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General Liability Insurance in Rhode Island

Rhode Island’s Contractors’ Registration and Licensing Board currently asks general-contractor applicants for a $500,000 GL certificate naming the Board. Separately, §5-73-3 requires a roofing license and continuous $2 million-per-occurrence insurance, but exempts contractors who apply shingles only. 1,2

What Is General Liability?

General liability can protect your business when a customer or visitor claims you caused injury or damaged their property. It suits businesses serving customers or working on their premises; your own building, tools and stock need property coverage. Read the national General liability guide.

Rhode Island Requirements

RequirementDetails
General contractor registration$500,000 minimum GL certificate; name RICRLB as certificate holder 1
Roofing contractor license$2,000,000 per occurrence continuously, with Board as certificate holder; shingles-only work is exempt from roofing licensing requirements 2

What to Watch for in Rhode Island

  • General Registration Calls for $500,000

    The Rhode Island Board lists a $500,000 GL certificate for general-contractor registration, with the Board as certificate holder. It says failure to deliver the certificate within 10 business days may trigger a violation, fine, and action against the registration or license; plan to submit proof with the application. 1

  • Roofing Has a Separate $2 Million Rule

    A roofing contractor must hold the additional roofing license and maintain a $2 million-per-occurrence certificate continuously. The statute exempts contractors applying shingles only, so identify the exact roofing operation before using the general-registration limit. 2

  • Some Licensed Trades Are Exempt From Registration, Not Insurance

    Rhode Island exempts certain state-licensed businesses employing licensed tradespeople from Chapter 5-65 registration when work stays within the trade license, but expressly leaves §5-65-7 insurance in place. Ask the licensing agency which insurance rule applies to your entity and whether the GL certificate remains on file. 3,1

Who Regulates Insurance in Rhode Island

Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation, Insurance Division

The DBR Insurance Division provides an online public verification service for producers, adjusters, surplus-lines brokers, and other licensees, and accepts insurance complaints online. Contact the Division for help determining whether it has authority over a particular policy or dispute. 4,5,6

Surplus-lines tax and stamping office

Reported tax rate: 4% of net taxable premium; 2018 filing guide excludes listed broker, carrier and inspection fees Rhode Island’s 2024 return applies 4% to net taxable premium (gross premium less returned premium); its 2018 filing guide excludes broker, carrier, and inspection fees from the base. Confirm fee treatment with the Division of Taxation if your bill separates those charges, because no newer official fee-base guidance was located. 7,8

Providers With Documented State Licenses

These providers publish a national listing for General liability; the state records document licenses for the entities and roles shown below. Some records rely on company-reported information rather than independent regulator verification. A national listing does not confirm the product is available in Rhode Island. Check the regulator’s license lookup and confirm state availability for your business when requesting a quote.

  • CorgiCorgi Insurance Services, Inc.Insurance producer · checked 2026-09-28Corgi’s company producer-license table lists 50 jurisdictions: 49 states and the District of Columbia, including DC license 3003091619. New Mexico does not appear in the table and is not included here; the omission does not establish that Corgi is unlicensed there. The company-reported table has no stated as-of date and does not establish product availability. 11
  • ERGO NEXT InsuranceNext First Insurance Agency, Inc.Insurance producer · checked 2026-09-28ERGO NEXT’s current license table lists Next First Insurance Agency, Inc. in 50 jurisdictions, including Washington, DC; New York is excluded because its table rows name Next Insurance Services and AP Intego, not Next First. The table is company-reported; it does not establish product availability or provide state-regulator verification for each entry. 13
  • HiscoxHiscox Insurance Company Inc.Insurer · checked 2026-09-28Hiscox’s U.S. company information states that Hiscox Insurance Company Inc. is licensed in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. This is company-reported insurer authority for this entity and does not establish which company issues every Hiscox-branded product. 12
  • VouchVouch Specialty Insurance Services, LLCInsurance producer, Surplus-lines broker · checked 2026-09-28Vouch’s licenses page, effective January 16, 2025, lists producer licenses in all 50 states and DC. Its separate surplus-lines table includes Idaho number 870820, while a footnote says Georgia and Idaho do not issue agency-level surplus-lines licenses. Because those statements conflict for Idaho, this record keeps Idaho producer-only and does not treat the table number as established agency surplus-lines authority. The page is company-reported and does not establish product availability. 14

Questions to Ask Before You Buy in Rhode Island

  1. Does our work require only the general contractor registration, or also the Rhode Island roofing license?
  2. If we only apply shingles, does the statutory roofing-license exception match the work we actually perform?
  3. Does the agency have current proof for the licensed entity, and does the certificate show the applicable occurrence limit?

