Landscaping Insurance in Illinois

General liability coverage provides a foundation for landscaping business insurance, safeguarding you in unforeseen circumstances. It covers medical or legal expenses in the event of third-party bodily injuries or property damage, as well as advertising errors.

This comprehensive protection is a must for landscaping businesses, big or small, as it allows you to focus on your work without worrying about claims that could slow your progress. Plus, many clients — especially commercial ones — want to see proof of general liability insurance before hiring a landscaping service.

Here are a few examples of actual claims covered by Insurance Canopy’s landscaping general liability policy:

• A landscaping employee accidentally damaged a client’s sliding door with a rock from a weed eater
• A lawn care company damaged a client’s car after a piece of equipment went off-course
• An edging service kicked up a rock that shattered a passing school bus’s windshield

Even if you’re incredibly careful, incidents like these happen more often than you might think. They can result in costly repairs, stressed client relationships, and negative feedback that could impact your business.

Many Homeowners Associations (HOAs) and commercial properties in Illinois require you to show proof of insurance. General liability coverage not only safeguards you — it also attracts new clients who appreciate the peace of mind of working with insured professionals.

Your Illinois landscaping business depends on high-value equipment like commercial zero-turn mowers, Stihl trimmers, and aerators. Inland marine insurance (also known as trailer and equipment coverage) is designed to protect your gear from theft, vandalism, or accidental damage.

Illinois’ turbulent weather puts your equipment at risk year-round. Spring storms threaten to flood job sites and damage stored tools, scorching summers can cause engine failures, and brutal winter ice storms can take down tree limbs — crushing detached trailers.

Inland marine coverage ensures you’re not paying out of pocket when unpredictable weather or job-site mishaps sideline your equipment.

Illinois law requires landscaping businesses to carry workers compensation insurance if they have one or more employees, including part-time, seasonal, and even family-member workers.

Given the physical demands of landscaping, such as lifting heavy materials, operating machinery, and working in extreme weather, having the right policy isn’t just about following the law. It ensures your employees are protected and your business isn’t hit with costly medical bills or lawsuits.

Illinois state law requires commercial auto coverage if your business owns, rents, or leases vehicles for work.

Personal auto insurance does not cover accidents that occur when you use a vehicle for business purposes, so commercial auto insurance is essential for your landscaping business, especially if you use vehicles to transport equipment or your team.

Additional insureds are individuals or entities, such as landlords, HOAs, or commercial clients you include in your insurance policy to extend coverage to them. If a claim is made that names both your landscaping business and the additional insured, your insurance can protect both parties.

In addition to providing proof of insurance, many HOAs and commercial property managers will request that you add them as additional insured parties. Homeowners associations (HOAs) are prevalent in Illinois, with approximately 29.7% of the state’s homes — about 1.5 million out of 5 million — belonging to such communities.

If you accidentally damage a homeowner’s property while working for an HOA, both you and the HOA may be covered if a claim is filed against you. This makes hiring you more appealing since additional insureds won’t be financially liable for mishaps related to your work.

If you collect and store client information online, such as names, addresses, phone numbers, and payment details, you may be at risk of cyber attacks. Cyber liability coverage protects against financial losses resulting from data breaches that expose this information.

This additional coverage can assist with costs related to data breach notifications, customer data loss, ransomware, cyber extortion, legal fees, and business interruption expenses.