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Chicago General Liability Insurance

Chicago commercial buildings representing general liability coverage
Permit-Ready Coverage for Cook County

The Foundation of Commercial Protection

Instant Certificates (COIs), Permit Compliance, and Lawsuit Defense. We know exactly what the City of Chicago, General Contractors, and Landlords require on your Certificate of Insurance.

Understanding General Liability

The Permit Standard

The Chicago Department of Buildings is notoriously strict. Your General Liability policy must include "Primary & Non-Contributory" language to pull a permit. Many out-of-state carriers miss this requirement.

We include this endorsement standard on every contractor policy. No surprises at the permit office, no delays on your job site. Our policies are built for Chicago compliance from day one.

GL Coverage Essentials

  • Premises Liability (Slip & Fall)
  • Products & Completed Operations
  • Personal & Advertising Injury (Slander/Libel)
  • Medical Payments (Goodwill Coverage)
  • Damage to Rented Premises (Fire Legal)
  • Additional Insured Endorsements (Vital)
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Who Needs General Liability?

Contractors (Class A-E)

We know the limits. From $1M for small renovation (Class E) to $5M for high-rises (Class A). We structure your GL with an Umbrella policy to meet GC requirements at the lowest cost—without gaps that leave you exposed.

Retail & Restaurants

Protection against the dreaded "Slip and Fall" lawsuit—the #1 claim for retail businesses. Also covers Product Liability if your merchandise or food makes someone sick. (Alcohol requires separate Dram Shop coverage).

The "Same-Day" COI

You can't get paid if you don't have the Certificate. We issue Certificates of Insurance within 60 minutes so your crew isn't stuck waiting at the gate. Additional Insureds added same-day. Call (224) 616-9430 for urgent requests.

Products & Completed Operations

Contractor completing work in Chicago

Protection After the Job is Done

This is the coverage contractors often overlook—until they need it. Products & Completed Operations protects you from liability after you've finished the work and left the job site.

If a pipe you installed 6 months ago bursts today and floods the unit below, this coverage pays for the water damage. If your electrical work causes a fire a year later, you're protected.

Plumbing Failures
Pipe bursts, leaks, and water damage claims.
Electrical Issues
Fire or shock from faulty installation.
Structural Work
Collapse or defect claims post-completion.
HVAC Systems
Carbon monoxide or refrigerant incidents.

What GL Does NOT Cover

Common Misconceptions

General Liability is powerful, but it has clear boundaries. Understanding what's excluded is just as important as knowing what's covered. These gaps are where businesses get burned.

GL Exclusions Explained

  • Bad Advice? No—you need Professional Liability (E&O).
  • Employee Injury? No—you need Workers' Compensation.
  • Data Breach? No—you need Cyber Liability coverage.
  • Company Truck Accident? No—you need Commercial Auto.

The Coverage Stack

GL is Layer One: Think of General Liability as the foundation of your commercial insurance program. It covers damage you cause to others—their property, their bodies, their reputation.

You Still Need: Workers' Comp (employee injuries), Commercial Auto (vehicle accidents), and possibly Professional Liability (advice/services).

We Build Complete Programs: As independent agents, we identify all your exposures and structure coverage across multiple policies—often with multi-policy discounts that reduce your total cost.

The Audit Process

How GL Audits Work

Estimated Premium: You pay based on projected sales/payroll at policy start.

Year-End Audit: Carrier reviews actual numbers. Premium adjusts up or down.

Our Role: We prepare you for audits and ensure proper classification to avoid overpaying.

Key Endorsements We Include

  • Waiver of Subrogation
  • Per Project Aggregate
  • Blanket Additional Insured
  • Cross Liability / Severability
  • Primary & Non-Contributory

Contractual Liability

Signing a Lease or Sub-Contract?

When you sign a commercial lease or sub-contract in Chicago, you're assuming liability through indemnification clauses. These legal provisions transfer risk from the property owner or GC to you—even for incidents that aren't your fault.

Hold Harmless Agreements Indemnification Clauses Lease Requirements Sub-Contract Terms

Our Approach: We build policies designed to satisfy the strict indemnification language found in Chicago commercial leases and GC contracts. Send us the contract—we'll tell you if you're covered.

Contract Compliance

  • Blanket Additional Insured status
  • Primary & Non-Contributory language
  • Waiver of Subrogation endorsement
  • Per Project Aggregate limits
  • 30-day cancellation notice to certificate holders

GL Add-Ons & Enhancements

Commercial Umbrella

Extend your GL limits from $1M to $5M+ for high-rise and GC contract requirements.

Inland Marine

Protect your tools and equipment in transit and at job sites—GL doesn't cover theft.

Workers' Comp

Required in Illinois for any employee. We bundle with GL for multi-policy discounts.

General Liability FAQs

Usually within an hour. We understand that time is money—your crew can't work if you don't have the COI. Call us at (224) 616-9430 for urgent requests and we'll prioritize your certificate. We can also add Additional Insureds and provide updated certificates same-day.

No. GL covers damage you cause to others—their property, their bodies. It does not cover theft or damage to your own tools and equipment. For that, you need an "Inland Marine" policy, which protects your tools in your truck, at job sites, and in transit. We can bundle this with your GL for a complete contractor package.

It depends on your contractor license class. Most require a minimum of $1,000,000 per occurrence / $2,000,000 aggregate. Class A (high-rise) contractors often need $5,000,000 or more. General Contractors typically require higher limits from their subs. We help you structure a base GL policy with an Umbrella to meet these requirements cost-effectively.

Yes, it's standard and usually free with our Blanket Additional Insured endorsement. This endorsement automatically extends coverage to any party you're contractually required to name—landlords, property managers, GCs—without needing to request individual endorsements each time. We include this on all contractor and commercial tenant policies.

This endorsement means your policy pays first (primary) and won't seek contribution from the Additional Insured's own policy (non-contributory). Chicago requires this language for building permits and most GCs require it in sub-contracts. Without it, your certificate will be rejected. We include this standard on contractor policies.

GL premiums are based on either your annual sales (retail, restaurants) or payroll (contractors, service businesses), multiplied by a rate based on your business classification. You pay an estimated premium at policy inception, then the carrier audits your actual numbers at year-end. We help ensure proper classification to avoid overpaying.

Standard GL policies have one aggregate limit for the entire policy year. A Per Project Aggregate gives you a fresh aggregate limit for each separate project. This is often required by GCs on large jobs—they don't want your limits depleted by claims on other projects. Essential for contractors working multiple sites.

No—employee injuries are specifically excluded from GL. You need Workers' Compensation insurance, which is mandatory in Illinois for any employee, even part-time. GL covers injuries to third parties (customers, the public), while Workers' Comp covers your employees. Operating without Workers' Comp carries $500/day fines in Illinois.

Get Your GL Certificate Today

Same-day COIs. Permit-ready policies. The compliance experts for Chicago contractors and businesses.

(224) 616-9430 Start GL Quote

Serving Cook County from 3945 W Devon Avenue