Contractors Insurance in Ottawa: Built for Your Trade
Whether you’re a general contractor managing a full crew or an electrician running solo jobs, one incident on a job site can trigger a claim that threatens everything you’ve built.
The right contractors’ insurance means you can take on new work, sign larger contracts, and meet municipal tender requirements, without the risk exposure that comes with being underprotected.
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Contractors Insurance for Every Trade in the Ottawa Region
We place coverage for a wide range of contracting trades and specialties, including:
- General Contractors
- Electricians
- Plumbers & HVAC Technicians
- Roofers
- Carpenters & Finish Trades
- Landscapers & Excavators
- Painters & Drywall Contractors
- Concrete & Masonry
- Home Renovation Contractors
- Property Maintenance Companies
Every trade carries different risks. A roofer’s exposure is not the same as a carpenter’s, and a policy that’s right for one is often wrong for the other. Our brokers understand the differences and find coverage that matches your actual work, not a generic template.
What Does General Contractor Insurance Coverage Include?
Contractors’ insurance isn’t a single policy; it’s a package of coverages assembled around the risks specific to your trade and the size of your operation. Here’s what a comprehensive program typically includes:
Commercial General Liability (CGL)
The foundation of any contractor’s insurance program. Commercial general liability (CGL) protects you when a third party suffers injury or property damage as a result of your work.
What it covers:
- Bodily injury to non-employees on or near your job site
- Accidental damage to a client’s property during construction
- Legal defence costs, even if the claim against you has no merit
- Settlements and court judgments
Most commercial contracts and municipal tenders in Ottawa require a minimum of $2 million in CGL coverage. Without a current certificate of insurance, you won’t get on the site.
Completed Operations Coverage
Completed operations protect you against claims that arise after a job is finished.
If a pipe you installed develops a slow leak six months later, or a deck you built fails two years after completion, the resulting property damage or injury claim falls back on you. Completed operations coverage is what stands between your business and a lawsuit for work you completed long ago.
This coverage is typically included in a CGL policy but has its own sub-limit.
Tools and Equipment Insurance
Your tools are your livelihood. A standard policy won’t replace them if they’re stolen from your truck overnight or damaged in transit. A tools and equipment floater covers your physical assets (power tools, hand tools, machinery, compressors, generators) against theft, loss, and accidental damage, whether they’re on a job site, in your vehicle, or in storage.
For contractors with significant equipment investment, this is non-negotiable coverage.
Installation Floater
When you purchase materials for a job before work begins, those materials are your financial exposure until they’re installed and accepted by the client. An installation floater protects materials and supplies against loss, damage, or theft while they’re in transit to a job site, stored on-site before installation, or temporarily held off-site.
If a break-in at your job site wipes out a week’s worth of materials, this is the coverage that makes you whole.
Commercial Auto Insurance
If you’re driving to job sites, hauling equipment, or transporting crew in a work vehicle, your personal auto policy does not cover you while you’re doing it. Commercial auto insurance covers vehicles used for business purposes, including third-party liability while driving, damage to your own vehicle, and coverage for tools or equipment stored inside.
This is one of the most common coverage gaps among Ottawa contractors. If you’re in your truck for work, you need a commercial policy.
Builders Risk Insurance
If you’re managing construction or major renovation projects, builders’ risk insurance protects the structure and materials during the course of construction before a standard property policy can take effect. It covers losses from fire, vandalism, weather, and theft while the project is ongoing.
For general contractors managing significant residential or commercial builds, this is a critical piece of the overall coverage program.
Commercial General Liability for Subcontractors
If you hire subcontractors, your exposure doesn’t end with your own employees. Depending on how your policy is written, damage or injury caused by an uninsured subcontractor could become your financial problem. A well-structured general contractor insurance coverage package addresses subcontractor liability directly – either by requiring subs to carry their own coverage or by extending your policy appropriately.
This is a detail worth discussing with your ONA broker before you hire your first sub.
