- Gas piping and water-heater work are rated and sometimes excluded separately. If you do them, they must be on the application.
- Septic, sewer and backflow each carry their own scope. Work outside your described operations is work outside your policy.
What Florida plumbing contractors typically pay for GL
Trade, payroll mix and loss history move these numbers more than company size does.
| Contractor profile | Typical annual GL premium* |
|---|---|
| Owner-operator, no employees, under ~$250K receipts | ~$1,600 to $3,800 |
| Small crew (1 to 5 employees), $250K to $1M receipts | ~$3,800 to $8,500 |
| Established operation, $1M to $5M receipts | ~$8,500 to $20,000+ |
| Higher-hazard or coastal work | Priced individually, often the highest |
*Estimates for general liability only, based on typical Florida pricing. Not a quote. Receipts, payroll, subcontracted costs, trade mix and loss history drive the final number. Workers' comp, auto, builders risk and excess are additional.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the Florida license minimum for this trade?
Specialty (Division II) contractors: $100,000 public liability / $25,000 property damage, with the DBPR as certificate holder. Contracts almost always require $1M / $2M. The minimum keeps your license, not your jobs.
When do I need workers' compensation?
With 1 or more employees in Florida construction, including officers and LLC members unless they hold a valid exemption (generally at least 10% ownership, max 3 exempt per business).
Can I get insured as a new business?
Yes. New ventures are quoted every week in Florida trades. The submission needs your license, experience history, exact operations and crew structure up front.
How fast can I get a certificate?
Standard markets often quote in 1 to 3 business days on a complete submission, and certificates are usually issued the same day you bind.
Do you work in Spanish?
Yes. English, Spanish and Portuguese, including certificates and contract exhibits.
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