Workers comp requirements by state

Statutory workers compensation requirements for tower and telecom contractors in all 50 states plus DC. Data sourced from state department of insurance and workers compensation board publications.

State	Mandatory	Requirements	Licensing
Alabama	Yes	Required for employers with 5+ employees. Tower/telecom work classified under construction.	No state contractor license required for telecom work. Local permits may apply.
Alaska	Yes	Required for all employers with 1+ employees. No exceptions for construction.	Contractor license required for work over $10,000.
Arizona	Yes	Required for all employers. Construction class codes apply to tower work.	ROC license required. Telecom contractors typically hold C-7 (low voltage) or similar.
Arkansas	Yes	Required for employers with 3+ employees.	No state telecom contractor license. Local requirements vary.
California	Yes	Required for all employers with 1+ employees. Strict enforcement. High rates for tower class codes.	CSLB C-7 (Low Voltage Systems) license required for telecom work.
Colorado	Yes	Required for all employers. Pinnacol is state fund carrier.	No state telecom-specific license. Local electrical permits may apply.
Connecticut	Yes	Required for all employers with 1+ employees.	E-1 or E-2 electrical license may apply to certain telecom installations.
Delaware	Yes	Required for all employers.	No state telecom-specific license requirement.
Florida	Yes	Required for construction employers with 1+ employees. Strict enforcement for construction trades.	Electrical or specialty contractor license may be required depending on scope.
Georgia	Yes	Required for employers with 3+ employees.	Low voltage contractor license (LVU) for telecom work.
Hawaii	Yes	Required for all employers. State fund (HISC) available.	Contractor license required (C-7 for specialty).
Idaho	Yes	Required for all employers. State Insurance Fund is major writer.	Public works contractor license for government tower projects.
Illinois	Yes	Required for all employers. No minimum employee threshold.	No state telecom-specific license. Chicago may require local permits.
Indiana	Yes	Required for all employers in construction.	No state telecom contractor license.
Iowa	Yes	Required for all employers.	No state telecom-specific license.
Kansas	Yes	Required for all employers.	No state telecom contractor license.
Kentucky	Yes	Required for employers with 1+ employees in construction.	No state telecom-specific license.
Louisiana	Yes	Required for all employers. High rates for construction class codes.	Specialty contractor license may apply.
Maine	Yes	Required for all employers.	No state telecom-specific license.
Maryland	Yes	Required for all employers.	Master electrician license may apply to certain telecom work.
Massachusetts	Yes	Required for all employers with 1+ employees.	Telecommunications license required for certain installations.
Michigan	Yes	Required for employers with 3+ employees or 1+ in construction.	Electrical contractor license may apply.
Minnesota	Yes	Required for all employers.	No state telecom-specific license.
Mississippi	Yes	Required for employers with 5+ employees.	No state telecom contractor license.
Missouri	Yes	Required for employers with 5+ employees in construction.	No state telecom-specific license.
Montana	Yes	Required for all employers. State Fund is sole provider.	No state telecom-specific license.
Nebraska	Yes	Required for all employers.	No state telecom contractor license.
Nevada	Yes	Required for all employers.	C-2 electrical license may apply to telecom installations.
New Hampshire	Yes	Required for all employers.	No state telecom-specific license.
New Jersey	Yes	Required for all employers. High premium state.	Electrical contractor license may apply.
New Mexico	Yes	Required for employers with 3+ employees in construction.	EE-98J journeyman license for low voltage.
New York	Yes	Required for all employers. Must obtain from State Insurance Fund or authorized carrier.	NYC requires specific permits for tower work. Low voltage license varies by locality.
North Carolina	Yes	Required for employers with 3+ employees.	Low voltage contractor license for telecom work.
North Dakota	Yes	Required for all employers. WSI is sole provider.	Contractor license for work over $4,000.
Ohio	Yes	Required for all employers. State fund (BWC) is monopolistic.	No state telecom-specific license.
Oklahoma	Yes	Required for all employers in construction trades.	No state telecom contractor license.
Oregon	Yes	Required for all employers with 1+ employees.	Limited energy contractor license may apply.
Pennsylvania	Yes	Required for all employers. High-rate state for construction.	No state telecom-specific license. Philadelphia requires local permits.
Rhode Island	Yes	Required for all employers.	No state telecom-specific license.
South Carolina	Yes	Required for employers with 4+ employees.	Specialty contractor license for telecommunications.
South Dakota	Yes	Required for all employers.	No state telecom contractor license.
Tennessee	Yes	Required for employers with 5+ employees in construction.	Low voltage contractor license for telecom.
Texas	No	Workers compensation is not mandatory. However, virtually all MSAs and turf vendor contracts require it regardless of state law. Nonsubscribers lose common-law defenses.	No state contractor license. Local permits may apply.
Utah	Yes	Required for all employers.	Low voltage technician license for telecom.
Vermont	Yes	Required for all employers.	No state telecom-specific license.
Virginia	Yes	Required for employers with 2+ employees.	Contractor license required for work over $1,000.
Washington	Yes	Required for all employers. State fund (L&I) is monopolistic for base coverage.	Electrical/telecommunications contractor license (06A).
West Virginia	Yes	Required for all employers.	Contractor license for certain work.
Wisconsin	Yes	Required for employers with 3+ employees.	No state telecom-specific license.
Wyoming	Yes	Required for all employers. State fund only.	No state telecom contractor license.
District of Columbia	Yes	Required for all employers.	Electrical contractor license required for telecom installations.

Methodology:Data compiled from state workers compensation statutes, state department of insurance publications, and NCCI/independent bureau filings. Verify current requirements with your state's workers compensation board before making coverage decisions. Last reviewed July 2026.