Find your state's requirements.
A closer look at coverage, exemptions, and employer responsibilities.
Detailed guides for all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
51 guides · 50 states + Washington, D.C.
Alabama
Generally 5+ employees; special residential construction rules
Coverage · Owner rules · Injury reportingAlaska
Generally required with 1+ employees
Coverage · Owner rules · Injury reportingArizona
Generally required with 1+ employees
Coverage · Owner rules · Injury reportingArkansas
Generally 3+ employees; some smaller employers also need coverage
Coverage · Owner rules · Injury reportingCalifornia
Generally required with one or more employees
Coverage · Owner rules · Injury reportingColorado
Generally required with 1+ employees, including part-time and family workers
Coverage · Owner rules · Injury reportingConnecticut
Generally required for employers with employees; limited exceptions
Coverage · Owner rules · Injury reportingDelaware
Generally required with 1+ employees
Coverage · Owner rules · Injury reportingDistrict of Columbia
Generally 1+ employees; domestic workers have a 240-hour quarterly rule
Coverage · Owner rules · Injury reportingFlorida
Construction: 1+ employees · Other industries: generally 4+
Coverage · Owner rules · Injury reportingGeorgia
Generally 3+ regularly employed workers, including part-time workers
Coverage · Owner rules · Injury reportingHawaii
Generally required with 1+ full-time, part-time, permanent, or temporary employees
Coverage · Owner rules · Injury reportingIdaho
Generally required before hiring the first employee
Coverage · Owner rules · Injury reportingIllinois
Generally required with 1+ employees, even part-time
Coverage · Owner rules · Injury reportingIndiana
Generally required if you have employees
Coverage · Owner rules · Injury reportingIowa
Generally required; some exceptions for certain workers and farms
Coverage · Owner rules · Injury reportingKansas
Generally required when yearly payroll is over $20,000; some exceptions
Coverage · Owner rules · Injury reportingKentucky
Generally required with 1+ employees
Coverage · Owner rules · Injury reportingLouisiana
Generally required with 1+ employees; few exceptions
Coverage · Owner rules · Injury reportingMaine
Required for almost all public and private employers
Coverage · Owner rules · Injury reportingMaryland
Generally required if you have employees
Coverage · Owner rules · Injury reportingMassachusetts
Generally required for all employers with employees
Coverage · Owner rules · Injury reportingMichigan
Generally 3+ employees, or 1 employee who works 35+ hours a week for 13 weeks
Coverage · Owner rules · Injury reportingMinnesota
Generally required even with 1 part-time employee
Coverage · Owner rules · Injury reportingMississippi
Generally 5+ regular employees
Coverage · Owner rules · Injury reportingMissouri
Generally 5+ employees; construction employers generally 1+
Coverage · Owner rules · Injury reportingMontana
Generally required for employees covered by Montana law
Coverage · Owner rules · Injury reportingNebraska
Generally required if you have employees
Coverage · Owner rules · Injury reportingNevada
Generally required with one or more employees, unless exempt
Coverage · Owner rules · Injury reportingNew Hampshire
Generally required before you hire an employee
Coverage · Owner rules · Injury reportingNew Jersey
Generally required for most employers; rules differ by business type
Coverage · Owner rules · Injury reportingNew Mexico
Generally 3+ workers; licensed construction employers always need coverage
Coverage · Owner rules · Injury reportingNew York
Generally required for most employers with employees
Coverage · Owner rules · Injury reportingNorth Carolina
Generally 3+ employees; some businesses need coverage with fewer
Coverage · Owner rules · Injury reportingNorth Dakota
Generally required before your first employee starts; coverage only through WSI
Coverage · Owner rules · Injury reportingOhio
Generally required with 1+ employees; through BWC or approved self-insurance
Coverage · Owner rules · Injury reportingOklahoma
Generally required; some exceptions set by law
Coverage · Owner rules · Injury reportingOregon
Generally required with 1+ covered workers
Coverage · Owner rules · Injury reportingPennsylvania
Generally required with 1+ employees; every worker must be excluded to skip coverage
Coverage · Owner rules · Injury reportingRhode Island
Generally required with 1+ employees; few exceptions
Coverage · Owner rules · Injury reportingSouth Carolina
Generally 4+ regular employees; some exceptions set by law
Coverage · Owner rules · Injury reportingSouth Dakota
Coverage is generally optional; going without it means you can be sued
Coverage · Owner rules · Injury reportingTennessee
Generally 5+ employees; construction generally 1+
Coverage · Owner rules · Injury reportingTexas
Optional for most private employers; exceptions apply
Coverage · Owner rules · Injury reportingUtah
Generally required if you have employees; some exceptions
Coverage · Owner rules · Injury reportingVermont
Generally required with 1+ full-time or part-time employees
Coverage · Owner rules · Injury reportingVirginia
Generally required with 3+ regular employees
Coverage · Owner rules · Injury reportingWashington
Generally required for covered workers; through L&I or approved self-insurance
Coverage · Owner rules · Injury reportingWest Virginia
Generally required with 1+ employees; few exceptions
Coverage · Owner rules · Injury reportingWisconsin
Generally 3+ employees, or 1+ employees and $500 in wages in a quarter
Coverage · Owner rules · Injury reportingWyoming
Required for certain high-risk industries; other employers can choose coverage
Coverage · Owner rules · Injury reportingGeneral information, not legal advice. Each guide links to official state sources; confirm current requirements before acting.