General Liability in Rhode Island: FAQ

How much GL does Rhode Island require for a general contractor registration? 1

$500,000. The Board’s application page asks for a certificate naming RICRLB as certificate holder. 1

Do Rhode Island roofing contractors need more than $500,000 in GL? 2

For roofing work requiring a license, yes: §5-73-3 requires a continuous $2 million-per-occurrence certificate. Contractors who apply shingles only are exempt from the roofing licensing requirements. 2

General Liability in Other States

Other Coverage in Rhode Island

Sources

  1. Apply: General Contractor Registration. Rhode Island Contractors’ Registration and Licensing Board; Insurance Requirements, first-time general contractor applicants. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  2. R.I. Gen. Laws §5-73-3, Registration and licensing of roofing contractors. Rhode Island General Assembly; §5-73-3(b) and (c)(7), shingle-only exception and insurance certificate. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  3. R.I. Gen. Laws §5-65-2, Exemptions from registration. Rhode Island General Assembly; §5-65-2(a)(10), licensed trades exemption; history through 2023. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  4. rhode-island insurance regulator. State insurance regulator; DBR Insurance Division overview links to complaint, license lookup, statutes, and regulations. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  5. DBR License Status Verification. State insurance regulator; Official page identifies online NAIC-partnered status checks for producers, adjusters, motor vehicle appraisers, surplus-lines brokers, and reinsurance intermediaries. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  6. DBR Insurance Consumers. State insurance regulator; Official consumer page explains the division's regulated insurance lines and online complaint route. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  7. 2025 T-71A Surplus Line Broker Return of Gross Premiums. Rhode Island Division of Taxation; 2025 return, p. 1, lines 1–4: net taxable premium is gross premium less returned premiums; 4% tax; filing due April 1, 2026. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  8. Guide to Tax Filings for Surplus Lines. Rhode Island Division of Taxation; 2018 Guide to tax filings, surplus-lines section: gross premium for tax purposes excludes carrier, broker, and inspection fees; no newer official fee-base instruction located as of 2026-09-28. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  9. Licenses. At-Bay; Current producer introduction and state table; At-Bay Insurance Services LLC; P&C and surplus-lines identifiers. Accessed 2026-09-21.
  10. Licenses and Carriers. Coalition; Licenses and Carriers, re-read 22 September 2026: Insurance Licenses table for Coalition Insurance Solutions, Inc., national producer number 18419475, with producer and surplus-lines numbers for all 50 states and DC including California 0L76155, Georgia 196479, Texas 2199630 and 2205589, Pennsylvania 815731 and 817452, Colorado 539028 and Wisconsin 3000108852. Insurance Carriers table naming, with NAIC numbers, Allianz Underwriters Insurance Company 36420, Arch Specialty Insurance Company 21199, Ascot Specialty Insurance Company 45055, Ascot Insurance Company 23752, Aspen Specialty Insurance Company 10717, Chaucer Insurance Company DAC, Coalition Insurance Company 29530, Fireman's Fund Indemnity Corporation 11380, Fortegra Specialty Insurance Company 16823, Lloyd's of London, MSIG Specialty Insurance USA Inc. 34886, MS Transverse Specialty Insurance Company 41807, Steadfast Insurance Company 26387, Vantage Risk Specialty Insurance Company 16275 and Zurich American Insurance Company 16535. Accessed 2026-09-22.
  11. Insurance Producer Licenses. Corgi Insurance; Current complete Insurance Producer Licenses table for Corgi Insurance Services, Inc.; 50 rows covering 49 states and DC (DC 3003091619); no New Mexico row; no NPN or as-of date shown. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  12. About Hiscox US Insurance. Hiscox; Hiscox Insurance Company Inc. NAIC 10200 as Chicago, IL domiciled insurer admitted or licensed in all 50 states and D.C.; Hiscox Inc. as general agent and Lloyd’s coverholder for Syndicates 33 and 3624; surplus-lines placements through licensed surplus-lines brokers; A.M. Best rating statement. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  13. Licenses. ERGO NEXT Insurance; Current entity-by-state license table reopened 28 September 2026: 50 rows under Next First Insurance Agency, Inc., including Washington, DC; New York rows instead list Next Insurance Services PC-1423070 and AP Intego BR-1198885. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  14. Licenses. Vouch; Effective 16 January 2025: Vouch Specialty Insurance Services, LLC, NPN 19926463; P&C table (50 states and DC); surplus-lines table includes Idaho 870820; footnote says Georgia and Idaho do not issue agency-level surplus-lines licenses; Idaho retained as producer-only due to conflict. Accessed 2026-09-15.

Updated .

This guide is informational and does not determine whether a policy is available or meets your needs. Editorial policy. To suggest a correction, contact Spot with a supporting source.

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