Manufactured Home Installer Insurance: $100K FL to $250K KY

The License Decides What "Insured" Means

A manufactured home installer's license is also a financial-responsibility filing, but no two states ask for the same thing. Florida wants a $100,000 liability policy and a $5,000 performance bond. Kentucky wants $250,000 in general liability. Alabama pairs a $100,000 policy with a $20,000 bond. Texas's licensing statute sets a $25,000 bond for installers. Missouri splits its rule by who the installer works for: an independent installer shows workers' compensation, while an installer who is an agent of a dealer or manufacturer shows $300,000 in general liability. And where HUD runs the installation program itself, the federal rule asks for coverage large enough to replace the home but names no dollar figure at all.

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Quick Answer: Installer Insurance and Bonds in Seven Jurisdictions

Every figure above was checked against statute or regulation text in September 2026.

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State-by-State Detail

Florida: $100,000 and $5,000, with a 10-day reinstatement window

Florida Statutes §320.8249 lets the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles set installer insurance and bond amounts by rule, but caps them: liability insurance may not be set above $100,000, and the performance bond may not be set above $5,000. Rule 15C-2.0073 sets both at the statutory ceiling. The coverage must stay in force for the whole licensing period.

The rule is strict about lapses. If a licensed installer fails to keep the bond or the liability policy in effect, the license shall be revoked. It is reinstated if certificates of insurance reach the department within 10 days of the revocation, but only if coverage was secured for the full term of the license period. The statute separately authorizes fines of up to $1,000 per violation involving a single installation.

Minnesota: the residential contractor insurance schedule

Minnesota licenses manufactured home installers through the Department of Labor and Industry under the same framework as residential contractors (Minn. Stat. §327B.041 points installers to §§326B.802 to 326B.885). The department's installer certificate of insurance form, which cites §326B.86, subd. 2, spells out the statutory minimum:

• Commercial general liability including premises and operations and products and completed operations coverage
• At least $100,000 per occurrence and $300,000 aggregate for bodily injury
• Property damage of at least $25,000
• Or a single limit of $300,000 per occurrence and $300,000 aggregate

The certificate must be completed by the insurance agent or insurer, not the installer, and names the department as certificate holder. The installer also files a $2,500 surety bond. The bond's penalty sum resets every two years it stays in force, as if a new bond were issued each cycle.

Workers' compensation is handled separately. Every applicant files a certificate of compliance, including installers with no employees, who must state why they are exempt. Minn. Stat. §176.182 sets a $2,000 penalty if that information is missing or false.

Missouri: who you work for changes the requirement

RSMo §700.659 is the only rule in this group that sets different insurance for installers doing the same work:

• An applicant who is not an agent of a dealer or manufacturer must show a certificate of insurance for workers' compensation coverage.
• An applicant who is an agent of a dealer or manufacturer must show general liability insurance of at least $300,000.

The section does not set a general liability figure for independent installers, and it does not set a bond. The license itself is issued by the commission that administers Missouri's manufactured housing program, which sets the license term (not less than one year).

Kentucky: $250,000 for certified installers

815 KAR 25:060 requires a certified installer to provide proof of general liability insurance of not less than $250,000, plus either a certificate of current workers' compensation coverage or a notarized waiver of exemption. A certified installer places a certified installer seal on each home it installs.

Kentucky retailers are held to a different, split-limit standard under KRS 227.610: $200,000 bodily injury per person, $300,000 per accident, and $100,000 property damage. A company that both sells and installs homes needs to satisfy both.

Alabama: a bond four times Florida's

Alabama Administrative Code 535-X-15-.03 sets bonding and insurance for all three license types in one table:

The rule states its purpose plainly: to protect homeowners when a manufacturer, retailer or installer has gone out of business or failed to meet its responsibilities. The commission may raise or lower bond amounts after reviewing valid claims. Failing to comply can lead to suspension or revocation of the license, a fine of up to $1,000 per violation, or both.

Texas: security, not a policy figure

Texas Occupations Code §1201.106 requires a license holder to file a bond or other security of $25,000 for an installer, against $50,000 for a retailer or broker and $100,000 for a manufacturer. The director can demand more from applicants with a past revocation or unpaid penalties. The bond stays open to successive claims up to its face value.

That section sets no liability insurance amount. This review did not verify a separate installer insurance figure elsewhere in Chapter 1201, so confirm with the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs' Manufactured Housing Division before relying on the bond alone.

