The policies a pest control business carries
Pest control mixes chemicals with homes, pets and children. Claims around chemical exposure and treatments that did not work are why Insureon lists professional liability for this trade, and many states set insurance rules in the license itself.
| Policy | Average a month |
|---|---|
| General liability | $117 |
| Commercial auto | $163 |
| Workers' compensation | $89 |
| Professional liability | $43 |
Averages are what Insureon's customers who are pest control businesses pay, from Insureon's cost page; most of its customers have fewer than five employees. Across all its small business customers, general liability runs $265 to $3,030 a year.
Claims pest control companies plan for
- A pet becomes ill after a treatment
- A customer says the treatment did not work and wants the cost of damage
- A product stains a carpet or wall
- A termite job misses activity found later by an inspector
Ask your agent, in these words:
- Would my policy pay if a pet becomes ill after a treatment?
- Would my policy pay if a customer says the treatment did not work and wants the cost of damage?
- Would my policy pay if a product stains a carpet or wall?
- Would my policy pay if a termite job misses activity found later by an inspector?
Name the work you sell
A policy covers the work you describe on the application. From the pest control services list, name each of these and ask whether any is excluded: initial service; quarterly service; monthly service; one-time general pest; ants; cockroaches; mice or rats; bed bugs, whole home; termites; mosquitoes, season; rodent exclusion.
Spray rigs and sprayers are the equipment to list. On the tools list, the items to list on the policy are powered backpack sprayer and mistblower; truck-mounted spray rig with hose reel; moisture meter; exclusion tools and materials; step ladder, and from the starter kit, backpack or compression sprayer; hand duster and bulb duster; bait gun for gel baits; flashlight and inspection mirror; rodent bait stations and snap traps.
State rules in the license
These are the insurance and bond lines in each state's pest control license rules, from our pest control license guide, which reads each state board's own pages. 31 of the 46 states we cover set an insurance or bond rule in the license itself. Click a state for the full license steps.
| State | Insurance in the license rules | Bond |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado | Proof of liability insurance of at least $400,000. | Not set in the license rules we checked |
| Delaware | General liability insurance with completed operations coverage: at least $300,000 bodily injury and $100,000 property damage per occurrence. | Not set in the license rules we checked |
| District of Columbia | Liability insurance is required for every firm except government agencies. The original certificate must name the areas you work in. | Not set in the license rules we checked |
| Florida | Bodily injury of $250,000 per person and $500,000 per occurrence, and property damage of $250,000 per occurrence and $500,000 aggregate, or a $500,000 combined single limit. | Not set in the license rules we checked |
| Georgia | Proof of insurance is required before the company license is issued. The department's Georgia Insurance Form shows how much you need. | Not set in the license rules we checked |
| Hawaii | Proof of liability insurance and of workers' compensation insurance, unless you are excluded from the workers' compensation law. | Not set in the license rules we checked |
| Idaho | You must keep proof of financial responsibility on file. If it lapses, the license is suspended until you show it again. | Not set in the license rules we checked |
| Illinois | Your insurance company sends the department a Certificate of Insurance Form showing the coverage the law requires. | Not set in the license rules we checked |
| Kentucky | The company needs liability insurance of at least $1,000,000, kept in force the whole registration period. | Not set in the license rules we checked |
| Maryland | General liability: bodily injury $100,000 per person and $300,000 per occurrence; property damage $15,000 per occurrence and $30,000 aggregate. | Not set in the license rules we checked |
| Massachusetts | Insurance is required for both the Applicator License and the Commercial Certification. You may need to upload your certificate of insurance. | Not set in the license rules we checked |
| Michigan | Comprehensive general liability insurance: at least $100,000 bodily injury and $25,000 property damage per occurrence for most categories. Fumigation needs more. | Not set in the license rules we checked |
| Minnesota | The company gives workers' compensation information and meets financial responsibility rules, shown by net assets of $50,000 or more, or a bond or insurance the commissioner sets. | Not set in the license rules we checked |
| Mississippi | Pest control companies carry insurance of $100,000 per occurrence and $200,000 a year in total, covering pollution, property damage, personal injury, and errors and omissions. | At least a $5,000 bond for any pest control category. |
