What Workers’ Compensation Insurance Requirements Apply in District of Columbia?

The District’s law can cover an injury that happens while an employee is working in DC, even if the employer is based elsewhere. Employers must insure through an authorized carrier or obtain approval to self-insure.

What Is Workers’ Compensation Insurance?

Workers’ compensation can pay medical care and part of an employee’s lost wages after a work-related injury or illness. If you have staff, check who is covered in each state; owners, contractors and some workers may be treated differently. Read the national Workers’ compensation guide.

District of Columbia Workers’ Compensation Insurance Requirements

Requirement	Details
How employers secure compensation	Authorized insurance or approved self-insurance ²

What to Watch for With Workers’ Compensation in District of Columbia

Work Location Can Establish District Coverage
The District chapter covers an injury occurring in DC while the employee is working there, and can also cover an out-of-District injury when employment is principally localized in DC. If employees work across state lines, ask the broker to confirm how the policy responds in DC and each other work state. ¹
Contractors Can Be Responsible for Subcontractor Employees
A DC contractor must secure compensation for a subcontractor’s employees unless the subcontractor has secured it. Collect current certificates from subcontractors and confirm the hiring contract and policy address any coverage gap. ^1,²
A Narrow Exception Covers Some Temporary Visits
The exception applies only when both the employer and employee are nonresidents, the employee was hired in another state, the DC work is temporary or intermittent, and that state’s policy covers the work. Ask the broker to verify each condition and the policy’s territorial coverage before relying on the exception. ¹
Self-Insurance Requires District Authorization
An employer may self-insure only after giving the Mayor satisfactory proof of financial ability and receiving authorization; the Mayor may require a bond or securities. Ask what evidence and security the District would require before treating self-insurance as a viable option. ²
Going Uninsured Carries a Civil Fine
An employer that fails to secure compensation faces a $1,000 to $10,000 civil fine. If the employer is a corporation, its president, secretary, and treasurer are each liable for that fine and are severally and personally liable, jointly with the corporation, for compensation or benefits due for injuries during the uninsured period. Keep proof that coverage stays active through renewals and payroll changes. ³

Providers With District of Columbia License Records

These providers publish a national listing for Workers’ compensation; 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 District of Columbia. Check the regulator’s license lookup and confirm state availability for your business when requesting a quote.

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. ¹⁴
Corgi lists workers’ compensation insurance.
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. ¹⁶
ERGO NEXT offers workers’ compensation insurance for small businesses.
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. ¹⁵
Hiscox provides access to workers’ compensation underwritten by Hartford Fire Insurance Company and requires a general liability policy.
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. ¹⁷
TechInsurance arranges workers’ compensation 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. ¹⁸
Vouch lists workers’ compensation among core coverages for technology companies.

Who Regulates Insurance in District of Columbia?

District of Columbia Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking

DISB licenses and supervises insurance companies and producers, enforces District insurance laws, and provides consumer complaint assistance. Its licensing search covers insurance entities and representatives; consumers can contact the agency’s complaints unit for help. ^5,^6,⁸

Website: Regulator website
License lookup: Search licensed producers
Complaints: File a complaint
Phone: (202) 727-8000

Surplus-Lines Tax and Stamping Office in District of Columbia

Reported tax rate. Generally 2% of gross premium, including qualifying placement fees ^7,^9,^10,^11,⁴

When the District is the insured’s home state, surplus-lines agents and brokers generally owe a 2% tax on gross premium, including necessary fees incidental to placement when separately itemized. An agent or broker procuring insurance on behalf of the District government is exempt for that government business; claiming the exemption requires identifying its allocation in the required affidavit and does not waive other statutory duties. Ask the broker which taxes and fees your agreement passes through to you. DISB generally requires a diligent effort to place risks with authorized insurers. For a purchaser meeting the federal exempt-commercial-purchaser definition, the broker may skip that search only after disclosing that insurance may or may not be available from the admitted market, which may provide greater protection with more regulatory oversight, followed by the purchaser’s written request for nonadmitted placement. This record does not state a District-specific guaranty-fund conclusion.

