Insurance for California plumbing contractors, line by line.
Every coverage a C-36 plumbing company is likely to need, what California requires versus what your customers require, and one application that quotes all of them.
Workers' Compensation
California requirements, class codes 5183/5187, payroll, X-Mod reviews.
LawGeneral liabilityGeneral Liability
Water damage, completed operations, additional insureds, certificates.
ContractCommercial autoCommercial Auto
Service vans, work trucks, trailers, hired and non-owned auto.
ContractUmbrella & excess liabilityUmbrella & Excess
Higher limits for contractual requirements and catastrophic claims.
ContractTools & equipmentTools & Equipment
Inland marine for jobsite tools, cameras, jetters and mobile equipment.
RecommendedSurety bondsContractor Surety Bonds
The $25,000 contractor's bond, qualifying individual bond and $100,000 LLC bond.
LawSpecialty coveragesSpecialty Coverages
Pollution liability, contractor's professional, cyber and employment practices.
RecommendedRequired by law, required by contract, or recommended?
| Coverage | California requirement | Who needs it in practice | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Workers' Compensation California requirements, class codes 5183/5187, payroll, X-Mod reviews. | Law Required with one or more employees (Labor Code §3700); required for every C-36 licensee from January 1, 2028. | Every plumbing company with employees today; every C-36 licensee, employees or not, from 2028. | Quote |
| General Liability Water damage, completed operations, additional insureds, certificates. | Contract California requires it only for LLC licensees ($1,000,000+). Nearly every GC, property manager and commercial customer requires it by contract. | Every plumbing company that works for anyone other than itself. | Quote |
| Commercial Auto Service vans, work trucks, trailers, hired and non-owned auto. | Contract California requires liability insurance on every registered vehicle; commercial contracts commonly require $1,000,000 combined single limit. | Any plumbing company with a vehicle used for work, including one titled to the owner. | Quote |
| Umbrella & Excess Higher limits for contractual requirements and catastrophic claims. | Contract Not required by California law. Required by many commercial, public-works and multi-family contracts that call for limits above $1,000,000. | Companies bidding GC, public or multi-family work, and any company whose worst plausible claim exceeds $1,000,000. | Quote |
| Tools & Equipment Inland marine for jobsite tools, cameras, jetters and mobile equipment. | Recommended Not required by California law or by typical contracts. The loss falls entirely on you without it. | Any plumbing company whose van contents exceed what it could replace from cash on hand. | Quote |
| Contractor Surety Bonds The $25,000 contractor's bond, qualifying individual bond and $100,000 LLC bond. | Law $25,000 contractor's bond for every active license; BQI when qualified by an RME/RMO under 10%; $100,000 worker bond for LLCs. | Every licensee. LLCs and RME/RMO-qualified corporations need additional bonds. | Quote |
| Specialty Coverages Pollution liability, contractor's professional, cyber and employment practices. | Recommended Not required by California law. Pollution coverage is increasingly required by contract on public and commercial work. | Companies doing drain and sewer, fuel or medical gas, design-build, or with growing payroll and customer data. | Quote |
"Law" means a California statute or CSLB licensing condition. "Contract" means general contractors, property managers and commercial customers routinely require it before you start work. "Recommended" means nobody requires it, but the loss it covers would otherwise be yours. Reviewed October 23, 2026.