Ready to review your coverage or get a fresh quote?
Our brokers know the Ottawa construction market and can build a package around your specific trade.
Why Ottawa Contractors Choose ONA
Independent Broker Advantage
We’re not tied to a single insurer. We compare coverage across multiple markets to find the best fit for your trade.
Certificates of Insurance, Fast
Once your policy is in place, we can issue a COI the same day in most cases. No delays, no missed contracts.
Brokers Who Know the Trades
Over 60 years placing contractors’ insurance in Ottawa and Eastern Ontario. We ask the right questions to make sure your coverage reflects your actual work.
Claims Advocacy When It Matters
When a claim happens, we act as your advocate with the insurer, focused on a fair, fast resolution so you can get back to work.
Local, Accessible, Accountable
Five offices across the region – Ottawa, Manotick, Almonte, Russell, and Orleans. Same team, every time, and they’ll know your file.
FAQ
At a minimum, most general contractors need commercial general liability (CGL) insurance with at least $2 million in coverage. A complete general contractor insurance coverage program will also typically include completed operations coverage, tools and equipment insurance, commercial auto coverage for work vehicles, and an installation floater if you’re purchasing materials before installation. For a deeper dive, read our guide: Understanding Contractor Liability Insurance in Ontario.
- Low-risk trades (painting, finish carpentry, flooring): $700–$1,500/year for $2M CGL
- Mid-risk trades (plumbing, electrical, HVAC): $1,200–$2,800/year
- Higher-risk trades (roofing, excavation, structural): $2,500–$6,000+/year
There’s no single law that mandates CGL for all contractors in Ontario, but it’s effectively required in practice. Most commercial clients, property managers, and municipal tenders in Ottawa require proof of a minimum $2 million CGL policy before allowing you on site. Without a current certificate of insurance, you won’t be able to secure most commercial contracts or work for general contractors who require it of their subs.
Yes. Personal auto policies are written for personal use. If you’re driving to job sites, transporting equipment, or carrying employees, most personal insurers will deny a claim that occurs during business use. Commercial auto insurance is required anytime a vehicle is being used as part of running a business.
We Work for You, Not the Insurance Company
At Oegema, Nicholson & Associates, we are an independent brokerage. That means we don’t work for a specific insurance giant; we work for you. We shop the market to find the coverage that fits your specific business needs at a competitive price.
If the worst happens and you need to make a claim, you won’t be stuck talking to a stranger in a call center. You will have a dedicated local broker fighting for your interests.
What Our Clients Are Saying
Real stories from people who trust
Oegema, Nicholson & Associates Insurance
“One call to Oegema, Nicholson & Associates is all it took. After our basement flooded, within a day or two they had a crew cleaning everything up, taking down the drywall and itemizing everything to be cleaned, thrown out or restored. They had everything in place for us in a timely manner and were extremely patient with me as they talked me through the process and waited for me to make decisions.”
Jennifer Parks, Stittsville, Ontario
“I’ve been dealing with ONA for over 20 years with my personal insurance, as well as our commercial insurance, and I know I can rely on them for great customer service, and prompt responses. I feel confident not only referring them to my employees, but to our customers as well.”
Charlene Brunet, Butler Group of Company
“ONA helps me with my personal insurance and my business insurance. They are my one stop shop when it comes to insurance and group benefits. I know I’m covered in all areas. Great friendly service and knowledgeable staff!”
James Carriveau, President, Exact Interlock and Exact Properties
“It’s always a pleasure to deal with Oegema, Nicholson & Associates, and I can depend on them for all my insurance needs. I have been a client for several years and whether it’s regarding my personal insurance, or anything to do with our employee benefits or commercial needs, I know I’m taken care of.”
Rhonda, Capital Dodge
“I would like to thank Carol for everything she has done for me and my family over the years. It is my honest belief that we would not be in the position we are in if it was not for her guidance, expertise and honesty. We can’t begin to thank her enough.”
Tim
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