Covington & Slidell Independent Insurance Agents
Protecting Your Assets with a Business Owners Policy
MNot every BOP is built the same. These features deserve a close look before you sign:
Equipment breakdown: May cover electrical or mechanical failure, like a power surge frying an imaging machine's circuit board. Standard property forms often exclude this.
Business income: Typically replaces lost revenue and continuing expenses if a covered loss forces you to close temporarily.
Spoilage coverage: May pay for vaccines or medications lost when refrigeration fails during an outage.
Flood: Usually excluded from a BOP. Practices in flood-prone parts of St. Tammany often need a separate flood policy.
Named storm deductibles: Louisiana policies frequently carry percentage-based hurricane deductibles, so know the dollar figure before storm season.
Monroe contractors need general liability for third-party injury and property damage claims, builders risk for structures under construction, and policy language that fits storm repair and rural ag work. Aubert Insurance Agency, an independent agency serving Louisiana since 1910 from Covington and Slidell, compares carriers to match coverage to how you actually work.
A roofer in West Monroe finishes a hail job on Tuesday. A framing crew in Sterlington is setting trusses for a pole barn the same week. A remodeler on Forsythe Avenue is gutting a kitchen. All three are contractors in Ouachita Parish, and all three face very different risks that a one-size policy rarely handles well.
Northeast Louisiana work has its own rhythm. Spring tornado outbreaks and hailstorms create bursts of demand. Farm buildings across the Delta parishes bring long spans, heavy equipment and remote jobsites. Light commercial projects keep moving too: design plans were finalized in early 2026 for a $1.5 million, 10-bed medical facility in Monroe, including site work and paving. Each type of job changes what your policy needs to say.
This guide covers Monroe LA contractors insurance from the ground up, including the 2026 rule changes that affect almost every residential contractor in the state.
Protecting Your Monroe Contracting Business
The biggest shift this year came from Baton Rouge. Effective August 1, 2026, Act 757 raised the minimum general liability requirement for residential and home improvement contractors to $500,000. For many smaller contractors who carried $100,000 limits, that is a fivefold jump. If your certificate still shows the old limit, your license standing could be at risk.
Roofers face a second change. The same legislation set a $7,500 project value threshold for residential roofing, so work above that amount requires a specific LSLBC license. After a hailstorm, plenty of jobs cross that line.
The common mistake we see is a contractor renewing on autopilot. The policy rolls over, the limit stays put, and nobody checks it against the new law until a homeowner or a general contractor asks for a certificate. Pull your declarations page now and compare it to your current license requirements.
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Aubert Insurance Agency is a local, independent agency, licensed to serve individuals and businesses across Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida and Texas.
We serve clients from our offices in Covington and Slidell and throughout St. Tammany Parish — working with dozens of carriers and wholesale markets to help homeowners, drivers, contractors, restaurant owners, property investors, auto shops, professional practices and many other personal and commercial clients find coverage that fits.
Licensed in Louisiana #3661 · Mississippi #15039075 · Florida #W0772236 · Texas #2381820
Understanding the Named Storm Deductible
A named storm deductible works differently than the flat $500 or $1,000 deductible on your regular claims. In Louisiana, it's often calculated as 2% to 5% of the insured value of your personal property. On a policy with $40,000 in contents coverage, a 5% deductible means the first $2,000 of a hurricane loss is yours.
There's some good news in state law. Louisiana's one-deductible-per-year rule (La. R.S. 22:1337) means you generally pay the named storm deductible only once per calendar year, even if two storms hit your rental. Ask your agent to show you that deductible in dollars, not just a percentage, so you can set aside the right amount in an emergency fund.
Core Coverages for Northeast Louisiana Residential and Light Commercial Work
Most Monroe contractors build their program on a few policies: general liability, builders risk, commercial auto, workers' compensation and an inland marine (tools and equipment) floater. Which ones matter most depends on whether you work as a sub, a GC, or a homeowner's direct hire.
