Builders Risk (Course of Construction)

• Structures under construction, materials, equipment, and temporary works
• Fire, theft, vandalism, and certain weather perils during the build
• Soft costs, delay-in-completion, and Ordinance or Law endorsements available
• Required by most California construction lenders before closing
• Should extend through local inspection and certificate of occupancy processes

California's urban job sites often face theft risks for staged materials. Set limits at full completed value to avoid a coinsurance shortfall.

General Liability

• Third-party bodily injury and property damage at your California project site
• Premises liability extending into the post-construction ownership period
• Additional Insured, Primary & Noncontributory, and Waiver of Subrogation for lenders and contractors
• Per-Project Aggregate for developers managing multiple simultaneous California sites

Your GL needs vary at each phase - site security and pedestrian liability during construction, then tenant and visitor premises liability once occupied. Ensure your policy structure transitions smoothly to avoid gaps.

Developers Professional Liability

• Protection against design, planning, and project management errors
• Claims alleging negligent site selection, feasibility analysis, or development oversight
• Distinct from a GC's Contractors E&O - addresses the developer's own decision-making exposure
• Particularly relevant for developers taking on design-build delivery or direct project management roles

If your firm makes development-level decisions, Developers Professional Liability addresses claims that those decisions caused financial harm.

Workers' Compensation

• Required by California law for any developer or owner with employees on-site
• Covers your own site supervisory and maintenance staff
• Doesn't replace each GC's and subcontractor's own WC - verify their coverage separately
• Owner-Controlled Insurance Programs (OCIP) are common on larger California developments

Larger California developments often use an OCIP wrap-up, which covers WC and GL for enrolled contractors under one master policy.

Surety Bonds

• License and permit bonds for development entity registration where applicable
• Performance and payment bond requirements that flow through from your GC contracts
• Required on California public-private partnership projects
• Subdivision and site improvement bonds for local approvals

California site plan approvals frequently require performance bonds for public infrastructure improvements tied to the development.

Permanent Property & Landlord Liability (Post-Construction)

• Commercial property coverage replacing Builders Risk once construction is complete
• Landlord/premises liability for tenant and visitor injuries
• Loss of Rents coverage for vacancy or unit downtime after a covered loss
• Satisfies California liability requirements once units are occupied

Once tenants move in, the project needs landlord liability meeting California's statutory minimums and local rental registration requirements.

Commercial Umbrella / Excess Liability

• Extra limits over GL, Auto, and Employers Liability - typically $5M-$25M+
• Often required by lenders and institutional partners
• Activates when a judgment or settlement exceeds underlying policy limits

Larger California development deals frequently specify $10M+ total liability as a financing condition.

Pollution Liability (Site & Environmental)

• Addresses contamination conditions discovered during site acquisition or development
• Relevant for sites with prior industrial use
• Covers cleanup costs and third-party claims from environmental conditions
• Often required as a condition of state financing or brownfield redevelopment

A significant share of California's developable land has industrial history. Environmental due diligence before acquisition, paired with Pollution Liability, protects against inheriting cleanup obligations.

State Financing & Compliance

Developers using state financing programs face specific compliance documentation requirements, often including proof of insurance coverage as a condition of funding disbursement. Coordinate your insurance program directly with your financing compliance team to ensure requirements are satisfied at each draw or milestone.

Local Permits & Approvals

Development projects in California require local permits and approvals, with inspections at each phase. Larger projects may also require additional approvals, which can carry their own bonding and insurance conditions.

Rental Registration & Habitability

Once a residential development is ready for occupancy, local rules require rental property registration and a Certificate of Habitability before any unit can be leased. Insurance certificates are part of this compliance process, and California law sets minimum liability insurance requirements for rental property owners.

Environmental Obligations

Developers acquiring sites with prior industrial use may inherit environmental assessment and remediation obligations. Ensure compliance with state regulations to avoid liability for contamination discovered during development.