Massachusetts contractor license bondInsurance and workers' comp

Massachusetts does not require a surety bond to register as a Home Improvement Contractor or to hold a Construction Supervisor License.¹ Neither the HIC registration nor the CSL exam eligibility requires you to show general liability insurance.¹

Bond and insurance by trade in Massachusetts

TradeBondInsuranceWorkers' comp

General contractorMassachusetts does not require a surety bond to register as a Home Improvement Contractor or to hold a Construction…¹Neither the HIC registration nor the CSL exam eligibility requires you to show general liability insurance.¹State law requires every employer to provide workers' compensation coverage for its employees, either through…²

Bond and insurance rules for electrical, plumbing, HVAC and roofing: check with Board of State Examiners of Electricians, Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters, Sheet metal / HVAC licensing (DPL), Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation.

How much is the contractor bond in Massachusetts?

Massachusetts does not require a surety bond to register as a Home Improvement Contractor or to hold a Construction Supervisor License. Instead, every registrant pays into the Residential Contractor's Guaranty Fund, which pays homeowner claims.¹

Can a Massachusetts contractor be exempt from workers' comp?

State law requires every employer to provide workers' compensation coverage for its employees, either through insurance or by being licensed as a self-insurer. The CSL continuing education includes a topic on business practices and workers' compensation.²

What is a certificate of insurance?

It's the one-page summary (usually an ACORD 25 form) a contractor's agent issues to show the policies, limits and dates in force. How to read and check one

Sources

Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation: bond (mass.gov, 2026-10-27)
Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation: workers' comp (malegislature.gov, 2026-10-27)