| Missouri | Proof of financial responsibility: a proof of insurance form, a surety bond, or the department's form. | Not set in the license rules we checked |
| Montana | Liability insurance of at least $30,000 for ground applicators ($50,000 for aerial), kept in force the whole license period. | Not set in the license rules we checked |
| Nevada | Your insurance company must send a Nevada Certificate of Insurance before the business license is issued. | Not set in the license rules we checked |
| New Jersey | Liability insurance with a $300,000 combined single limit, including completed operations and chemical liability coverage. Fumigation businesses need $500,000. | Not set in the license rules we checked |
| New Mexico | Liability insurance or a surety bond of at least $25,000 each aggregate for bodily injury and property damage on ground applications. | A surety bond can be used instead of a liability policy to show financial responsibility. |
| New York | Commercial general liability of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence, with the DEC section listed as certificate holder. | Not set in the license rules we checked |
| North Carolina | Proof of insurance is required before the license is issued. Your insurer sends the certificate to the department. | Not set in the license rules we checked |
| North Dakota | Financial responsibility of one hundred thousand dollars, shown by a general liability policy, a performance bond, or proof of net assets. | Not set in the license rules we checked |
| Ohio | A commercial general liability policy plus professional liability or an endorsement covering the properties you treat. Keep a current certificate of insurance on file. | Not set in the license rules we checked |
| Oklahoma | Proof of financial responsibility: at least $50,000 bodily injury, $100,000 bodily injury per occurrence and $50,000 property damage. | Not set in the license rules we checked |
| Oregon | The operator license needs a certificate of insurance from your insurer or a copy of your policy. | Not set in the license rules we checked |
| Pennsylvania | Meet the financial responsibility rules. Your insurer issues a certificate of insurance naming the Department of Agriculture as certificate holder. | Not set in the license rules we checked |
| Tennessee | Liability insurance of at least $250,000 per incident and $500,000 aggregate. Firms with a WDO licensee also carry errors and omissions coverage of $100,000 per incident and $300,000 aggregate. | A $10,000 surety bond for the charter. New companies with a WDO, GRC, FUM or BDC licensee need a $50,000 bond. |
| Texas | At least $500,000 bodily injury and property damage coverage, $1,000,000 aggregate, filed on form ALS-1101. The care, custody and control exclusion must be removed. | Not set in the license rules we checked |
| Virginia | Liability insurance of at least $100,000 property damage, $100,000 personal injury or death of one person, and $300,000 per occurrence, covering completed operations. | Not set in the license rules we checked |
| Washington | A liability insurance policy or surety bond with $50,000 public liability and $50,000 property damage coverage. | A surety bond can stand in for the liability policy. |
| West Virginia | Comprehensive general liability of at least $300,000 bodily injury or death and $100,000 property damage, plus workers' compensation if you have employees. | Not set in the license rules we checked |
States not listed either leave insurance to cities and counties or set no rule in the license. Your city, your customers and your contracts can still ask for more.
Workers' comp and bonds
The SBA says every business with employees must carry workers' compensation, unemployment and disability insurance. Insureon's average for pest control businesses is $89 a month, priced per $100 of payroll. A bond protects the state or the customer, not you; Insureon puts its yearly cost at a share of the bond amount:
| Bond amount | Estimated yearly cost |
|---|---|
| $5,000 | $25 to $500 |
| $10,000 | $50 to $1,000 |
| $50,000 | $250 to $5,000 |
Certificates of insurance
Property managers, restaurants and commercial clients ask for a certificate and your license number. Keep a PDF on your phone so you can send it the day they ask.
Sources
- Insureon: Insurance cost for pest control businesses, checked October 9, 2026
- Insureon: General liability insurance cost, checked October 9, 2026
- Insureon: Workers' compensation insurance cost, checked October 9, 2026
- Insureon: Surety bond cost, checked October 9, 2026
- SBA: Get business insurance, checked October 9, 2026
- Koira: Pest Control license requirements by state (each row lists its board sources), checked October 9, 2026
- EPA: How to get certified as a pesticide applicator, checked October 8, 2026
Last checked October 9, 2026. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change and differ by state and city, so confirm with the agency named before you act.