Not yet re-checked against the SC Dept of Labor, Licensing and Regulation; verify before relying on it.
South Carolina subcontractor insurance & compliance requirements
If you're a general contractor hiring subcontractors in South Carolina, here are the certificates and documents you should collect and keep current, and how TradeGuard tracks them automatically.
Documents to collect from subcontractors in South Carolina
The core compliance documents a GC should require and keep current for each sub.
State-issued contractor license or registration.
Certificate of Insurance for General Liability coverage.
Certificate showing workers' comp for the sub's employees. Who must carry it depends on the state and the number of employees.
Used to report what you pay the sub on Form 1099-NEC. For payments made in 2026 or later the IRS reporting threshold is $2,000 (it was $600).
Some owners and contracts require it, and some states require it on public projects.
Public owners require one on larger public contracts; the threshold depends on the owner and the state.
Public owners usually require it alongside the performance bond.
Often required with a bid on public work; it backs the bidder's promise to sign the contract at the bid price.
SC Dept of Labor, Licensing and Regulation issues General and Mechanical Contractor licenses. License required for commercial work over $5,000 and residential over certain thresholds.
South Carolina operates an approved state OSHA plan. South Carolina has an approved state OSHA plan (SC OSHA) covering private and public sector
No statewide contractor bond requirement, though projects or public work may still require bonds.
- SCLLR: SC Dept of Labor, Licensing and Regulation
- SC OSHA: South Carolina Occupational Safety and Health
- SCWCC: SC Workers Compensation Commission
Summary for South Carolina
SC has its own OSHA plan. License required for work over $5,000 commercial. Workers comp required for employers with 4+ employees.
Track all of this automatically in South Carolina
TradeGuard asks each sub for these documents through an upload link and shows what's missing for South Carolina, with alerts before anything expires.
No credit card required · Cancel anytime · See how COI tracking works
South Carolina compliance FAQ
Do subcontractors need a contractor license in South Carolina?+
SC Dept of Labor, Licensing and Regulation issues General and Mechanical Contractor licenses. License required for commercial work over $5,000 and residential over certain thresholds.
Does South Carolina follow federal OSHA or a state OSHA plan?+
South Carolina runs its own OSHA-approved state plan. South Carolina has an approved state OSHA plan (SC OSHA) covering private and public sector
Is a surety bond required for contractors in South Carolina?+
South Carolina does not impose a statewide contractor bond requirement, though individual projects, owners, or public work may still require performance and payment bonds.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Requirements change; confirm current rules with the relevant South Carolina agencies before relying on them.