Core coverages in this program
- •General Liability with completed operations
- •Workers' Compensation
- •Commercial Auto & Hired/Non-Owned Auto
- •Inland Marine (sprayers, lifts, scaffolding)
- •Contractor's Pollution Liability (lead, fumes, overspray)
- •Commercial Umbrella
Texas requirements for painting contractor businesses
Texas does not license painting contractors statewide, so your insurance requirements are set by the contract. Houston and DFW commercial GCs typically demand $1M/$2M GL, $1M auto, waiver of subrogation, and completed-operations coverage carried for the statute of repose.
Workers' compensation in Texas
Texas is the only state where private workers' compensation is optional. Going bare as a 'non-subscriber' removes the exclusive-remedy protection, which is why nearly every general contractor, landlord, and municipality requires subscription anyway. Rates are developed through TDI-approved carriers using NCCI class codes, and painting contractor payroll typically rates at $6 to $16 per $100 of payroll for painting class codes, with exterior and height work rating at the top of the range. Non-subscriber status must be reported to the Texas Department of Insurance annually and posted for employees. Most contracts override the choice — read the insurance exhibit before deciding to opt out.
What Texas operators actually pay in 2026
The ranges below reflect what KTL clients in Texas pay today for a small-to-midsize operation, adjusted for Texas rating. Your actual premium turns on payroll, revenue, loss history, and — more than anything — whether the risk was classified correctly to begin with.
| Coverage | What it covers | Typical TX annual cost |
|---|---|---|
| General Liability | $1M/$2M, residential & light commercial | $950 – $3,250 |
| Tools & Equipment | Sprayers, scaffolding, lifts | $350 – $1,100 |
| Commercial Auto | Per van or truck | $1,350 – $2,800 |
| Pollution Liability | Overspray, fumes, lead disturbance | $650 – $2,400 |
| Umbrella | $1M excess over GL and auto | $700 – $1,950 |
The Texas angle most brokers miss
Texas commercial repaints in occupied buildings create business-interruption claims for the building owner. Confirm your GL includes damage to property you are working on, not just adjacent property.
Exposures we underwrite for Texas accounts
Every submission we send out is built around the specific ways businesses in this class actually have claims. That is what separates a benchmarked program from a rate quote.
- •Overspray damaging vehicles, siding, and adjacent property
- •Falls from ladders, scaffolding, and lifts
- •Lead-paint disturbance in pre-1978 structures
- •Solvent and rag fires in occupied buildings
- •Completed-operations claims for peeling, blistering, or failed prep
Where we write in Texas
We serve Texas clients remotely by phone, email, and video — no office visit required — with concentrations in Houston, Dallas–Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio, El Paso. New business, renewals, mid-term changes, and certificates are all handled directly by a licensed advisor rather than a call center.
Ready for a benchmarked quote?
A KTL specialist will shop your risk across multiple A-rated markets within one business day.