COI requirements by trade / Fencing
Fencing COI requirements
Fence work means digging, and digging means utility strikes and property line disputes. Fencing certificates should show solid general liability and, where crews dig, coverage that holds up after the posts are set.
What makes fencing risky
- Underground utility strikes while setting posts.
- Damage to neighboring property, landscaping, and irrigation lines.
- Injuries from power augers, saws, and heavy panels.
- Gates and fences that fail after completion and injure someone.
Coverage to require on the certificate
| Coverage | What's common, and what to check |
|---|---|
| General liability | $1M per occurrence / $2M aggregate is common. Check for underground or excavation exclusions when crews dig post holes. |
| Products-completed operations | Useful because gate and fence failures can happen long after install. |
| Workers' compensation | Statutory, plus employers' liability. Watch for exemption certificates from fencers who bring a crew. |
| Commercial auto | $1M combined single limit is common for trucks and trailers carrying materials and augers. |
On top of the coverage itself, most contracts also require additional insured status for you (and the owner, where applicable), a waiver of subrogation, and primary and noncontributory wording. Those come from endorsements, so ask for copies.
Red flags on fencing certificates
- An underground resources or excavation exclusion on the GL policy.
- No workers' comp from a company with visible crew members.
- A policy that expires before a long HOA or multi-property job is finished.
Tip
Ask the fencing company to confirm they call 811 before digging, and ask the agent whether the GL policy excludes underground damage.
Review checklist
- Insured name matches the company on your contract.
- Every coverage above that your contract requires is listed.
- Each limit meets your minimum.
- No policy expires before the job ends. Track each expiration date separately.
- ADDL INSD and SUBR WVD are marked, with endorsements on file.
- You've asked the agent about any fencing exclusions that matter.
New to reading certificates? Start with how to read an ACORD 25, grab the free COI checklist, or log dates in the free expiration tracker.
Common questions
What insurance should a fencing subcontractor carry?
Common requirements include general liability, products-completed operations, workers' compensation, and commercial auto. Your contracts and broker set the actual minimums.
Are these limits required by law?
Generally no. Insurance requirements for subcontractors and vendors are set by your contracts, your own insurer, and any owner, lender, or public agency on the job. Workers' compensation requirements are set by state law. The figures here describe common practice only.
Does the ACORD 25 show exclusions?
Usually not. A certificate summarizes policy types, limits, and dates. Exclusions like height limits, residential work, or pollution are in the policy itself, so ask the agent directly when they matter for the trade.
Who should issue the certificate?
Ask the sub's insurance agent or broker to issue it, not the sub. Agents issue certificates daily and can send the endorsements at the same time.
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