Building Raising or Moving Contractor Insurance

Overview

Building raising or moving contractors lift, level, and relocate houses and structures using hydraulic jacking systems, cribbing, steel beams, dollies, and trucks. Jobs range from elevating homes above flood levels and replacing foundations to transporting an entire building across roads to a new site. Because the structure itself becomes a fragile, high-value load suspended on temporary supports, this trade carries an unusual concentration of property-in-transit, collapse, and roadway exposure that sets it apart from ordinary foundation or excavation contractors.

Part of our construction & contractors insurance guidance.

Risk profile

The defining exposure for a building raising or moving contractor is catastrophic damage to the structure being lifted or moved: a jacking imbalance, cribbing failure, or shift during transport can crack, drop, or destroy the building. Crews work beneath and around heavily loaded jacks and beams, creating crush and struck-by risk, and moving a structure over public roads adds collision, utility-strike, and traffic exposure. Damage to the customer's foundation, utilities, and adjacent property is common, and permits and route approvals govern the work. These realities shape the specialized coverages this contractor may need.

Common risks

Recommended coverages

Coverages commonly relevant to building raising or moving contractor operations. Not every business needs the same policies.

Why tailored insurance matters

A contractor that mainly elevates homes above flood levels faces different exposure than one transporting whole structures across town on dollies. Coverage should reflect whether you lift in place, replace foundations, or move buildings over roads, the value of the structures handled, your equipment, and the permit and route requirements involved. A tailored program may help align liability, property-in-transit, and equipment protection with how the operation actually works, subject to policy terms. Coverage availability depends on underwriting and loss history.

Hypothetical claim examples

Hypothetical scenarios for illustration only. Coverage depends on the specific policy, endorsements, exclusions, and facts of each claim.

What affects insurance cost

• Whether you lift in place or move structures
• Value and type of structures handled
• Distance and complexity of road moves
• Annual payroll and crew headcount
• Jacking systems and dollies to be insured
• Permit, route, and contract requirements
• Claims history and safety practices

How much does it cost?

There is no single price for building raising or moving contractor insurance — it depends on which of these coverages you carry and the specifics of your business. As a rough guide, here are general national averages for the coverages this business commonly needs.

• General Liability Insurance
  $500–$1,500 per year for many small businesses
• Workers Compensation Insurance
  $500–$3,000 per year, driven largely by payroll and job class codes
• Business Auto Insurance
  $1,500–$3,000 per vehicle per year
• Inland Marine Insurance
  $300–$1,000 per year for many small businesses
• Motor Truck Cargo Insurance
  $400–$1,800 per year, depending on cargo type and limits
• Builders Risk Insurance
  1%–4% of construction cost for the project term
• Umbrella / Excess Liability Insurance
  $400–$1,500 per year per $1M of additional limit

These are general national averages shown for comparison only — not a quote. Actual premiums vary widely with underwriting and depend on the factors above and the specifics of your business, including size, revenue, location, claims history, and the limits you choose. See how we estimate costs.

Coverage considerations

• Confirm how the structure is covered as property in transit
• Review collapse and cribbing-failure terms
• Assess roadway, overhead, and utility-strike exposure
• Match equipment limits to jack, beam, and dolly values
• Verify permit and route compliance requirements

Common underwriting considerations

When insurers review a building raising or moving contractor business, they commonly evaluate factors like these. This is educational information — nothing here is collected or submitted.

• Trades performed and the share of higher-risk work such as roofing or structural
• Annual revenue, payroll, and typical project size
• Use of subcontractors and the certificates and agreements collected from them
• Years in business, licensing, and claims history
• Heights worked, depths excavated, and safety programs in place
• Vehicle and equipment fleets and who operates them

Common contractual insurance requirements

Contracts, leases, and licenses in this industry commonly impose insurance requirements such as these. Always review the specific wording in your own agreements.

• Construction contracts routinely require additional-insured status, primary-and-noncontributory wording, and waivers of subrogation
• Project owners and GCs set minimum general liability, auto, and umbrella limits
• Completed-operations coverage is commonly required for years after project close-out
• Public work frequently requires bid, performance, and payment bonds
• Certificates of insurance are required before mobilizing on nearly every job

Common coverage mistakes

Mistakes businesses in this industry commonly make when arranging coverage — worth reviewing before you buy or renew.

• Starting work before contract insurance requirements are met
• Using uninsured subcontractors and absorbing their losses at audit or claim time
• Assuming tools and equipment are covered away from the shop without inland marine
• Overlooking completed-operations exposure after a project is finished
• Misclassifying payroll and facing large premium-audit adjustments

Frequently asked questions

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