Federal rule: coverage that must reach replacement cost

In states where HUD administers the installation program instead of an approved state program, 24 CFR §3286.205(d) requires an installer to provide, "when available in the State of installation," insurance and either a surety bond or an irrevocable letter of credit that covers the cost of repairing all damage to the home and its supports caused during installation, up to and including replacement of the home. The installer must tell HUD about any change or cancellation.

No dollar figure appears. The amount is tied to the value of the homes being installed, so a fixed policy limit is not the whole test.

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Who Must Carry It

In every rule reviewed, the requirement attaches to the licensed installer. Florida, Minnesota, Kentucky, Alabama and Texas tie it to the license itself. Missouri ties the type of coverage to the installer's relationship with a dealer or manufacturer. Retailers and manufacturers carry their own, usually higher, requirements. An installer license does not cover a retail license, and the reverse is also true.

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Exemptions and Gaps

• Missouri independent installers show workers' compensation, not a liability figure.
• Minnesota and Kentucky allow installers without employees to claim a workers' compensation exemption, but only through a signed form.
• Texas sets a bond without a liability figure in its security section.
• HUD-administered states set no dollar minimum, only a replacement-cost standard.

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Penalties

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How to Comply

1. Confirm whether your state or HUD runs installer licensing

The federal rule applies only where HUD administers the program. Otherwise the state manufactured housing office sets the figures.

2. Match the policy to the form, not just the number

Minnesota's certificate must show products and completed operations coverage, not only premises liability. For how certificates work, see certificate of insurance requirements.

3. Buy the bond separately

A bond is not insurance, and Florida, Minnesota, Alabama and Texas each require one on top of (or instead of) a liability figure. A surety bond protects the homeowner or the state, not the installer. See bonded vs. insured and contractor bond requirements by state.

4. Keep coverage continuous

Florida revokes on lapse. Line up renewal dates with the license period.

5. Settle workers' compensation status in writing

Minnesota and Kentucky both require a form even when no coverage is needed. State thresholds are compared in workers' comp requirements by state.

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FAQ

Do manufactured home installers need insurance?

In most states reviewed, yes. Florida requires $100,000, Alabama $100,000, Kentucky $250,000, and Minnesota $100,000/$300,000 plus $25,000 property damage. Missouri requires $300,000 only for installers acting as a dealer's or manufacturer's agent.

What bond does a Florida mobile home installer need?

A $5,000 performance bond under Fla. Admin. Code R. 15C-2.0073, alongside $100,000 in general liability insurance.

Is a surety bond the same as installer insurance?

No. Texas requires a $25,000 bond in its security section without a liability figure, while Kentucky requires $250,000 in liability insurance without a bond in its regulation.

What happens if a Florida installer's insurance lapses?

The license is revoked. It is reinstated if certificates of insurance are submitted within 10 days and coverage was secured for the full license term.

Does HUD set a minimum insurance amount for installers?

No dollar amount. 24 CFR §3286.205 requires insurance plus a bond or letter of credit that covers installation damage up to replacement of the home.

Do Missouri installers need liability insurance?

Only installers who are agents of a dealer or manufacturer must show $300,000 in general liability. Other installers must show workers' compensation coverage.

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Key Takeaways

• Installer financial responsibility is a licensing condition, but the mix of insurance and bonds differs in every state reviewed.
• Liability minimums run from $100,000 (Florida, Alabama) to $300,000 (Minnesota single limit; Missouri dealer agents).
• Alabama's $20,000 bond is four times Florida's $5,000; Texas sets $25,000.
• Missouri decides between liability insurance and workers' comp based on whether the installer is a dealer or manufacturer agent.
• HUD sets no dollar figure, but coverage must reach replacement of the home.

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Sources

• Florida Statutes §320.8249 — Mobile home installers license
• Florida Administrative Code R. 15C-2.0073 — Installer Licensing Procedures and Requirements
• Minnesota Statutes §327B.041 and §326B.86 — Manufactured home installers; bond and insurance
• Revised Statutes of Missouri §700.659 — Installer license qualifications
• 815 KAR 25:060 — Licensing and certifications with manufactured homes and mobile homes (Kentucky)
• Alabama Administrative Code Chapter 535-X-15 — Bonding and Insurance
• Texas Occupations Code §1201.106 — Security: Amount
• 24 CFR §3286.205 — Prerequisites for installation license

Last verified: 2026-09

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Important Disclaimer

This guide provides general information about insurance requirements based on publicly available sources as of the "Last verified" date above. It is not legal, insurance, or financial advice. Requirements, penalties, and statutes can change; individual circumstances vary. Always confirm current rules with your state's Department of Insurance or DMV, and consult a licensed insurance professional for advice specific to your situation.