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Louisiana requires the coverage but no longer names a number. Bulletin 137 (§1503) makes commercial liability insurance a condition of operating an early learning center — the old dollar minimums were repealed, but the mandate stayed, and a center that self-insures or stacks policies must file a notarized affidavit certifying the arrangement with the Department of Education.
One policy, priced for a Louisiana daycare
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What Louisiana Actually Requires
| Coverage | Louisiana requirement |
|---|---|
| Commercial liability insurance | Required to operate — Bulletin 137 §1503; the former dollar minimums were repealed, the mandate was not |
| Self-insured / combined coverage | A notarized affidavit certifying the arrangement goes to LDOE with the insurance documentation |
| Workers’ compensation | Required from the first employee — part-time, temporary and seasonal staff all count (LWC) |
A Mandate That Outlived Its Number
Louisiana’s rule evolved into the Nevada shape: the state cares that coverage exists and stays documented, and lets the market set the limits. In practice the limits get set by CCAP participation and commercial landlords, typically at $1M per occurrence — well above anything the repealed minimums required.
The notarized-affidavit route for self-insurance exists on paper and describes almost no private center; for everyone else, the certificate in the LDOE file is part of the licence. And Louisiana’s first-employee workers’-comp rule, counting temporary and seasonal staff, arrives with the first aide.
The Coverages Every Daycare Carries Regardless
- General liability with abuse & molestation coverage. The playground injury and the allegation are different claims; a daycare policy without A&M cover is missing the exposure the business is actually judged on.
- Commercial auto if you transport children — a personal policy excludes business use.
- Workers’ compensation once you employ staff (required in Louisiana from the first employee, seasonal and temporary included).
- Property and contents for the build-out, equipment and food stock.
Parents ask if you’re insured. So do licensors.
A certificate of insurance answers both in one page. Quotes are free and don’t require a phone call.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is liability insurance required for a Louisiana daycare?
Yes — Bulletin 137 (§1503) requires commercial liability insurance to operate an early learning center. The former dollar minimums were repealed, so no amount is specified; a center that self-insures or combines policies files a notarized affidavit with LDOE.
When does a Louisiana daycare need workers’ comp?
From the first employee — part-time, full-time, temporary and seasonal workers all count, per the Louisiana Workforce Commission.
Comparing states? See daycare insurance requirements in every state, or the full guide to starting a daycare in Louisiana.
Sources
| Source | What it confirms |
|---|---|
| LDOE — Bulletin 137 licensing | The §1503 commercial-liability requirement and affidavit rule |
| Louisiana Workforce Commission | First-employee WC rule |
