California

Certificate of insurance tracking for California contractors

Short answer

California requires workers’ comp for any employer, even with one employee. A contractor with no employees can file an exemption with the state license board, but several trades can’t. A license without required coverage gets suspended, so license status is a useful second check on a sub. We track certificates for California GCs and show what to verify.

Written by Liam · CertChase · Last reviewed October 3, 2026

In this section

01California guideCalifornia exemption rulesCalifornia contractors with no employees can file a workers’ comp exemption, but not every trade can. What it means when you hire a sub.02California guideVerify a California contractorA step-by-step check for California subs: license status, workers’ comp or exemption, and the certificate itself.

What makes California different

Any employee means coverage. The license board says employers carry workers’ comp even with one employee.
Exemptions have limits. Roofing, concrete, HVAC, asbestos abatement and tree-service contractors can’t use the no-employee exemption.
Licenses get suspended. A lapse in required coverage suspends the license.

Not legal or insurance advice. This is general information. Your contract, your state and your policy decide what applies to you. Ask your broker or attorney.

Where we are in California

We’ve started with state-level guides. City pages come later, only when we can add something real for each city.

Frequently asked questions

Does California require workers’ comp for subcontractors?

California requires workers’ comp for employers with any employees. A contractor with no employees can file an exemption with the license board, unless the license class or setup doesn’t allow it.

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