Louisiana Daycare Insurance

Last updated: September 14, 2026

Louisiana early learning centers must keep current commercial liability insurance in force at all times under Bulletin 137 §1503—with no dollar floor and no notarized self-insurance affidavit path. Workers’ compensation generally covers employees from the first hire.

Louisiana early learning center liability: commercial coverage required

Bulletin 137 §1503 (La. Admin. Code tit. 28, Part CLXI; July 2024 compilation) requires a center to maintain in force at all times current commercial liability insurance for the operation of the center to ensure medical coverage for children in the event of accident or injury. Documentation is a policy or current binder naming the center, physical address, insurer, policy number, period and an explanation of coverage. Parents shall not be required to waive the center’s responsibility; parents may elect to use their own insurance.

Former dollar minimums were repealed; no current dollar floor is stated. The LDOE licensing renewal checklist still requires current general/commercial liability insurance. Current §1503 does not authorize a notarized affidavit self-insurance path—affidavit language elsewhere in Bulletin 137 addresses CCCBC ownership waivers, not GL. Give the insurer your Type I/II/III center details so the binder matches LDOE documentation elements.

How much liability coverage should you buy?

Where the rules set no dollar floor, treat any quoted limit as a purchasing decision against your exposures and contracts—not as a statutory number. Send the provider any lease, school agreement or other contract requiring higher limits. Ask for comparable options at different limits, with the same covered activities and deductible, so you can see the cost difference.

Review the per-occurrence limit and any aggregate or separate abuse-related limit. Ask how defense costs affect available protection. If considering an umbrella, have the agent identify the underlying policies it requires and the childcare exposures it excludes; do not assume it fills every gap in the base policy.

Center vehicle commercial liability when transporting

Bulletin 137 §2101.A.14 requires current commercial liability insurance for center vehicles when the center transports children, extending to staff drivers; the provider remains responsible for medical expenses of a child injured in care. For parent-provided or contract transportation, keep liability insurance copies on file. The LDOE renewal checklist asks for current commercial automobile insurance if you transport children. No dollar floor is stated.

Coverage to compare for a Louisiana daycare or preschool

General liability, professional liability and abuse or molestation coverage answer different questions. Have the provider explain how the proposal handles a premises injury, a supervision allegation and a claim involving a staff member. Confirm that the services you offer are described and that the relevant people and locations are insured.

For a home, ask the residential insurer how business childcare affects its coverage and compare the proposed endorsement with a separate childcare policy. For a center or preschool, distinguish landlord-owned property from your furnishings, supplies and improvements. Ask which causes of loss and interruptions are covered before adding property or business-income protection.

How much does Louisiana daycare insurance cost?

There is no single premium for every daycare. As a broad reference, Insureon’s national human-and-social-services customer medians are $91/month for general liability, $135 for a business owner’s policy and $99 for professional liability, checked September 14, 2026. That sample is broader than daycare; these are not state daycare averages or Simply Business prices.

Use those figures only to understand separate budget categories. A business owner’s policy can bundle liability and property, so do not add every figure as though it were a required package. Request a childcare-specific proposal using your program type, child count and ages, payroll, transportation, claims history and required limits.

Compare the total annual premium, deductible, included activities and any separate abuse-coverage limit. Ask about installment charges, endorsements and the cost of changes during the year. Two prices are comparable only after the provider explains the differences in protection.

Request quotes using your actual license category and services. Comparing those details consistently is more useful than assigning every Louisiana program the same estimated premium.

Workers’ compensation from the first employee

R.S. 23:1035 generally covers persons performing services arising out of employment in the employer’s trade or business, with election-out paths for qualifying officers, partners, LLC members or sole proprietors. Part-time, temporary and seasonal workers typically count under that principle. Keep employee-injury coverage separate from the commercial liability policy LDOE reviews.

Keep coverage and licensing evidence aligned through the year

Calendar policy renewal alongside licensing paperwork. Resolve cancellation notices or a replacement policy before a lapse while children remain in care. Do not assume reduced enrollment, a school break or a change in insurer removes obligations that apply to your Louisiana license type.

Before adding transport, provide the insurer with vehicle ownership, driver and trip details. Ask about commercial auto or hired/non-owned exposures and coverage for the off-site activity itself. Update the agent before a capacity increase, move or additional location so the policy and evidence match what LDOE Division of Licensing expects to see.

Prepare your Louisiana daycare insurance quote

• Legal operator name, address, permit or certificate type and requested coverage date.
• Licensed capacity, actual enrollment, ages served, hours and all locations.
• Staff, volunteers, payroll and screening/supervision procedures.
• Transportation, field trips, water activities and other services offered.
• Existing policy, claim history and insurance requirements from leases or contracts.

Ask each provider to identify the named insured, covered activities, limits, deductibles, exclusions and endorsements. Confirm whether defense costs reduce any relevant limit and how claims must be reported. If a quote cannot cover an activity, resolve that gap rather than assuming a certificate will make the proposal acceptable.

Frequently asked questions

Does Louisiana require daycare commercial liability insurance?

Yes. Bulletin 137 §1503 requires a center to maintain current commercial liability insurance for operation of the center to ensure medical coverage for children in the event of accident or injury. Documentation is a policy or current binder. Former dollar minimums were repealed; no current dollar floor is stated.

Can a Louisiana center self-insure with a notarized affidavit instead?

No. Current §1503 requires policy or binder documentation only. Affidavit language elsewhere in Bulletin 137 concerns minority-ownership CCCBC waivers (§503), not general-liability self-insurance. Do not treat a notarized financial statement as a substitute for the required commercial liability policy.

What transport insurance do Louisiana centers need?

Bulletin 137 §2101.A.14 requires current commercial liability insurance for center vehicles when the center provides transportation, extending to staff who transport children in the course of employment. Parent-provided or contract transportation requires keeping liability insurance copies on file. No dollar floor is stated.

When must a Louisiana daycare obtain workers’ compensation?

R.S. 23:1035 generally covers every person performing services arising out of employment in the employer’s trade or business, with election-out paths for qualifying corporate officers, partners, LLC members or sole proprietors. Plan for coverage from the first employee unless a statutory election applies.

Related guides

Daycare Insurance · Louisiana / Daycare

Requirements and source benchmarks checked September 14, 2026. Policy terms and availability depend on the insurer and your business.