Home Improvement Contractor - Licensed Contractors

Does a Homeowner have to have Workman's comp insurance if he is going to act as the General Contractor?

I plan on adding on to my house this summer, and would like to do most of the work myself. There are some items that I would like to sub out to other Contractors. Am I required to have Workman's Compensation Insurance to cover these subcontractor's?

Public Comments

1. I assume they should have their own insurance since they are contractors as well. Especially if they have their own business.
2. as far as I know there is no need for WCI unless you hire the person who is working on your project. When you sub out the work the contractor has to have the insurance. Be sure you get a "Certificate of insurance" from your contractor before the work starts.
3. If you sub out the work, the sub must have worker's compensation. This is assuming that you will not be hiring them as employees but as typical subcontractors. Make sure you get a copy of their certificate of insurance -- many small subcontractors don't carry insurance and that can cause you a lot of financial and legal heartache later on down the road if something happens. If you're doing the work yourself with no employees, then no, you don't need workers comp. But if you get hurt, you're on your own as far as bills, etc., go. IF you hire true employees and pay them a salary (very unusual for a homeowner) then you are required to have worker's comp insurance on their behalf.
4. No the subs should show you a certificate if insurance, cause if they don't and someone gets injured, you will be liable for the injury. This is common procedure for people bidding in jobs, part of the bid process is showing the prospective customer a valid certificate of insurance.