General Liability vs. Builders Risk
These two get confused constantly, and the confusion causes real claim denials. General liability responds when you hurt someone else or damage their property. Builders risk protects the structure itself while it's being built or renovated.
| Feature | General Liability | Builders Risk |
|---|---|---|
| What it protects | Third parties injured or whose property is damaged | The building or project under construction |
| Typical claim | Ladder falls into a neighbor's car | Wind tears off sheathing before dry-in |
| Who usually buys it | Every contractor | Owner or GC, depending on contract |
| Policy term | Annual | Usually project length |
| Covers your own work? | Typically excludes damage to your own work | Typically covers materials and work in place |
| Theft of materials | Generally no | Often yes, subject to terms |
A light commercial job like a clinic build usually requires both. Read the contract to see who is supposed to carry builders risk, because many disputes start with each side assuming the other bought it.
With no lender to satisfy, the decision is yours, and so is the entire loss. A total rebuild in this parish runs well into six figures.
Homeowners who own outright
Your lender requires coverage at least equal to the loan, and will buy a policy on your behalf at your expense if yours lapses.
Homeowners with a mortgage
Being named as a certificate holder just means someone receives proof. Being named as an additional insured means your policy may actually defend and pay for that party if they're sued because of your work. General contractors, developers, and property managers ask for this because they get pulled into lawsuits over subcontractor mistakes constantly.
Read the contract language closely. Some agreements require "primary and noncontributory" wording or completed operations coverage for the additional insured, which needs specific endorsements. Many contractors sign a subcontract agreeing to these terms without checking whether their policy includes them. If a claim comes in and the endorsement isn't there, you may be in breach of contract on top of facing the lawsuit.
Actual Cash Value Versus Replacement Cost
Understanding the Valuation Gap
Actual Cash Value (ACV) pays what the damaged item was worth at the time of loss, which means depreciation comes off the top. For an older roof, that deduction can be large. If your roof is 18 years into a 25-year lifespan, an ACV settlement may cover only a fraction of what a new roof costs, and you pay the rest along with your deductible.
Replacement Cost (RC) typically pays what it costs to replace damaged property with new materials of like kind and quality, without subtracting for age. Some carriers pay the ACV portion first and release the remaining amount once repairs are finished, so keep your receipts. On older Bogalusa homes, carriers may offer RC on the dwelling but apply ACV to the roof only. That split is common and easy to miss, so read the roof settlement language before you sign.
There's also a newer option. Louisiana's Act 480 created stated-value policies that let homeowners insure a property for a specific declared amount, such as a mortgage balance, rather than full replacement cost. That may help when rebuilding cost far exceeds what you need protected, but it also means you could be underinsured after a total loss.
Specialized Insurance for Tornado and Hail Repairs
Storm restoration is steady work in Ouachita Parish, but it carries risks a standard remodeling policy may not anticipate. You're on damaged roofs, often under deadline pressure, sometimes with tarps holding back the next rain.
Here's what storm contractors should review with their agent:
- Wind and hail exposure on open roofs. If a second storm hits mid-job, coverage for the partially completed work typically comes through builders risk or an installation floater, not general liability.
- Roofing classification. Some carriers price or limit roofing differently than general carpentry. If you added roofing after the last storm season, confirm your policy classification reflects it.
- Water intrusion. Claims where rain enters through a roof you opened are common. Some policies may restrict this, so check for water or mold exclusions.
- Completed operations. A leak that shows up eight months later still traces back to you. This coverage typically applies after the job closes.
Sudden weather events are generally treated differently from gradual deterioration. A tornado ripping off a tarp you installed correctly reads very differently to an adjuster than a slow leak from poor flashing. Keep photos, dated job notes and material receipts. That documentation often decides storm-related claims.
The roof
Age, material and shape drive the wind rate more than any other factor. A fortified roof designation opens markets that would otherwise decline the house.
Evaluating Wind and Tree Exposure Risks
Pine and oak trees are part of why people love living in the Pearl River area. They're also a leading cause of roof claims after tropical storms and severe thunderstorms. A single limb through a roof can open the house to water damage that runs far beyond the cost of the roof repair.
