What Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance Requirements Apply in Ohio?

Ohio requires licensed home inspectors to maintain or be covered by commercial general liability of at least $100,000 per occurrence and $300,000 aggregate; the cited insurance statute does not set an E&O minimum. An employer policy can satisfy the rule when the employer is not itself a licensed home inspector and the policy covers the licensee.

What Is Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance?

Professional liability can help pay defense costs and covered losses when a client says your advice or service caused financial harm. If customers rely on your work, list every service you provide and check the claims-made reporting and prior-work terms. Read the national Professional errors and omissions (E&O) guide.

Ohio Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance Requirements

Requirement	Details
Home Inspector General Liability	At least $100,000 per occurrence and $300,000 aggregate; qualifying employer coverage is allowed ¹

What to Watch for With Professional Liability (E&O) in Ohio

The Mandate Is General Liability
Ohio’s mandatory policy responds to liability for loss, damage, or expense from an act while the licensed inspector is on the premises performing an inspection. It is not a statutory E&O minimum; ask whether your separate E&O policy covers report errors and any work beyond that premises activity. ^1,²
Verify the Employer Exception
You may rely on an employer policy only if the employer is not a licensed home inspector and the policy covers you. Have the insurer confirm the named insured and your covered status before relying on it for licensing or your own consulting work. ¹
Keep the Inspection File for Five Years
Ohio requires the inspector to retain contracts, reports, and report-preparation data for five years after sending the report; when a pending investigation or lawsuit arises during that window, the period starts at final disposition. Confirm your records process preserves the file for the longer statutory period. ¹

Providers With Ohio License Records

These providers publish a national listing for Professional errors and omissions (E&O); the license records below name the licensed entities and roles. Some records rely on company-reported information rather than independent regulator verification. A national listing does not confirm the product is available in Ohio. Check the regulator’s license lookup and confirm state availability for your business when requesting a quote.

At-Bay
Insurance producer, Surplus-lines broker · checked 2026-09-28
At-Bay Insurance Services LLC
At-Bay’s license page lists P&C producer and surplus-lines broker license numbers for all 50 states and the District of Columbia. These are company disclosures and do not establish product availability in each jurisdiction. ⁹
At-Bay offers primary miscellaneous professional liability insurance.
Coalition
Insurance producer, Surplus-lines broker · checked 2026-09-28
Coalition Insurance Solutions, Inc.
Coalition’s license page lists producer and surplus-lines licenses for Coalition Insurance Solutions, Inc. in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The page separately lists insurers; this record covers the brokerage entity only. ¹⁰
Coalition offers miscellaneous professional liability as an addition to eligible Active Cyber policies.
Corgi
Insurance producer · checked 2026-09-28
Corgi Insurance Services, Inc.
Corgi’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
Corgi lists miscellaneous errors and omissions coverage for service-based businesses.
ERGO NEXT Insurance
Insurance producer · checked 2026-09-28
Next First Insurance Agency, Inc.
ERGO 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
ERGO NEXT lists professional liability insurance, also called errors and omissions insurance.
Hiscox
Insurer · checked 2026-09-28
Hiscox Insurance Company Inc.
Hiscox’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
Hiscox offers professional errors and omissions insurance for small businesses.
TechInsurance
Insurance producer · checked 2026-09-28
Specialty Program Group LLC
TechInsurance’s current licensing page names Specialty Program Group LLC / SPG Insurance Solutions and lists state license numbers, but labels Rhode Island “Individual licenses” rather than identifying a license for the named agency. RI is omitted because this disclosure does not establish agency authority there; this is a search limitation, not an assertion that the company is unlicensed. The remaining state entries are company-reported and are not an insurance product availability map. ¹⁵
TechInsurance arranges professional errors and omissions insurance for small businesses.
Vouch
Insurance producer, Surplus-lines broker · checked 2026-09-28
Vouch Specialty Insurance Services, LLC
Vouch’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. ¹⁶
Vouch lists errors and omissions among the core coverages in its professional-services programs.

Who Regulates Insurance in Ohio?

