Framing contractor insurance in California

The risks that come with framing

Framing is structural work. Everything built after you depends on it, and a mistake can show up years later. General liability (GL) pays when your work injures someone else or damages property that is not yours. The claims framers face:

• Collapse during construction. Walls or trusses that are not braced well can come down in wind and damage the site, a neighbor's property or another trade's work.
• Falling materials. Lumber, sheathing or a nail gun dropped from a second floor onto a person or car below.
• Completed operations. Sagging floors, out-of-plumb walls, missed hold-downs or shear nailing that lead to cracking, leaks or structural damage after the owner moves in. On new homes this exposure lasts for years.
• Damage on additions. Opening a roof or wall on an existing home lets rain in. Cutting the wrong member can damage the rest of the house.

Falls are the big risk to your own crew, but your workers' injuries are a workers' comp matter, not GL. GL also does not cover your saws and nailers, your truck, or the cost to reframe work that was wrong.

What GCs ask a framing sub for

Most framers work under a GC, often on new construction. Before you get on site, expect the GC to ask for:

• A certificate of insurance (COI) with GL of $1M per occurrence / $2M aggregate, the limits GCs usually ask for.
• Additional insured status for the GC, and often the owner, on both ongoing and completed operations. Completed operations matter most for framing because claims arrive after the job closes.
• Primary and non-contributory wording and a waiver of subrogation.
• Proof of workers' comp if you have a crew. Many GCs will not let an uninsured crew on site.

Being a certificate holder is not the same as being additional insured. Our certificate of insurance guide explains why GCs care.

Exclusions to read for in a framing policy

• Tract homes, condos and multi-family. Many policies exclude tract housing, condos and townhomes, or projects above a set number of units, because of construction-defect suits. If you frame them, check this first.
• Height and story limits. Some policies limit work above a set number of stories.
• Completed operations limits. Make sure completed operations are included, and check whether the policy limits it on residential work.
• Action over. This exclusion can remove coverage when your injured worker sues the GC and the GC's contract pushes the claim back to you. It matters a lot for framers who sign GC contracts.
• Subcontracted labor. If you use labor crews, many policies require them to carry their own insurance. Without it, a claim may be excluded or the crew's cost may be charged to you.
• Classification. If you also set trusses with a crane, install siding or do finish carpentry, say so in the questions so the policy fits the work.

Every quote on our board lists what is included and excluded.

CSLB rules for C-5 framing contractors

This is general information from the CSLB, not legal advice.

• Workers' comp. Every licensee files a workers' comp certificate or an exemption with CSLB (B&P §7125). A C-5 with no employees may file the exemption today. Under SB 216, workers' comp was to be required for all licensees from 1/1/2026; SB 1455 (2024) moved that to 1/1/2028. See our workers' comp guide. Workers' comp is quoted by phone at (877) 940-4313.
• LLC licenses. An LLC must carry liability insurance with an aggregate of at least $1,000,000 if 5 or fewer people are on the personnel of record, plus $100,000 per additional person, up to $5,000,000. See the LLC requirement.
• Other entities. CSLB does not require GL by law for non-LLC licensees but strongly recommends it. GCs require it by contract.
• Home improvement contracts. If you contract directly with a homeowner for an addition or repair, the contract must include a "Commercial General Liability Insurance" notice with your insurer and phone number, or state you have no CGL (B&P §7159 / §7159.10).
• License bond. Every licensee carries the $25,000 contractor license bond.

How the online quote works from your license number

1. Enter your CSLB license number. We find your business in the CSLB public record and show how many A-rated insurance companies write C-5.
2. Confirm you are the owner with your name, mobile and email.
3. Answer about a minute of tap-to-answer questions: homes or businesses, new construction, sales, payroll, subs, crew, years, claims, current insurance and start date.
4. Your quote board shops A-rated programs live. Prices arrive one by one with deductible, limits, and what is included and excluded. The link is also texted and emailed.
5. Tap "Submit for approval." A licensed agent handles it. Approval usually takes 30 minutes to 4 hours depending on the carrier, and the final quote is emailed to you to sign.

Nothing is bound until you sign. Once you are covered, we send the certificate to your GC. Your price depends on sales, payroll, new construction share, tract or custom work, subs and claims; see our cost guide or compare other trades on the insurance by trade page.