General liability with the right certificates.
Coverage for injuries, property damage and advertising injury your business causes others, with certificates and endorsements your clients and landlords require.
Quick answer Contractor general liability insurance in California covers injuries, property damage and advertising injury your business causes others, and state law requires it only of contractors licensed as an LLC.
- A California contractor LLC must carry general liability with at least a $1,000,000 aggregate limit if five or fewer people are on its personnel of record, plus $100,000 per additional person, up to $5,000,000.
- California does not require sole-owner or corporation contractors to carry general liability, though most contracts and general contractors ask for it.
- General liability protects a business if someone claims its operations injured them or damaged their property.
- General liability does not cover employee injuries, your own property, professional errors or vehicles.
- Many contracts ask for general liability limits of $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate, so check your lease or contracts for exact requirements.
By Sam Alishahi · CA Insurance License #4348151 · Reviewed October 2026 · En español · How this page is researched
Most contracts ask for it first
Landlords, clients, general contractors and event venues commonly require general liability before you can start work.
The policy protects your business if someone claims your operations injured them or damaged their property.
California law requires it of one group of contractors: those licensed as an LLC. A contractor LLC must carry general liability with an aggregate limit of at least $1,000,000 if five or fewer people are on its personnel of record, plus $100,000 for each additional person, up to $5,000,000 (Business and Professions Code §7071.19). Sole owners and corporations aren’t required to carry it by the state, though most contracts and general contractors ask for it.
- Bodily injuryInjuries to customers, visitors and the public.
- Property damageDamage to other people’s property caused by your work or operations.
- Personal and advertising injuryClaims like libel, slander or copyright infringement in advertising.
- Not includedEmployee injuries, your own property, professional errors and vehicles.
What underwriters will ask
Having these ready means I can go to market on the first call. The quote form asks for the same things, and anything you don’t know yet can wait.
- Business: operations and industry.
- Revenue: annual gross sales.
- Payroll: for some classifications.
- Contracts: insurance requirements you’ve been given.
- Locations: where you work.
- Claims: any in the last five years.
General liability, answered
What limits do I need?
Many contracts ask for $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate. Check your lease or contracts for exact requirements.
What is an additional insured?
A person or company, like a landlord or general contractor, added to your policy for claims arising from your work.
Does general liability cover mistakes in my professional advice?
No. That’s professional liability, also called errors and omissions.
How fast can I get a certificate?
Once a policy is bound, certificates can usually be issued quickly. Tell me your deadline.
Do you offer general liability insurance outside California?
Yes. Clients across the country send the same quote form. California policies are placed directly; outside California the request is handled together with a partner agency in your state, and the shopping across carriers works the same way. Rules, minimums and markets differ by state — see insurance requirements by state.
Send the contract requirements. I’ll match them.
If a certificate is holding up work, tell me the deadline.
Alishahi Insurance · Saman Alishahi, independent insurance broker, California License #4348151. General information, not a quote or a promise of coverage; coverage depends on underwriting and the terms, conditions and exclusions of the policy actually issued.
Tell me how to reach you. I’ll take it from there.
Takes about 30 seconds. I review every request personally and call you back, usually the same day.
(424) 552-4545Answered 24/7 · CA License #4348151
Get a reminder before your renewal.
Tell me when your policy renews and I’ll email you about six weeks before, when it’s worth comparing. One email, no calls.