Carriers have noticed. In 2026, more insurers are making trimming of limbs that touch or hang over a roof a condition of renewal. A drive-by or aerial inspection may flag overhanging branches, and you could receive a notice giving you a deadline to fix it. Ignoring that letter can lead to nonrenewal, which makes finding new coverage harder.
The roof itself is the other half of the wind picture. Louisiana offers incentives for stronger roofs, and the state's wind mitigation program details explain how certain construction features can lower your premium. Beginning January 1, 2027, Louisiana insurers must apply a premium reduction of 16% to 49% to the hurricane portion for homes with a certified FORTIFIED roof. If you're planning a roof replacement anyway, it may make sense to price out FORTIFIED certification at the same time.
Also review your named storm or wind deductible. In this part of Louisiana, it's often a percentage of the dwelling limit rather than a flat dollar amount, so a 5% deductible on a $250,000 home means $12,500 out of pocket.
Your belongings
Personal property covers furniture, clothing, tools and electronics. Jewellery, firearms and silver carry low internal caps, so we schedule those items separately when they are worth more than the cap.
Farm Equipment and Machinery Protection
Tractors, bush hogs, UTVs, and zero-turn mowers are where a lot of Pearl River landowners find gaps. Personal property coverage on a homeowners policy may cover some yard equipment, but it often limits or excludes motorized vehicles and items used for farming or business purposes.
Options depend on how you use the equipment:
- Hobby or property maintenance use: An endorsement or scheduled item on the homeowners policy may work.
- Small-scale farming or hay production: A farm or ranch policy, or an inland marine/equipment floater, typically fits better.
- Off-road vehicles like UTVs: These often need their own policy, especially if driven off your property.
Keep serial numbers and photos of every machine. Theft of tractors and trailers from rural lots is a real claim type, and documentation speeds up recovery.
Agricultural Buildings and Rural Construction Risks
Drive north toward Bastrop or east into Richland Parish and the jobs change. Barns, grain bins, equipment sheds and metal storage buildings involve long clear spans, cranes or lifts, and sites far from paved roads.
These projects raise a few issues that city remodeling doesn't. Equipment moves between farms on trailers, so your tools and equipment coverage should follow the gear, not just sit at your shop address. Steel and lumber delivered to an open field can sit unguarded for days, which makes theft and weather protection for materials a real concern. Builders risk or an installation floater may help here, depending on who owns the materials.
Liability looks different too. A farmer's family, workers or livestock may be near the site, and silo or bin work involves height and confined-space hazards that some carriers underwrite carefully. Be upfront about this work when you apply. If your application describes you as a residential remodeler and you're erecting a 60-foot grain bin, that mismatch can create trouble at claim time.
With no lender to satisfy, the decision is yours, and so is the entire loss. A total rebuild in this parish runs well into six figures.
Accessing Smaller-Market Carrier Options
National carriers handle a lot of contractor business, but their underwriting guidelines can be rigid. A contractor who does a mix of roofing, ag buildings and light commercial work may not fit neatly into their boxes. Smaller regional carriers and specialty markets may offer more flexible terms for that kind of mixed operation.
Some of these markets are surplus lines carriers. That's normal for higher-risk classes like roofing. One administrative change: as of July 1, 2026, Louisiana surplus lines policies and endorsements must be reported through the SLIP+ for States system. Your agency handles that filing, but it's a sign the surplus market is active and regulated.
Pricing may also be moving your way. The state insurance commissioner recently said consumers are
starting to see opportunities to reduce premiums and encouraged policyholders to shop around. An independent agency like Aubert can compare national and niche markets side by side, which is hard to do on your own.
The roof
Age, material and shape drive the wind rate more than any other factor. A fortified roof designation opens markets that would otherwise decline the house.
Evaluating Wind and Tree Exposure Risks
Pine and oak trees are part of why people love living in the Pearl River area. They're also a leading cause of roof claims after tropical storms and severe thunderstorms. A single limb through a roof can open the house to water damage that runs far beyond the cost of the roof repair.
