Public Entity Insurance Coverage Checklist
The coverages a public entity business may carry — core, prevalent, and situational — why each matters, and the gap most often missed.
Pull out your current policy and check the box next to any coverage you can confirm is already in place — anything unchecked is worth a quick conversation with your advisor. Coverage checklist for cities, counties, special districts, school districts, and other governmental entities. Priorities reflect typical exposure; confirm against the services the entity provides.
Tick each coverage you can confirm you carry — anything left unticked is a good question for your next policy review.
| Have it? | Coverage | Why this business needs it | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Liability | Covers injuries and damage from entity operations, premises, parks, and events. | Core | |
| Law Enforcement Liability | Covers civil-rights and misconduct claims against police, sheriff, and jail operations. | Situational | |
| Public Officials Liability (E&O) | Covers claims over decisions by elected and appointed officials, including land use. | Core | |
| Employment Practices Liability | Covers discrimination, harassment, and wrongful-termination claims by employees. | Core | |
| Sexual Abuse & Molestation | Covers abuse claims, including those revived by statute — often sublimited or excluded. | Prevalent | |
| Auto Liability & Physical Damage | Covers the fleet, including emergency vehicles. | Core | |
| Property (incl. Flood, Quake, | Wildfire) Covers buildings, infrastructure, and contents against named and catastrophic perils. | Core | |
| Cyber Liability | Covers ransomware, data breaches, and funds-transfer fraud; public entities are a top target. | Core | |
| Pollution / Environmental Liability | Covers sewer, water system, and landfill contamination, including PFAS where available. | Situational | |
| Excess / Umbrella Liability | Adds limits above primary layers for nuclear verdicts and civil-rights awards. | Core |
The coverage gap most often missed
The most commonly missed exposure for this class is claims that escape state protections. Civil-rights suits against police and jails are increasingly brought in federal court, where state tort caps don't apply, and reviver statutes have reopened decades-old sexual abuse claims — Los Angeles County's led to a settlement of about $4 billion, funded largely through bonds rather than insurance. Entities should confirm their law enforcement and abuse limits, locate historical occurrence policies that may respond to revived claims, and review excess limits against today's verdicts.
Send us the checklist and we'll review your public entity coverage line by line, then market it across multiple carriers that compete for your account.
Related: Public Entity Insurance · Public Entity Supplemental (apply) · All coverage checklists
Frequently asked questions
What insurance does a public entity business need?
The core coverages for a public entity business are General Liability, Public Officials Liability (E&O), Employment Practices Liability, Auto Liability & Physical Damage, Property (incl. Flood, Quake,, Cyber Liability, Excess / Umbrella Liability. This checklist also lists the prevalent and situational coverages worth considering, with a plain-English note on why each matters.
Is this checklist insurance advice?
No. It is a free educational tool to help you have a more informed conversation with a licensed professional. It affords no coverage and is not insurance, legal, or financial advice — only your actual policy language governs what is and isn't covered.
Can Cory Washington & Co. review my public entity coverage?
Yes. Share your checklist and we'll review your program line by line, market your account across multiple carriers, and explain the trade-offs in plain English. Cory Washington & Co. LLC is licensed in all 50 states.
This checklist is a free educational tool from Cory Washington & Co. to help you review your own coverage and have a more informed conversation with a licensed insurance professional. It is general information only — not insurance, legal, or financial advice, and not a recommendation to buy, change, or cancel any policy. Coverage terms, availability, limits, and requirements vary by policy, carrier, and state, and only the language in your actual policy governs what is and isn’t covered. Checking or leaving blank any item above does not indicate that you are adequately insured or under-insured. Using this checklist does not create a client, agency, or fiduciary relationship. Always consult a licensed professional about your specific situation.