Workers' Comp for Tree Service Contractors in Georgia
Yes, once you regularly employ three or more people. Georgia's threshold under O.C.G.A. §34-9-2 counts full-time, part-time and seasonal workers alike — and if you are incorporated or an LLC, officers and members count toward the three.
The rule in Georgia
- Coverage is required once you regularly employ three or more people. Full-time, part-time and seasonal all count.
- If the business is a corporation or an LLC, officers and members count toward the three — a three-person incorporated crew is in scope even with no outside hires.
- Up to five corporate officers or LLC members may exempt themselves from coverage by filing Form WC-10, but the exemption does not remove them from the head count that triggers the requirement.
- There is no construction-specific lower threshold in Georgia — the rule is the same three-employee test for every industry.
Georgia applies the same three-employee test to tree work as to any other industry, with no construction carve-out — but 0106 payroll makes placement harder regardless of the head count.
The most common Georgia mistake: two owners plus one helper, incorporated, assuming they are under the limit. They are not.
The class codes that apply to tree service
Your class code decides your rate basis, and in Georgia it can decide whether you are covered by the requirement at all. These are the NCCI classifications that normally carry tree service payroll.
| Code | Classification | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
0106 | Tree Pruning, Spraying, Repairing — All Operations & Drivers | Pruning, trimming, repairing, spraying and removal, plus stump grinding and the crew's own chipping. Applies where any part of the job requires elevation — ladders, lifts or climbing. |
0042 | Landscape Gardening & Drivers | Ground-level landscaping and grounds maintenance. Many tree companies carry payroll in both 0042 and 0106. |
Classification wording follows the NCCI Scopes manual. Your governing code is assigned by the carrier or rating bureau on the facts of your operation — treat this as orientation, not an assignment.
What underwriters will ask you
0106 is one of the highest-rated codes in the green industry — chainsaws, heights and rigging in one job. Payroll split between 0106 and 0042 is where tree companies win or lose at audit.
- Climbing versus bucket-truck versus ground-only split of payroll
- Maximum height and diameter of trees taken down, and any crane-assisted removals
- Storm and emergency response work, and whether you travel out of state for it
- Chipper and stump-grinder maintenance and lockout practice
- Loss runs and experience modifier
- Chainsaw, rigging and aerial-rescue training records
Having these answers ready is the difference between a quote this week and a quote next month. Our intake asks for them once, in plain language.
Why tree service is hard to place
Tree work is routinely refused by the instant-quote platforms, and the 0106/0042 payroll split is badly understood even by the contractors who live with it.
Get tree service coverage moving in Georgia
Answer a handful of questions about your crew, your payroll and your Georgia operations. We route it to licensed agents who actually write 0106.
Start a quote — 3 minutesNo premium quoted on this site. We route your details to licensed agents who write your class of work.
Common questions
Do Georgia tree service and tree care companies need workers' compensation insurance?
Yes, once you regularly employ three or more people. Georgia's threshold under O.C.G.A. §34-9-2 counts full-time, part-time and seasonal workers alike — and if you are incorporated or an LLC, officers and members count toward the three.
What workers' comp class code applies to tree service work?
0106 — Tree Pruning, Spraying, Repairing — All Operations & Drivers. Pruning, trimming, repairing, spraying and removal, plus stump grinding and the crew's own chipping. Applies where any part of the job requires elevation — ladders, lifts or climbing. Related codes that often carry part of the payroll: 0042 (Landscape Gardening & Drivers).
Does Anvil quote a premium?
No. Anvil is a lead-generation and referral service, not an insurance agency or carrier. We collect your details once and connect you with licensed agents who write your class of work. We do not quote premiums, name carriers or recommend coverage.
How fast can a tree service contractor get a certificate of insurance?
That depends on the agent and carrier, not on us. What we control is the handoff: your details reach an agent who writes your class of work the same business day, instead of you re-typing the same information into five forms.