Carriers have noticed. In 2026, more insurers are making trimming of limbs that touch or hang over a roof a condition of renewal. A drive-by or aerial inspection may flag overhanging branches, and you could receive a notice giving you a deadline to fix it. Ignoring that letter can lead to nonrenewal, which makes finding new coverage harder.
The roof itself is the other half of the wind picture. Louisiana offers incentives for stronger roofs, and the state's wind mitigation program details explain how certain construction features can lower your premium. Beginning January 1, 2027, Louisiana insurers must apply a premium reduction of 16% to 49% to the hurricane portion for homes with a certified FORTIFIED roof. If you're planning a roof replacement anyway, it may make sense to price out FORTIFIED certification at the same time.
Also review your named storm or wind deductible. In this part of Louisiana, it's often a percentage of the dwelling limit rather than a flat dollar amount, so a 5% deductible on a $250,000 home means $12,500 out of pocket.
Your belongings
Personal property covers furniture, clothing, tools and electronics. Jewellery, firearms and silver carry low internal caps, so we schedule those items separately when they are worth more than the cap.
Farm Equipment and Machinery Protection
Tractors, bush hogs, UTVs, and zero-turn mowers are where a lot of Pearl River landowners find gaps. Personal property coverage on a homeowners policy may cover some yard equipment, but it often limits or excludes motorized vehicles and items used for farming or business purposes.
Options depend on how you use the equipment:
- Hobby or property maintenance use: An endorsement or scheduled item on the homeowners policy may work.
- Small-scale farming or hay production: A farm or ranch policy, or an inland marine/equipment floater, typically fits better.
- Off-road vehicles like UTVs: These often need their own policy, especially if driven off your property.
Keep serial numbers and photos of every machine. Theft of tractors and trailers from rural lots is a real claim type, and documentation speeds up recovery.
Frequently Asked Questions About Monroe Contractors Insurance
How much general liability do I need as a residential contractor in Louisiana? As of August 1, 2026, the minimum for residential and home improvement contractors is $500,000. Many general contractors and commercial clients require higher limits in their contracts.
Does general liability cover damage to the house I'm building? Usually not. Damage to the structure under construction typically falls under builders risk.
Do I need a special license for hail roof repairs? If the residential roofing job exceeds $7,500, you need a specific LSLBC roofing license.
Is a surplus lines policy bad? No. Surplus lines carriers often insure riskier trades like roofing, and they're regulated and reported through the state's SLIP+ system.
Can one policy cover both farm buildings and home remodeling? It may, if the carrier accepts both classes. Your application should accurately describe all the work you do.
Will my rates go up because of the new $500,000 requirement? Higher limits typically cost more, but the current market may offer savings, so comparing carriers is worth the time.
With no lender to satisfy, the decision is yours, and so is the entire loss. A total rebuild in this parish runs well into six figures.
Making the Right Choice for Your Policy
The contractors who handle claims well in Northeast Louisiana usually did three things before anything went wrong. They matched their liability limits to the 2026 rules, they understood which policy covers the structure and which covers third parties, and they described their real work, from hail roofs to grain bins, honestly on the application.
Aubert Insurance Agency has been insuring Louisiana businesses since 1910. As an independent agency, we shop multiple carriers, including smaller markets that may suit mixed residential, storm and ag operations. We also explain exclusions in plain language so you know what your contract actually says.
Our process is simple: start online, we shop for you, and you pick the plan that fits. If your renewal is coming up or your certificate still shows an outdated limit, now is the time. Start a Quote with Kyle Beerbohm and the Aubert team, and put more than a century of Louisiana experience behind your next job.
About the Author
Kyle Beerbohm
President
We've been independent since 1910, and four generations of local ownership have kept us that way. We're one of the oldest agencies in St. Tammany Parish and the fourth oldest business in the City of Covington. I treat that history as a responsibility rather than a plaque on the wall. My job is to keep us answering to the families and business owners who walk through our doors, and to keep serving this parish for another hundred years.
