Missouri contractor insurance quote: license requirements, liability and workers' comp

If you need a contractor insurance quote in Missouri, plan on general liability for local licenses and client contracts, and workers' compensation as soon as you hire one employee. Missouri's construction rule is stricter than its general five-employee rule. Burch Insurance Group quotes general liability, workers' comp, commercial auto, tools and equipment, and builders risk for contractors working in St. Louis, Kansas City, Springfield, Columbia and across the state.

Does Missouri have a statewide general contractor license?

No. The Missouri Division of Professional Registration licenses electrical contractors, but its list of licensed professions has no general, building or construction contractor board. General and building contractor licensing happens at the city or county level, so the rules depend on where the job is.

• Kansas City: The Permits Division of City Planning and Development regulates contractor licenses within city limits. You need a contractor license and a city business license. License types include Residential Building Supervisor and trade licenses for electrical, plumbing, mechanical, demolition, fire protection and sign work. The city publishes its insurance requirements for contractors in Information Bulletin IB135.
• City of St. Louis: The License Collector issues a Construction Industry Contractor Graduated Business License. General contractors must give the License Collector a list of the subcontractors on any job, and applicants bring proof of workers' comp or sign a statement about it.
• Electrical contractors: Missouri offers a statewide electrical contractor license. Under RSMo 324.925, cities and counties must recognize it in place of a local license for contracting and permits, though they can still require a general business license, issue permits and inspect the work.
• Springfield, Columbia and other cities and counties: Check with the local building or licensing office before you bid. Requirements vary.

Who must carry workers' comp in Missouri construction?

The Missouri Division of Workers' Compensation says most employers must carry workers' comp once they have five or more employees. Construction industry employers, meaning those that erect, demolish, alter or repair improvements, must carry it once they have one or more employees. Part-time employees count.

• Corporate officers and LLC members count toward the employee total
• Sole proprietors and partners do not count, and they are not covered unless they elect coverage
• LLC members are presumed covered unless they opt out with their insurer

Take a fictional Springfield remodeler, a sole proprietor, who hires one part-time carpenter. Because the business does construction work and now has an employee, Missouri requires workers' comp. The owner is still not covered unless he elects it.

Local licenses tie into this. Under RSMo 287.061, a city or county that issues a business or occupational license to a construction contractor must require either a certificate of workers' comp insurance or a signed affidavit, on a Division form, stating the contractor is exempt. A contractor that does neither is denied the license until it provides a certificate, and giving false information is unlawful.

What do general contractors and clients ask for?

Most of your insurance requirements will come from contracts, not the state. Expect requests for:

• A certificate of insurance showing general liability, auto and workers' comp at the limits named in the contract
• Additional insured status for the general contractor or owner, often with primary and noncontributory wording and a waiver of subrogation
• Proof of the local license for the city where the job is

After the May 2025 tornado, the City of St. Louis asked contractors registering for recovery work for a city business license, a certificate of liability insurance and, if applicable, workers' comp and auto liability certificates. Read the insurance section of a contract before you bid so the quote matches it.

Questions Missouri contractors ask us

Do I need a state license to do remodeling in Missouri? Not a statewide general contractor license. Check with the city or county where you work, since places like Kansas City and St. Louis have their own requirements.

I am a sole proprietor with no employees. Do I need workers' comp? Missouri does not require it for you alone, but a city may ask you to sign an exemption affidavit before licensing you, and general contractors may still require coverage in their subcontracts.

Do LLC members count as employees? Yes. They count toward the employee total and are presumed covered unless they opt out with the insurer.

What general liability limits do I need? Your contracts and the local license rules set the minimums. Send us the contract or the city's requirement and we will quote to it.

What BIG needs to quote

1. Business name, entity type, owners and years in business
2. The type of work you do, with the share of residential, commercial and new construction
3. Payroll by job type and how many employees and subcontractors you use
4. Annual revenue and the cities where you work
5. Vehicles and equipment you own or lease
6. Any contract insurance requirements and five years of loss history

If you also need coverage for a project under construction, see our guide to builders risk insurance.

Request a contractor insurance quote, or call 612-712-6407.