Insurance in Montana

Montana does not mandate commercial general liability coverage as a condition of a Board of Electrical or Board of Plumbers individual license. Commercial GCs and public bodies typically require CGL with additional-insured endorsements. Most Montana trades operators carry $1,000,000 per-occurrence / $2,000,000 aggregate CGL at a minimum, with higher limits for commercial work. Workers' compensation. Montana makes workers' compensation mandatory for nearly all employers with one or more employees under MCA 39-71-401 (Workers' Compensation Act). Montana State Fund is the state-owned carrier; private-carrier coverage or authorized self-insurance also satisfies the requirement. The Department of Labor & Industry's Employment Relations Division (ERD) enforces the coverage mandate, and Montana Construction Contractor Registration (MCA 39-9) is keyed to active workers' compensation coverage. Source: Montana ERD (https://erd.dli.mt.gov/). Construction Contractor Registration. Montana requires construction contractors with employees to register with DLI under MCA 39-9. The registration is verified through the ERD contractor registry (https://erdcontractors.mt.gov/). An independent contractor (no employees) can instead hold an Independent Contractor Exemption Certificate (ICEC) under MCA 39-71-417, which certifies the contractor has elected out of workers' comp coverage for themselves. Electrical and plumbing contractors must maintain registration to operate legally with employees. Other coverages trades operators typically carry in Montana: - Commercial auto for trucks and vans. Personal auto policies carve out business use. Montana's minimum financial responsibility limits are low. Commercial buyers expect well above the state minimum. - Hired and non-owned auto for employees driving their own vehicles on company errands. - Inland marine (contractor's equipment) for tools, equipment, and materials in transit or on site. - Pollution liability for refrigerants, solvents, and fuel handling. Material for HVAC, mechanical, and underground trades. - Umbrella for $1M to $2M over the underlying CGL and auto layers, commonly required by commercial GCs. - Builder's risk, on a per-project basis, for new construction and major remodel work. Shop the market annually. Montana trade associations (ABC Montana, AGC Montana, PHCC Montana, IEC Rocky Mountain / Montana) run group programs that sometimes price below street rates. Whatever you buy, keep Montana Construction Contractor Registration active, workers' comp paid current, and any board-required license (electrical or plumbing) in good standing.