Colonial General Insurance Agency, Inc. offers a landscaping insurance program designed for landscape contractors whose primary operations include lawn care, sprinkler installation and maintenance, and incidental tree trimming (tree trimming must be less than 15% of total sales). This program is not intended for landscape architects who only design and do not perform work, or for contractors who subcontract the majority of their work.
Commercial General Liability — Key Features
- Primary limits available up to $3,000,000 occurrence / aggregate
- Blanket Additional Insured endorsement available
- Excess / Umbrella capacity up to $25,000,000
- Errors & Omissions Coverage Part — policy limits available
- Included coverages:
- Medical payments — $5,000 limit
- Pesticide / herbicide applicator coverage — policy limits
- In-Transit Pollution Coverage — $25,000 occurrence / $100,000 aggregate
- Lost key coverage — $25,000 limit
- Property damage extension (care, custody & control) — $5,000 occurrence / $25,000 aggregate included (higher limits available)
- $500 minimum deductible required
- Loss prevention brochure available for insureds
Property, Crime and Equipment
Property coverages can be written on Basic, Broad, or Special form with options for replacement cost or actual cash value. Available property features include:
- Accounts receivable
- Building and business income
- Business personal property and computer equipment
- Contractors’ equipment and equipment breakdown
- Outside signs and valuable papers
Crime coverage options include inside-the-premises theft of money and securities, robbery or safe burglary of other property, and outside-the-premises loss.
Overview — How agents can use this program
This program from Colonial General is positioned for independent agents and brokers seeking admitted and excess & surplus placement options for landscape contractors in the western U.S. You can place mono-line liability or package accounts that combine liability, property and ancillary coverages tailored to contractors who perform on-site work (installation and hands-on services).
Ideal accounts & appetite
- Small to mid-sized landscape and lawn care contractors
- Businesses that install and service irrigation systems and sprinkler maintenance
- Contractors who perform occasional tree trimming (under 15% of total revenue)
- Accounts that apply pesticides/herbicides as part of lawn care services
Not a fit: firms that only provide landscape design without performing work, businesses that subcontract nearly all field work, or accounts with heavy tree removal or forestry operations exceeding incidental trimming.
Underwriting notes & minimums
- $500 minimum deductible is required for liability placement.
- In-transit pollution and pesticide applicator coverages can be valuable for contractors transporting chemicals or performing applicator services — disclose chemical use and transport details at submission.
- Provide schedules of contractors’ equipment, payroll and revenue breakdowns (showing percent of trimming/tree work) to speed underwriting.
- Minimum premium information varies by market; submit accounts to Colonial General for specific quoting.
Territories, admitted status & markets
Available in: AZ, CA, CO, ID, NV, NM, UT, WY. Admitted capacity is available in some markets; where admitted capacity is not available, placement may be on a non-admitted / E&S basis. Carrier participation varies by state and account characteristics.
Why work with Colonial General on landscaping business
- Specialized program built for hands-on landscape contractors — tailored coverages for pesticide application, irrigation work and contractors’ equipment.
- MGA and E&S broker expertise to access both admitted and excess markets in western states.
- Flexible limits (up to $3M primary and sizable umbrella capacity) and packaged property/liability solutions to reduce placement complexity.
- Underwriting support and loss prevention materials that help agents close and retain accounts.
Example accounts
- Example 1 — A local lawn-care company that performs weekly lawn maintenance, seasonal pesticide applications, and installs sprinkler systems. Needs CGL with pesticide applicator coverage, in-transit pollution protection, and business personal property coverage for small tools.
- Example 2 — A mid-sized landscape contractor that installs irrigation systems, maintains commercial grounds, and owns several pieces of contractors’ equipment. Needs a package that includes contractors’ equipment, business income, and higher limits of liability plus an excess layer.
Program details
Provider: Colonial General Insurance Agency, Inc. — Managing General Agency and Excess & Surplus Lines Broker. Carriers: varies by state and risk. For submissions, include operations description, revenue breakdown (including percent tree work), list of equipment, and claims history to help underwriters evaluate quickly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of landscaping accounts are a good fit for this Colonial General program?
Small to mid-sized contractors who perform lawn care, irrigation/sprinkler installation & service, and incidental tree trimming (under 15% of revenue). Accounts that apply pesticides or transport chemicals also fit due to included applicator and in-transit pollution options.
Are admitted policies available?
Some admitted markets are available depending on state and risk characteristics. Where admitted capacity is not available, Colonial General can place accounts in the excess & surplus market. Carrier availability varies by state.
What underwriting information speeds quoting?
Provide a description of operations, revenue by service type (showing percent tree work), payroll, list and values of contractors’ equipment, loss history, and details on pesticide/herbicide usage and transport.
Is pesticide/herbicide exposure covered?
Yes — pesticide/herbicide applicator coverage is available up to policy limits. Disclose products used and applicator licensing at submission to ensure appropriate coverage and limits.
What deductibles and limits should I expect?
The program requires a minimum $500 deductible for liability. Primary CGL limits are available up to $3,000,000 with excess/umbrella capacity to $25,000,000. Specific deductibles and limits depend on the carrier and account details.
Need help placing an account? Connect with a market specialist.