Questions to Ask Before You Buy Workers’ Compensation in District of Columbia

Does this policy cover employees while they are physically working in the District, and how are employees whose work is based in DC treated elsewhere?
For each subcontractor, who secures benefits for its employees and what current proof should we collect?
If our employees visit DC temporarily, does the statutory exception apply to our facts and does the home-state policy cover that work?
What financial proof and security would DC require if we apply to self-insure?

Workers’ Compensation Insurance in District of Columbia: FAQ

Do employers need workers’ compensation for employees working in Washington, DC?

Yes, employers subject to the District chapter must secure payment of compensation through authorized insurance or approved self-insurance. The chapter’s coverage can depend on where work and injury occur. ^1,²

Who is responsible for workers’ compensation for a DC subcontractor’s employees?

The contractor must secure payment unless the subcontractor has secured it. ¹

Sources for Workers’ Compensation Insurance in District of Columbia

1
§32–1503. Coverage. D.C. Law Library; D.C. Code §32-1503(a)–(c). Accessed 2026-09-28.
2
§32–1534. Security for payment of compensation. D.C. Law Library; D.C. Code §32-1534(a)–(b). Accessed 2026-09-28.
3
§32–1539. Failure to secure payment of compensation. D.C. Law Library; D.C. Code §32-1539(a). Accessed 2026-09-28.
4
D.C. Code §31–2502.40: License to procure policies from unauthorized companies. Council of the District of Columbia; Subsection (a): broker/agent tax and diligent effort; (c)(1)–(3): District-government procurement tax exemption, allocation statement and continuing duties. Accessed 2026-09-28.
5
Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking. District of Columbia DISB; Official insurance regulator homepage. Accessed 2026-09-28.
6
Verify a Financial Institution or Representative Licensed with DISB. District of Columbia DISB; Official license verification for companies and representatives. Accessed 2026-09-28.
7
Surplus Line Information. District of Columbia DISB; Current 2% tax base including incidental placement fees; fees must be necessary and separately itemized; diligent-effort rule. Accessed 2026-09-28.
8
File a Complaint or Report Fraud. District of Columbia DISB; Official insurance complaint information and filing form. Accessed 2026-09-28.
9
15 U.S.C. §8201: Reporting, payment, and allocation of premium taxes. U.S. House of Representatives, Office of the Law Revision Counsel; §8201(a): exclusive insured home-State authority to require nonadmitted premium tax; (c): separate allocation reporting. Accessed 2026-09-28.
10
15 U.S.C. § 8205: Streamlined application for commercial purchasers. U.S. House of Representatives, Office of the Law Revision Counsel; §8205(1)-(2): admitted-market disclosure about possible availability, greater protection and oversight followed by the qualified purchaser’s written request; eligibility separately defined in §8206(5). Accessed 2026-09-28.
11
15 U.S.C. §8206: Definitions. U.S. House of Representatives, Office of the Law Revision Counsel; §8206(5) exempt-commercial-purchaser criteria; (6) home State and affiliated-insured rules; (13) qualified risk manager. Accessed 2026-09-28.
12
Licenses. At-Bay; Current producer introduction and state table; At-Bay Insurance Services LLC; P&C and surplus-lines identifiers. Accessed 2026-09-21.
13
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.
14
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.
15
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.
16
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.
17
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.
18
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 Workers’ Compensation Insurance Requirements Apply in District of Columbia?

What Is Workers’ Compensation Insurance?

District of Columbia Workers’ Compensation Insurance Requirements

What to Watch for With Workers’ Compensation in District of Columbia

Work Location Can Establish District Coverage

Contractors Can Be Responsible for Subcontractor Employees

A Narrow Exception Covers Some Temporary Visits

Self-Insurance Requires District Authorization

Going Uninsured Carries a Civil Fine

Providers With District of Columbia License Records

Corgi

ERGO NEXT Insurance

Hiscox

TechInsurance

Vouch