General Contractor Insurance in Ontario
As the GC, you carry the project and everyone on it. Owners, lenders and municipalities expect you to prove it. We connect Ontario general contractors with licensed brokers who build programs around your contracts, your subs and the size of work you want to win.
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Service & Support:
- Follow-up from a licensed broker within 24 hours
- Policy Review and Comparison
- Risk Assessment
- Help with certificates of insurance, policy changes and contract reviews
- Renewal planning well before your policy expires
Quick answer
What insurance does a general contractor need in Ontario?
An Ontario general contractor typically needs commercial general liability with completed operations, often at $5 million or more, builder's risk or course of construction coverage, contractors equipment, commercial auto, an umbrella, and WSIB registration. Larger projects add surety bonds, wrap-up liability and the limits set out in CCDC 41 contract requirements.
Your insurance decides which jobs you can bid
General contractors are judged on their insurance before they are judged on their price. Owners and lenders ask for specific CGL and auto limits, builder's risk, bonds and WSIB clearances, and projects using CCDC contracts often attach CCDC 41, which sets insurance requirements at levels many small contractors do not carry.
The other half of the job is managing subcontractors. Their uninsured claims and unpaid WSIB premiums can land on you. A good GC program protects your own operations and gives you a process for checking everyone else's.
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We are not an insurer or a broker. We find you the right one.
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We connect you with a broker who works with businesses like yours, not a generic call centre.
Licensed Ontario brokers
Insurance brokers in Ontario are licensed by the Registered Insurance Brokers of Ontario (RIBO).
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Once we receive your information, a professional in our network will connect with you within 24 hours.
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Our referral service is free for businesses. You deal directly with the broker for quotes and coverage.
What coverage does a general contractor need?
These are the building blocks of most GC programs.
Commercial general liability
The foundation of the program, covering third party injury and property damage from your operations and your subs' work, with completed operations after handover. Limits of $5 million or more are common, often with an umbrella on top.
- Completed operations after handover
- Contractual liability for your contracts
- Additional insured endorsements for owners
Builder's risk and course of construction
Covers the building and materials during construction against fire, theft, vandalism and weather. Contracts often specify who buys it; CCDC 41 sets the amount at 1.1 times the contract price.
- Structure and materials on site
- Materials in transit and storage
- See builder's risk insurance
Surety bonds
Bid, performance and labour and material payment bonds are required on many private projects and all Ontario public contracts of $500,000 or more. Your bonding capacity grows with your financial statements and track record.
- Bid bonds for tenders
- Performance and payment bonds
- See our surety bond guide
Contractors equipment and commercial auto
Owned and rented equipment, trucks and trailers need their own coverage. Rental agreements usually make you responsible for damage to rented machines.
- Owned and rented equipment
- Commercial auto and trailers
- See contractors equipment
Wrap-up liability
On larger projects, a single project liability policy can cover the owner, GC and all enrolled subcontractors. It simplifies claims and often includes an extended completed operations period.
- Common on condo and commercial builds
- One policy for enrolled parties
- See our wrap-up guide
Managing your subcontractors' risk
Certificates and additional insured status
Collect a certificate of insurance from every subcontractor before they start, check the limits and dates, and require that you be named as an additional insured. Track expiry dates so coverage does not lapse mid project.
- Certificate before mobilization
- Additional insured and waiver of subrogation
- Expiry tracking for every sub
WSIB clearances
Without a valid WSIB clearance, a principal may be liable for a contractor's unpaid WSIB premiums up to the labour value of the contract. Clearances last up to 90 days, so check them before work starts and keep them current.
- Clearance before work starts
- Renew at least every 90 days
- See our WSIB clearance guide
Contracts and CCDC 41
Standard CCDC contracts often attach CCDC 41, which in its 2020 version calls for limits such as $10 million CGL and $10 million automobile liability, builder's risk at 1.1 times the contract price and $5 million pollution liability where required. Review it before you bid, not after you win.
- Price insurance into your bid
- Check deductibles and notice clauses
- See our CCDC 41 guide
What does general contractor insurance cost in Ontario?
As a general guide, many Ontario general contractors running as an owner operator or small crew see roughly $3,000 to $15,000 or more a year for $2 million in general liability plus tools and equipment coverage. WSIB and commercial auto are priced separately. These are estimates only. See our contractor insurance cost guide.
Raises the price
- High revenue or subcontracted costs
- Commercial and multi storey work
- Past claims
- High limits required by contracts
Helps lower it
- Documented subcontractor management
- Safety program and COR certification
- Clean claims history
- Strong financial statements
Budget separately
- WSIB premiums, based on insurable earnings
- Commercial auto for work vehicles
- Surety bonds for bonded contracts
Win bigger work with the right program
Tell us about your construction company, the projects you bid and the contracts you sign, and we will connect you with a licensed Ontario broker who places general contractors and can help with bonding too.
Building from the ground up? See construction insurance.
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General Contractor Insurance FAQs
How much liability insurance does a general contractor need?
It depends on your contracts. Many residential GCs carry $2 million to $5 million, while commercial and institutional projects often require $5 million to $10 million or more, usually through a CGL plus umbrella.
Is the GC responsible if a subcontractor has no insurance?
Potentially. An uninsured sub's claim can fall back on the GC's policy and increase your premiums, and without a WSIB clearance you can be liable for the sub's unpaid WSIB premiums.
Who buys builder's risk, the owner or the contractor?
The contract decides. Under many CCDC contracts the contractor provides it, but owners sometimes buy it directly. Clarify it before you bid.
Do I need surety bonds?
For Ontario public contracts of $500,000 or more, performance and labour and material payment bonds are mandatory. Many private owners also require bid and performance bonds.
Do I need WSIB as a contractor in Ontario?
Most people who own or run a construction business in Ontario must have WSIB coverage, including sole proprietors, partners and executive officers, whether or not they have employees. There is an exemption for independent operators who only do home renovation work hired directly by the homeowner, and one non working executive officer or partner per company can be exempt. Read our WSIB clearance certificate guide.
How fast can I get a certificate of insurance for a new job?
A broker who works with contractors can usually issue a certificate of insurance the same day, including additional insured wording for the general contractor or property owner. See our certificate of insurance guide.
What happens after you request commercial insurance?
1Discovery Call
(30 to 45 min)Understand operations, contracts, assets, and loss history.
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We will request your
expiring policies and loss runs.
2Risk Mapping
(1 to 3 days)Document exposures, limits, sublimits, deductibles, and endorsements that fit your contracts.
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3Market Placement
(2 to 5 days)Approach the right markets
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and negotiate terms, exclusions, and deductibles.
4Proposal & Bind
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