Not yet re-checked against the Wisconsin Dept of Safety and Professional Services; verify before relying on it.
Wisconsin subcontractor insurance & compliance requirements
If you're a general contractor hiring subcontractors in Wisconsin, here are the certificates and documents you should collect and keep current, and how TradeGuard tracks them automatically.
Documents to collect from subcontractors in Wisconsin
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.
Often required with a bid on public work; it backs the bidder's promise to sign the contract at the bid price.
Wisconsin DSPS licenses Dwelling Contractors (DC) and Dwelling Contractor Qualifiers (DCQ) for residential work. Commercial work may require local licensing.
Wisconsin is under federal OSHA jurisdiction.
No statewide contractor bond requirement, though projects or public work may still require bonds.
- DSPS: Wisconsin Dept of Safety and Professional Services
- DWD: Wisconsin Dept of Workforce Development
Summary for Wisconsin
Dwelling contractor license for residential. Commercial work varies. Federal OSHA applies.
Track all of this automatically in Wisconsin
TradeGuard asks each sub for these documents through an upload link and shows what's missing for Wisconsin, with alerts before anything expires.
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Wisconsin compliance FAQ
Do subcontractors need a contractor license in Wisconsin?+
Wisconsin DSPS licenses Dwelling Contractors (DC) and Dwelling Contractor Qualifiers (DCQ) for residential work. Commercial work may require local licensing.
Does Wisconsin follow federal OSHA or a state OSHA plan?+
Wisconsin is covered by federal OSHA. Subcontractors on active job sites are typically expected to carry OSHA 10/30 training.
Is a surety bond required for contractors in Wisconsin?+
Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin agencies before relying on them.