Louisiana Insurance Questions, Answered
Questions clients ask us
Short, plain answers to what people ask before they call. Anything else, phone the office and ask.
What does an independent insurance agency do?
We represent you, not one insurance company. We gather your information once, then compare coverage and price across the carriers we hold contracts with. You get choices, and one agent handles the paperwork.
Which types of insurance does Aubert offer?
We write 13 personal lines, including home, auto, flood, boat, and life. We write 15 commercial lines, including business owners policies, general liability, workers compensation, and commercial property.
Do I need flood insurance in St. Tammany Parish?
Your homeowners policy excludes flood, and much of the Northshore has flooded outside mapped high-risk zones. Lenders require it inside those zones. We check your flood zone and quote NFIP and private options.
Which states are you licensed in?
We hold licenses in Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, and Texas. License numbers appear in the footer of every page on this site.
How do you find me a competitive rate?
We take your details once and market them to the carriers and wholesale brokers that fit your risk. We compare the offers, explain the differences in coverage, and recommend the strongest fit.
How do I file a claim or request a certificate?
Call the office or use the Client Center on this site. We report the claim, follow the adjuster, and send certificates of insurance to whoever needs them.
Personal Insurance in Louisiana
Coverage for your home, your vehicles, and your family
Thirteen personal lines sit under one roof. Start with the coverage you need most, and we price it across our markets.
Home Insurance
Protect your house, its contents, and your liability with a policy priced across many Louisiana homeowners carriers.
Car Insurance
Cover every driver and vehicle in your household, and compare limits and deductibles side by side before you buy.
Flood Insurance
Standard home policies exclude flood. We write NFIP and private flood coverage for St. Tammany Parish properties.
Umbrella Insurance
Add a layer of liability above your home and auto limits, so one serious claim never reaches your savings.
Boat Insurance
Cover your hull, motor, trailer, and liability on the lake, the river, and the Gulf, wherever you launch.
Life Insurance
Replace your income for the people who depend on it, with term and permanent options we quote across carriers.
Business Insurance in Louisiana
Coverage for the business you built
Fifteen commercial lines, written for the payrolls, fleets, and buildings that Louisiana carriers ask hard questions about.
Contractors Insurance
General contractors, trade contractors and specialty crews. We cover the liability, tools, vehicles and workers your jobs depend on.
Business Owners (BOP)
One policy bundling property and liability for a small business. Straightforward cover for the building, the contents and the risk.
Professional Liability
Protection when your advice or professional work is challenged. A staple of any commercial package for a service business.
Commercial Property
Landlords and commercial real estate investors. We insure the building, the habitation risk and the income it produces.
Workers Compensation
Protecting your employees protects your business. Medical costs and lost wages covered when someone is hurt on the job.
Commercial Auto
Trucks, vans and fleets. We shop a wide range of commercial auto markets to match your vehicles and your drivers.
Business Insurance by Industry
We protect hundreds of businesses of all shapes and sizes
We know the exposures, the contract language, and the markets that write these trades on the Northshore.
Residential General Contractors
Builders risk, general liability, and comp for homebuilders and remodelers working across St. Tammany Parish.
Trade Contractors
Plumbers, electricians, roofers, and painters get liability, tools, and auto coverage that satisfies job requirements.
Restaurants
Property, liquor liability, spoilage, and comp for kitchens, bars, and cafés, including Louisiana association programs.
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What Our Clients Say
Neighbours, business owners, and families across Covington and Slidell tell the story better than we can.
Insurance Tips & Local News
Insurance tips for Louisiana homes and businesses
Practical reading on flood zones, hurricane deductibles, and the coverage questions local business owners raise.
Request Your Free Insurance Quote
Tell us what you need covered
Send the form or call the office. A licensed agent in Covington or Slidell answers you directly.
614 E. Boston St., Covington, LA 70433. (985) 892-3101
58418 Tyler Drive, Slidell, LA 70461 · (985) 641-0520
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614 E. Boston St., Covington, LA 70433 — Get Directions
58418 Tyler Drive, Slidell, LA 70461 — Get Directions
