COI requirements by trade / Janitorial and cleaning
Janitorial and cleaning COI requirements
Cleaning vendors spend time in occupied buildings, often after hours and unsupervised. Slip-and-fall claims and theft of tenant property are the usual concerns.
What makes janitorial and cleaning risky
- Slip-and-fall injuries from wet floors.
- Theft of tenant or owner property by cleaning staff.
- Chemical exposure and damage to surfaces.
- High staff turnover and part-time labor.
Coverage to require on the certificate
| Coverage | What's common, and what to check |
|---|---|
| General liability | $1M per occurrence / $2M aggregate is common. |
| Workers' compensation | Statutory, plus employers' liability. |
| Janitorial bond or crime coverage | Commonly required to cover theft by the vendor's employees. Ask for third-party crime coverage that protects the client. |
| Commercial auto | $1M combined single limit where the vendor drives to sites. |
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 janitorial and cleaning certificates
- A janitorial bond that only protects the vendor and not you as the client.
- No workers' comp for part-time staff.
- Additional insured missing for the ownership entity or management company.
Tip
Read the bond's terms. Some janitorial bonds pay only under narrow conditions or protect only the vendor. If theft is a real concern, ask your broker whether to require third-party crime coverage instead.
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 janitorial and cleaning 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 janitorial and cleaning subcontractor carry?
Common requirements include general liability, workers' compensation, janitorial bond or crime coverage, 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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