Contractor insurance in Charlotte, NC, in English and Spanish
Most of our Charlotte business clients are contractors who work on houses: roofers, framers, drywall and paint crews, concrete and remodeling. They ask us for three things: certificates of insurance fast, someone they can actually talk to, and an agent who understands contractor insurance. That's what we do, in English and Spanish, by phone and WhatsApp from our Lincolnton office.
How fast can I get a certificate of insurance?
The builder needs your certificate before you can start, and every hour without it is an hour you don't work. Ask by phone, WhatsApp, the Lucy chat or the Client Center: during business hours we can usually send it within five minutes. Have ready the name and address of whoever is asking, and whether the contract requires additional insured or waiver of subrogation.
Workers' comp: the coverage contractors most often don't understand
The question we explain most to Charlotte contractors is workers' comp: how it works and why they need it. Workers' comp pays medical care and part of lost wages when someone on your crew gets hurt on the job.
According to the North Carolina Industrial Commission, a business with three or more employees generally has to carry it, and in a corporation the officers count as employees. And there's a rule that catches many contractors by surprise: under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 97-19, if you hire a subcontractor without first getting their workers' comp certificate, you can be held responsible for injuries to their workers as if they were your own. Even when the law doesn't require it for you, many builders won't let you on the job without a workers' comp certificate. Read more in Does my business need workers' comp?
The coverage a contractor working on houses usually needs
- General liability: damage to the homeowner's property or injuries to others caused by your work, with the limits your contract asks for.
- Workers' comp: for your employees, and the certificate builders ask for.
- Commercial auto: your work truck, van or trailer. A personal policy doesn't cover business use.
- Tools and equipment: what you carry in the truck and leave on the job site.
- Umbrella: when a contract asks for higher limits.
See the coverage for your trade: roofers, framing and drywall, painters, concrete and masonry.
Licenses, permits and insurance in Charlotte
- State license: in North Carolina, a general contractor must be licensed by the NC Licensing Board for General Contractors for projects valued at $40,000 or more. Homeowners can look up any contractor's license on the board's website.
- Permits and inspections: building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits and inspections in Charlotte and the rest of the county are handled by Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement (part of LUESA).
- Insurance: in practice, the requirements that decide whether you work come from your contracts. Builders and property managers set the general liability limits, ask for workers' comp, and want to be named as additional insured on your certificate before you start.
We read your contract's insurance page with you so your policy matches it before the job, not after.
Where we insure contractors
Charlotte and all of Mecklenburg County: Matthews, Mint Hill, Pineville, Huntersville, Cornelius and Davidson. Many of our contractor clients also work in Gaston, Lincoln and Union counties; one policy can cover your work across North Carolina.
What to have ready for a quote
Rated 4.9 on Google by 499 clients of our Lincolnton office, the office that serves you.
- Your business's legal name, FEIN and what work you do
- Whether you work on new houses, remodels or repairs
- How many people work with you and estimated annual payroll
- Whether you hire subcontractors and whether they have their own insurance
- Your work vehicles
- The insurance requirements page from your contract, if you have one
Call us at 1-888-311-4660, message us on WhatsApp, chat with Lucy on this page, or request a quote. Same agents, same service, whichever you choose.
Sources: NC Licensing Board for General Contractors · Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement · NC Industrial Commission
Frequently asked questions
How fast can you send a certificate of insurance?
During business hours, usually within five minutes of your request by phone, WhatsApp, the Lucy chat or the Client Center.
Can I get insurance with an ITIN or a matrícula consular?
Yes. We work with clients who have an ITIN or a matrícula consular. Tell us what ID you have and a licensed agent will explain your options.
Do I need workers' comp if I have fewer than three employees?
The law generally requires it with three or more employees, counting a corporation's officers. Even below that, many builders ask for a workers' comp certificate before you can work. We'll review your situation with you.
What do additional insured and waiver of subrogation mean?
Additional insured adds the builder or owner to your general liability policy for claims from your work. Waiver of subrogation means your insurer gives up the right to recover from them what it pays on a claim. Many contracts require both.
Does my personal truck cover me when I use it for work?
No. A personal auto policy doesn't cover business use. If your truck carries tools, materials or your crew, you need commercial auto.
Do you only insure contractors in Charlotte?
No, we insure contractors across Mecklenburg County and North Carolina, plus their home and family cars. See our Charlotte page.
Do I need a contractor license to work in Charlotte?
A North Carolina general contractor license is required for projects valued at $40,000 or more (NC Licensing Board for General Contractors). Some trades, like electrical and plumbing, have their own state licenses.
Who issues building permits in Charlotte?
Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement, a division of the county's Land Use and Environmental Services Agency (LUESA), handles building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits and inspections.
Our nearest office to Charlotte
L&L Insurance — Lincolnton
1442 N Aspen St
Lincolnton, NC 28092
Mon–Fri 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM