Michigan Masonry Insurance
From Detroit to Grand Rapids, Michigan licenses masonry through LARA’s Residential Builder or Maintenance & Alteration Contractor license, requires workers’ comp once you cross specific hour or headcount thresholds, and rates masonry through its own independent bureau rather than NCCI. Coverage built for Michigan masonry has to fit all three.
Carriers We Represent
Why Michigan Masonry Contractors Need Specialized Coverage
Masonry carries a jobsite risk most other trades don’t: an unbraced wall under construction can overturn or collapse before permanent supports go in, and a completed wall that later cracks or lets water in is a genuine delayed liability exposure.
Michigan requires an RB or M&A Contractor license through LARA, workers’ comp applies at specific hour/headcount thresholds, and Michigan rates masonry through its own bureau, CAOM, rather than NCCI directly. We build the program around those specifics.
Michigan Licensing, Compliance & Requirements for Masonry Contractors
Michigan has no masonry-specific license. Masonry work falls under LARA’s Residential Builder (RB) license, required for projects over $600, or the Maintenance & Alteration (M&A) Contractor license for single/dual-trade specialists, which masonry contractors are eligible for.
Workers’ comp is required if you employ 1 or more employees 35+ hours/week for 13+ weeks/year, or 3 or more employees at any one time, under the Worker’s Disability Compensation Act. Michigan is not monopolistic; private carriers plus a CAOM-administered Assigned Risk Plan cover hard-to-place risks. Under Michigan’s Home Solicitation Sales Act (MCL 445.111–445.117), customers can cancel an in-home masonry contract within 3 business days for sales over $25. Michigan runs its own OSHA-approved state plan, MIOSHA.
- Residential Builder (RB) license required for projects over $600, or Maintenance & Alteration Contractor license for masonry specialists
- Workers’ comp required at 1+ employees working 35+ hrs/week for 13+ weeks/year, or 3+ employees at any time
- Private-carrier market plus a CAOM-run Assigned Risk Plan for hard-to-place risks
- In-home masonry contracts give customers a 3-business-day cancellation right for sales over $25
- MIOSHA, Michigan’s own state OSHA plan, enforces job-site safety
- Michigan is rated by CAOM, not NCCI directly, but retains the same class code 5022 (Masonry NOC)
Core Coverages for Michigan Masonry Contractors
Most Michigan masonry contractors build a program around general liability and workers’ comp, then layer in the coverages below that address the trade’s specific structural and completed-operations risk.
- General liability for property damage and bodily injury during construction, repair, or demolition
- Completed-operations coverage for cracking, water intrusion, or structural settling discovered after the job is done
- Workers’ compensation once you cross Michigan’s hour/headcount thresholds
- Tools and equipment (inland marine) covering mixers, saws, scaffolding, and lifts on the job or in transit
- Builder’s risk or installation floater coverage for brick, block, and stone staged on site before install
- Commercial auto for trucks and trailers hauling masonry materials and equipment
- Contractor’s errors & omissions for disputes over structural quality or spec compliance
- License bond tied to your RB or M&A Contractor license where required
What Drives Masonry Insurance Costs in Michigan
Michigan's CAOM rates masonry work independently of NCCI, and its rate manual isn’t publicly searchable by class code. The ranges below are a realistic national benchmark, not a quote.
| Business Size | General Liability (Annual) | Workers’ Comp (Annual) | Est. Total Annual Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solo / owner-operator | $750 – $1,350 | N/A below WC thresholds | $750 – $1,350 |
| Small crew (3–5) | $1,350 – $2,600 | $3,500 – $6,400 | $4,850 – $9,000 |
| Established (6+) | $2,600 – $4,700 | $7,200 – $12,500 | $9,800 – $17,200 |
Estimated ranges based on national masonry GL/WC benchmarks (code 5022, rated independently by CAOM in Michigan). Michigan’s hour/headcount workers’ comp thresholds mean a very small crew may carry no WC premium at all. Actual premiums vary by payroll, claims history, and carrier appetite.
- Whether you hold an RB or M&A Contractor license
- Payroll and crew hours relative to Michigan’s workers’ comp thresholds
- Wall height and scope of work, since masonry-specific bracing rules scale with height
- Vehicle count and radius of operation for the commercial auto line
- Claims history, including any prior structural-settling or water-intrusion claims
- Whether a commercial contract requires a surety bond in addition to insurance
Why Michigan Masonry Contractors Choose The Allen Thomas Group
As an independent, family-owned agency, we place Michigan masonry contractors across more than fifteen A-rated carriers rather than pushing one company’s product.
- Independent access to 15+ A-rated carriers, matched to your crew size and structural-work exposure
- Family-owned guidance since 2003 with an A+ BBB rating
- Hands-on help navigating LARA’s RB/M&A licensing and Michigan’s workers’ comp thresholds
- Coordinated programs across general liability, tools, materials, auto, and bonds with no gaps
- Certificates of insurance and additional-insured endorsements issued fast for GCs and property managers
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a state license to do masonry work in Michigan?
Yes, for projects over $600 — either LARA’s Residential Builder license or the Maintenance & Alteration Contractor license, which masonry specialists are eligible for.
Is workers’ comp required for a small masonry crew in Michigan?
Coverage is required once you employ 1+ employees working 35+ hours/week for 13+ weeks/year, or 3+ employees at any one time.
Can a customer cancel a masonry contract signed at their home in Michigan?
Yes. Under Michigan’s Home Solicitation Sales Act, customers can cancel within 3 business days for sales over $25.
What insurance covers a masonry wall that cracks or fails after completion?
Products-completed-operations coverage, typically written within general liability, responds when a completed masonry job later causes structural settling, cracking, or water intrusion.
What insurance covers brick, block, or stone staged at a jobsite before installation?
A builder’s risk or installation floater policy, not general liability, typically covers masonry materials staged on-site or left in a truck before install.
Are my mixers, saws, and scaffolding covered between jobs?
Not automatically under general liability. They’re covered under inland marine (tools & equipment) coverage, which follows the property to the jobsite, in transit, and in storage.
Does Michigan have its own OSHA program?
Yes. MIOSHA, Michigan’s state OSHA plan, enforces job-site safety for private employers.
What drives the cost of masonry insurance in Michigan?
Your RB or M&A Contractor license status, payroll and crew hours, wall height and scope of work, vehicle count, and claims history.
Protect Your Michigan Masonry Business
We compare more than fifteen A-rated carriers to build masonry coverage around your crew, your equipment, and your Michigan jobsites.