What are the insurance requirements for a restaurant depot in my state?
The law requires a restaurant depot to carry workers' comp once it has employees, with a threshold that varies by state, and liability coverage on any truck or car it owns. In most of the eight states below, the food-storage and alcohol licences ask for no insurance filing; your lease, your lender and your fire inspector set the rest.
- Only two insurance requirements are statutory in every state here: workers' comp, and minimum limits on vehicles you own.
- On the agency pages we read, the food-storage and alcohol licences in these eight states mostly list no insurance filing. Massachusetts is the exception for alcohol, and New York asks for proof of workers' comp.
- How high you may stack stock is a fire-code question, and the fire code differs by state: two of the eight use a different model code.
What does the law require of a restaurant depot, and what does everything else require?
The law asks for two insurance policies almost everywhere: workers' comp once you have employees, and liability coverage on vehicles you own. Licences, fire codes, your lease and your lender add the rest.
Workers' compWorkers' Compensation Insurance that pays medical bills and lost wages when an employee is hurt or sick because of work. Insurers call it workers' compensation. more → pays an employee hurt on the job; each state sets its own trigger, such as one employee, five or a payroll figure. Grocery wholesalers recorded 4.2 injury and illness cases per 100 full-time workers in 2024, against 2.3 across all private industry. (Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics) State-by-state detail is on the workers' comp law index, and pricing is in workers' comp for restaurant depots.
The auto limits below are the state minimums for a delivery truck or car your depot owns, which business auto coverage must meet. A driver's own car on a delivery run is not your vehicle; insurers call that coverage hired and non-owned autoHired and Non-Owned Auto Liability coverage for accidents in vehicles your business does not own, such as rentals or an employee's personal car used on a work errand. Insurers call it hired and non-owned auto. more →.
Two kinds of licence come up for a depot: one to store and sell food wholesale, and one to sell alcohol, if you do. Each state names its own agency, cited below, and none of the pages we read required a liability policy for a food licence.
Fire rules matter because depots stack stock high. The model fire code starts its extra rules for stock stacked on pallets, racks or shelves above 12 feet, or 6 feet for high-hazard goods; it calls this high-piled storage. (Source: 2021 International Fire Code, chapter 32, as adopted locally) States adopt their own edition or a different code, so your local fire marshal confirms the trigger height. All as of 2026.
What does a restaurant depot in Kansas have to carry?
Kansas requires workers' comp above $20,000 of payroll, and its food and alcohol licences list no insurance beyond a possible liquor bond.
Workers' comp. Required once payroll tops $20,000 a year, family wages excluded. (Source: K.S.A. 44-505)
Auto. An owned truck needs $25,000 per injured person, $50,000 per accident and $25,000 for property damage. (Source: K.S.A. 40-3107) Staff cars need added coverage.
Food licence. The Department of Agriculture licenses food wholesalers and food warehouses as "food processors", separately from restaurants and grocery stores. (Source: Kansas Department of Agriculture)
Alcohol. The state licenses retailers and distributors; its page lists no insurance but says tax staff may contact you about a liquor bond. (Source: Kansas Alcoholic Beverage Control)
Fire code. Kansas lists no statewide edition of the model fire code; codes are adopted and enforced locally, and a local government may be stricter. (Source: American Wood Council)
What does a restaurant depot in Missouri have to carry?
Missouri requires workers' comp from the fifth employee, and no state insurance filing turned up for its food or alcohol licences.
Workers' comp. Required once you have five or more employees; part-time, casual and family members count, and so do LLC members and corporate officers. (Source: Missouri Division of Workers' Compensation)
Auto. An owned truck needs $25,000 per injured person, $50,000 per accident and $25,000 for property damage. (Source: RSMo 303.190) Staff cars need added coverage.
Food licence. We found no single state wholesale-food licence. The health department says it issues no permits to food manufacturers, and local health agencies handle retail food, so ask yours who inspects a depot that sells to businesses and the public. (Source: Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services)
Alcohol. The Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control licenses package (off-premises) retail and wholesale solicitors; its page mentions no bond or insurance. (Source: Missouri Alcohol and Tobacco Control)
Fire code. Building codes are mostly adopted by each city, in differing editions, with no statewide edition listed. (Source: American Wood Council)
What does a restaurant depot in New York have to carry?
New York requires workers' comp from the first employee, and the state asks for proof of it before issuing licences.
Workers' comp. Virtually all employers must carry it, with no headcount threshold; part-time, family and unpaid workers count. (Source: New York Workers' Compensation Board)
Auto. An owned truck needs $25,000 per injured person and $50,000 per accident for injury, $50,000 and $100,000 for death, and $10,000 for property damage. (Source: New York Department of Motor Vehicles) Staff cars need added coverage.
Food licence. Agriculture and Markets licenses businesses that make, process or repack food under Article 20-C, and refrigerated warehouses under Article 19; ask the department about a storage-only depot. (Source: New York Department of Agriculture and Markets)
Alcohol. The State Liquor Authority issues retail and wholesale licences; its homepage mentions no insurance. (Source: State Liquor Authority) The Board says agencies must confirm New York workers' comp coverage before issuing or renewing permits and licences. (Source: New York Workers' Compensation Board)
Fire code. The Fire Code of New York State, 2020 edition, took effect May 12, 2020; we did not confirm whether its storage chapter keeps the model code's heights, so ask your fire marshal. (Source: New York Department of State)
What does a restaurant depot in Pennsylvania have to carry?
Pennsylvania requires workers' comp from the first employee, and a food registration that carries no insurance filing.
