Painting is construction under Florida law, so one employee triggers the coverage requirement. Compare carriers for painters, get the 2026 class 5474 rate applied correctly, and get same-day certificates for permits and GCs.
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Last updated · Sources: Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, NCCI, and the Florida Division of Workers' Compensation
Florida painting workers' comp: quick facts for 2026
Painting is a high-rated trade in Florida. Class 5474 is $4.48 per $100 of payroll for 2026, mostly because of falls from ladders and scaffolds on two-story homes and commercial exteriors.
Florida's sun, salt air and storms mean exteriors need repainting often, and condo associations repaint and waterproof buildings on regular cycles. Higher-rise exterior work and waterproofing can involve swing stages and more fall exposure.
Painting companies often rely on subcontracted crews. In Florida, an uninsured crew's payroll lands on the hiring contractor's policy at audit.
These are the NCCI class codes most often used for painting contractors in Florida. Rates shown are 2026 Florida manual rates per $100 of payroll and apply statewide. "Quoted" means the rate for that code is provided with your quote. The right code depends on the work each employee actually does.
| NCCI Code | Classification | Rate per $100 | Premium on $100K payroll* |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5474 | Painting — Residential | $4.48 | $4,640 |
| 8742 | Sales — Outside (estimators) | $0.38 | $540 |
| 8810 | Clerical / Office Employees | $0.17 | $330 |
* Includes the $160 expense constant, at a 1.0 experience mod, before Drug-Free Workplace (5%) or other credits. See the full Florida rate table.
Yes, with one employee. Florida treats this work as construction under its workers' compensation law (Chapter 440), so coverage is required as soon as the business has one employee, and corporate officers and LLC members count unless they have filed an exemption. Up to three officers or members who each own at least 10% can file a $50 construction exemption, but it covers only the owners.
For 2026, included officers are rated on a minimum payroll of $33,800 each for construction businesses and $67,600 each for non-construction businesses. Operating without required coverage can lead to a Stop-Work Order and penalties based on the premium you should have paid.
Painting contractors save by documenting subcontractor coverage, keeping estimator and office payroll out of 5474, earning the 5% Drug-Free Workplace credit, and using Pay As You Go billing for seasonal payroll swings. Because every Florida carrier starts from the same manual rates, a specialist who knows your industry can make a real difference in how your policy is classified, credited and audited.
Florida uses the same NCCI base rates for every carrier. Premium is (annual payroll ÷ $100) × class code rate × experience mod, plus a $160 expense constant. For example, a painting contractor with $200,000 in payroll (class 5474, $4.48 per $100) pays about $9,120 a year at a 1.0 experience mod, before credits such as the 5% Drug-Free Workplace credit. 2026 Florida rates decreased 6.9% on average.
Yes, with one employee. Florida treats this work as construction under its workers' compensation law (Chapter 440), so coverage is required as soon as the business has one employee, and corporate officers and LLC members count unless they have filed an exemption. Up to three officers or members who each own at least 10% can file a $50 construction exemption, but it covers only the owners.
The 2026 Florida rate for painting (class 5474) is $4.48 per $100 of payroll. A painting company with $200,000 in payroll would pay about $9,120 a year at a 1.0 experience mod, including the $160 expense constant.
Yes, or a valid exemption. If a painting sub has neither, the hiring contractor is responsible for coverage under F.S. 440.10, and the sub's payroll is added to the contractor's policy at audit.
The Florida Division of Workers' Compensation can issue a Stop-Work Order that shuts down the business until coverage is obtained and a penalty is paid. The penalty is generally twice the premium the employer would have paid over the prior two years, with a $1,000 minimum, and working in violation of a Stop-Work Order adds further daily penalties. Uninsured employers can also be sued directly by injured workers.
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