Ohio Department of Insurance

ODI licenses insurance agents and agencies and provides a public agent and company locator. Its consumer complaint form accepts insurance complaints and lets you identify an agent or company. ^3,^4,⁵

Website: Regulator website
License lookup: Search licensed producers
Complaints: File a complaint

Surplus-Lines Tax and Stamping Office in Ohio

Reported tax rate. 5% of gross premium, net of return premiums ^6,^7,⁸

For Ohio-home-state surplus-lines placements, Ohio sets a 5% tax on gross premiums after returned premiums and requires the surplus-lines broker to collect it when the policy is delivered. A diligent search usually applies; a qualifying exempt commercial purchaser may request nonadmitted placement in writing after disclosure that authorized-market coverage may offer greater protection, and the policy requires a signed notice of no Ohio guaranty-association benefits.

Questions to Ask Before You Buy Professional Liability (E&O) in Ohio

Does this E&O policy cover the report-writing and consulting services I perform in Ohio, beyond the premises-limited general-liability mandate?
If my employer’s policy is intended to satisfy Ohio’s rule, does it name or otherwise cover me and does the employer meet the statutory exception?
Can my claims-made policy and records system preserve coverage evidence and inspection files for Ohio’s five-year retention period?

Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance in Ohio: FAQ

What insurance does Ohio require a home inspector to carry?

Ohio requires a licensed home inspector to maintain or be covered by general liability insurance of at least $100,000 per occurrence and $300,000 aggregate. The statute does not prescribe an E&O limit. ¹

How long must an Ohio home inspector keep reports and work files?

Five years after the report is submitted to the client. If an investigation or litigation involving the work arises before that period ends, the five-year period starts when the matter is finally resolved. ¹

Sources for Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance in Ohio

1
Section 4764.11 | Insurance requirements; recordkeeping. Ohio Laws; Ohio Rev. Code §4764.11(A)–(B); effective April 5, 2019; current page identifies SB 255, 132nd General Assembly as latest legislation. Accessed 2026-09-28.
2
Rule 1301:17-1-17 | Standards of practice. Ohio Laws; Ohio Admin. Code 1301:17-1-17(A)–(K); effective June 24, 2024; visual/readily accessible scope and excluded opinions. Accessed 2026-09-28.
3
ohio insurance regulator. State insurance regulator; Official regulator home page and consumer/industry navigation. Accessed 2026-09-28.
4
Ohio Department of Insurance Agent / Agency Locator. State insurance regulator; Public search fields for agent and agency name, NPN, license number, city, ZIP, residency, and license type. Accessed 2026-09-28.
5
Ohio Department of Insurance Consumer Complaints Form. State insurance regulator; Online complaint form collects insurer, coverage, agent, issue, and supporting documents; page warns submissions may be public records. Accessed 2026-09-28.
6
Ohio Revised Code §3905.36. Ohio Laws; Division (B): 5% of gross premiums after return premiums; surplus-lines broker collects from insured at policy delivery. Accessed 2026-09-28.
7
Ohio Revised Code §3905.38. Ohio Laws; Division A: Chapter 3905 rules do not apply when Ohio is not insured's home state. Accessed 2026-09-28.
8
Ohio Revised Code §3905.33. Ohio Laws; Divisions (B)(1), (B)(4): five-market diligence and ECP disclosure/written request; division (C): signed notice of no Ohio Insurance Guaranty Association benefits. 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
About Risklytics. Risklytics; What we do; Who we insure; Licensing; Agency licenses table dated 2026-09-10. Accessed 2026-09-16.
15
Insurance Licenses by State. TechInsurance; Current state table; identifies TechInsurance as a division of Specialty Program Group LLC d/b/a SPG Insurance Solutions; lists DC 3000041536 and labels Rhode Island “Individual licenses,” without an agency license number. Accessed 2026-09-28.
16
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.

What Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance Requirements Apply in Ohio?

What Is Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance?

Ohio Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance Requirements

What to Watch for With Professional Liability (E&O) in Ohio

The Mandate Is General Liability

Verify the Employer Exception

Keep the Inspection File for Five Years

Providers With Ohio License Records

At-Bay

Coalition

Corgi

ERGO NEXT Insurance

Hiscox

TechInsurance

Vouch