What Virginia requires

Virginia generally requires coverage when a business regularly has more than two employees — and contractors should count subcontractor workers toward the threshold. Claims run through the Workers’ Compensation Commission with a 30-day notice rule and a hard two-year filing bar.

Industries we insure in Richmond

Richmond’s employer mix maps to our programs:

• Restaurants — Scott’s Addition to Church Hill’s acclaimed scene
• Offices & professional services — capitol-city law, finance, and agencies
• Medical & dental offices — the VCU Health orbit
• Retail stores — Carytown and neighborhood commerce
• Fitness studios & gyms — the river city’s active economy

Richmond workers’ comp rates

Virginia’s loss costs fell 7.7% effective April 1, 2026 — the sixth consecutive annual decrease. Our Virginia rates guide explains how to capture the trend.

Richmond rates on Virginia’s statewide loss costs — 7.7% lower effective April 2026. The city’s service-heavy mix rates favorably, and hospitality accounts benefit most from carrier comparison in a falling market.

How we work for Richmond employers

• One application, a dozen A-rated carriers — including specialty markets that actively want your class of business
• Pay-as-you-go billing — premium follows your actual payroll instead of an annual estimate
• Same-day certificates — when a contract, lease, or license is waiting on proof of coverage
• Classification and mod reviews — the two levers that quietly decide what Richmond businesses overpay
• Ghost policies — for owner-only operations that just need compliant proof of coverage

Richmond workers’ comp FAQs

What class codes cover a Richmond restaurant-brewery?

Front-of-house and kitchen rate as food service, production/brewing rates separately, and retail/taproom may split again — mixed operations here reward careful classification.

Do Richmond law firms need workers’ comp?

At more than two employees, yes — and attorney/clerical classes rate among the cheapest available. Minimum-premium comparison decides most small-firm quotes.

Is Virginia’s rate decrease automatic at renewal?

The loss cost decrease flows through carrier filings — but how fully and quickly varies by carrier, which is exactly why we re-shop Richmond accounts each cycle.

More Virginia resources

Workers’ comp in Norfolk · Workers’ comp in Newport News · Workers’ comp in Virginia Beach · Virginia guide · Virginia rates · Virginia forms