Janitorial subcontractor insurance requirements
Identify after-hours access, occupied spaces, floor treatment, high-level cleaning and specialist disinfection. Keyholding and property entrusted to the vendor can raise questions outside ordinary liability.
Start with your agreement, the work scope and the applicable state workers’ comp rules. Collect current policy evidence and the endorsements your agreement requires. A certificate summarizes information; it does not resolve every exclusion or condition.
Scope details that change the review
Wet floors
Cleaning can leave slip hazards in shared spaces.
Entrusted property
Keys, access cards and customer items may require separate consideration.
Specialist chemicals
Some tasks exceed routine office cleaning and need a fresh scope review.
Questions for the contractor and agent
- Does the work include high-level cleaning, specialty disinfection or hazardous materials?
- What insurance or bond evidence is required for keyholding and employee dishonesty exposures?
- Who employs temporary or replacement crews?
Documents to collect
- GL and workers comp evidence
- Required additional insured evidence
- Any separately required crime, fidelity or specialty evidence
Compare policy dates and limits against the signed requirements. Check the actual endorsement wording when the requirement depends on insured status, a waiver or the scope of operations. Keep unknown items pending and record the reviewer responsible for resolving them.
A hypothetical review
A cleaning vendor starts servicing a controlled-access laboratory. The facility reviews the new chemicals, access duties and scope rather than relying on its office-cleaning record.
Renewals and scope changes
Review added facilities and specialty tasks at contract amendment, and keep renewal responsibility with one reviewer.
Choosing limits
These review questions do not establish a universal legal minimum for this trade. Owner contracts, project size, operations and applicable licensing rules can change what is required. Use the requirements generator for an illustrative starting schedule, then have the authorized risk owner and broker approve the actual requirements.
Prepare the request
- Copy the certificate request email
- Download the COI review checklist
- Check workers’ comp requirements by state
Related trades
Scope and safety references
These official resources help identify operational hazards. They do not prescribe the insurance limits or policy terms for your contract.