Short answer. Every employer that regularly employs three or more people, part-time or full-time.
At a glance
- Who must carry it
- Every employer that regularly employs three or more people, part-time or full-time.
- Owners and officers
- A partner or sole proprietor isn't an employee unless they choose to be included. Corporate officers and LLC members count as employees; they may exempt themselves by filing Form WC-10 with the insurer.
- Independent contractors
- A contractor who sublets work may be liable for the subcontractor's employees if the subcontractor has no coverage.
- Self-insurance
- Allowed by application to the Board, with three years of audited financial statements and a $500 fee.
- Going without
- A civil penalty of $500 to $5,000 per occurrence, plus possible attorney's fees and a 10% increase in compensation. Willful failure is a misdemeanor with a fine of $1,000 to $10,000, up to 12 months in jail, or both.
- Workplace notice
- Post the Board's Bill of Rights for the injured worker and a Panel of Physicians (P1 or P3), with the insurer's name or the self-insurance certificate.
- Agency
- State Board of Workers' Compensation
In the agency's words
The rule
"regularly employing three or more persons, part-time or full time"
Owners
"A partner or sole proprietor is not an employee of the business unless he or she wishes to be included"
Contractors
"may be liable for coverage for the employees of the subcontractor"
Going without
"The Board may assess a civil penalty of not less than $500.00 or more than $5,000.00 per occurrence"
Notice
"the State Board of Workers' Compensation Bill of Rights for the injured worker"
Three example businesses
What the stated rule says for three common setups:
- 2 employees, most businesses (not construction), llc: Not required by the headcount rule. See why
- 4 employees, construction, corporation: Required. See why
- 6 employees, most businesses (not construction), sole proprietor: Required. See why
Your own numbers: open the checker for Georgia.
Worth knowing
The Board's Enforcement Division takes reports of employers without coverage at (404) 657-7285.
Not stated on the pages we read: how to check an employer's coverage.
Official sources
- Employer Information | State Board of Workers' Compensation (checked November 2026)
General information, not legal or insurance advice; we are not lawyers or insurance agents. Rules as published on the pages above, checked November 2026. We don't recommend or sell any insurer; the agency or a licensed agent can say how a rule applies to your business.
Common questions
Who has to carry workers' comp in Georgia?
Every employer that regularly employs three or more people, part-time or full-time. The agency puts it as "regularly employing three or more persons, part-time or full time."
Do owners and officers need coverage in Georgia?
A partner or sole proprietor isn't an employee unless they choose to be included. Corporate officers and LLC members count as employees; they may exempt themselves by filing Form WC-10 with the insurer.
What about independent contractors in Georgia?
A contractor who sublets work may be liable for the subcontractor's employees if the subcontractor has no coverage.
What happens to a Georgia employer with no coverage?
A civil penalty of $500 to $5,000 per occurrence, plus possible attorney's fees and a 10% increase in compensation. Willful failure is a misdemeanor with a fine of $1,000 to $10,000, up to 12 months in jail, or both.
What notice must a Georgia employer post?
Post the Board's Bill of Rights for the injured worker and a Panel of Physicians (P1 or P3), with the insurer's name or the self-insurance certificate.
Can an employer self-insure in Georgia?
Allowed by application to the Board, with three years of audited financial statements and a $500 fee.
All states: workers' comp requirements by state · District of Columbia · Idaho