Workers' comp. Required for one or more employees who could be injured in the state, unless every worker is in an excluded class such as a sole proprietor; part-timers and family are not excluded. (Source: Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry)
Auto. An owned truck needs $15,000 per injured person, $30,000 per accident, $5,000 for property damage and $5,000 in medical benefits. (Source: Pennsylvania Insurance Department) Staff cars need added coverage.
Food licence. The Department of Agriculture requires registration of any business that stores, packages or handles food, warehouses and wholesalers included; the fee is $35, renewed yearly. (Source: Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture)
Alcohol. The Liquor Control Board licenses producers, retailers and handlers; its page mentions no insurance or bond. (Source: Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board)
Fire code. Pennsylvania approved the 2021 model construction codes effective January 1, 2026, while municipalities adopt fire codes separately. (Source: Jensen Hughes)
What does a restaurant depot in Massachusetts have to carry?
Massachusetts requires workers' comp of every employer, and proof of liquor liability coverage before an alcohol licence is issued or renewed.
Workers' comp. Every employer must provide it, with no minimum headcount. (Source: G.L. c. 152, §25A)
Auto. Since July 1, 2025, an owned truck needs $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident (Source: G.L. c. 90, §34A) and $30,000 for property damage. (Source: §34O) Staff cars need added coverage.
Food licence. The state food rules list operating a cold storage or food warehouse as a licensed activity under G.L. c. 94, §305C. (Source: Massachusetts food manufacturing rules)
Alcohol. No licence under the licensing section is issued or renewed until the applicant shows liquor liability coverage of at least $250,000 for one person and $500,000 for one accident; the text does not limit it to bars. (Source: G.L. c. 138, §12) Ask your local licensing board how it applies to a package-store licence.
Fire code. Massachusetts builds its fire code on NFPA 1, a different model code from the one above, in a 2021 edition with state amendments. (Source: Massachusetts fire code, 2021 edition)
What does a restaurant depot in Louisiana have to carry?
Louisiana requires workers' comp of every employer and lists no insurance filing on its alcohol agency page.
Workers' comp. An employer must secure compensation for its employees by insurance, a group fund or proof of financial ability; the section sets no headcount threshold. (Source: La. R.S. 23:1168)
Auto. An owned truck needs $15,000 per injured person, $30,000 per accident and $25,000 for property damage. (Source: La. R.S. 32:900) Staff cars need added coverage.
Food licence. The Department of Health's Food and Drug Program permits food manufacturers, storage warehouses and distribution. (Source: Louisiana Department of Health)
Alcohol. The Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control licenses sellers; its page mentions no insurance or bond. (Source: Louisiana Alcohol and Tobacco Control)
Fire code. State law makes NFPA 1 or the International Fire Code the uniform code, and a local government that adopts a fire code must adopt the state one. (Source: La. R.S. 40:1578.7)
What does a restaurant depot in Maryland have to carry?
Maryland requires workers' comp of every employer, and its food warehouse licence is a health-department licence with no insurance filing listed.
Workers' comp. Each employer must secure compensation for covered employees, with no minimum headcount. (Source: Md. Labor & Employment §9-402)
Auto. An owned truck needs $30,000 per injured person, $60,000 for two or more and $15,000 for property damage. (Source: Md. Transportation §17-103) Staff cars need added coverage.
Food licence. Food warehouses and distribution centers must be licensed by the Department of Health; the page lists no insurance. (Source: Maryland Department of Health)
Alcohol. Retail alcohol licences come from local boards; the state page mentions no insurance. (Source: Maryland Alcohol, Tobacco and Cannabis Commission)
Fire code. The State Fire Prevention Code builds on NFPA 1 and NFPA 101 rather than the International Fire Code. (Source: International Code Council)
What does a restaurant depot in Washington have to carry?
Washington is a state-fund state for workers' comp, priced by hours worked, and its food-storage warehouse licence lists no insurance filing.
Workers' comp. Employers that do not self-insure buy from the state fund, not a private insurer. (Source: RCW 51.16.060) The 2026 base rate for the wholesale-store class, which includes wholesale-and-retail combinations, is $0.8847 per hour worked before experience rating. (Source: Washington L&I 2026 rates)
Auto. An owned truck needs $25,000 per injured person, $50,000 per accident and $10,000 for property damage. (Source: RCW 46.29.090) Staff cars need added coverage.
Food licence. The Department of Agriculture lists food storage warehouses among its licensed facilities. (Source: Washington State Department of Agriculture)
Alcohol. The Liquor and Cannabis Board licenses sellers; its main page mentions no insurance requirement for liquor licences. (Source: Liquor and Cannabis Board)
Fire code. The 2021 International Fire Code, with Washington amendments, applies in all counties and cities. (Source: Washington State Register 22-13-093)
What will my lease and lender require regardless of state?
A lease or loan sets its own insurance terms, usually higher than any statute above, and the paper you sign controls them.
Federal rules require insurance on the collateral for small-business loans over $500,000. (Source: 13 C.F.R. §120.160) A warehouse lease often asks for liability limits, proof that the building and your stock are insured, and the landlord named on your liability policy; a supplier or customer contract can ask for the same.
Landlords and lenders usually want a one-page certificateCertificate of Insurance (COI) A one-page proof of your coverage, showing the insurer, policy number, and limits, that you hand to a landlord or client. Insurers call it a certificate of insurance. more → showing your insurer, policy number and limits. Our certificate explainer and landlord insurance explainer show what it must say. For the lease itself, see the lease article.
Common questions about restaurant depot insurance requirements
No. A licence is an agency's permission to store and sell food; insurance is a policy that pays claims. Most of the licence pages above ask for no insurance, but your lease or lender may.
No. Each state's rules apply to the people, vehicles and building there, so the workers' comp, auto and licence answers above change with the state.
They are the least the law accepts, not what a serious crash can cost, and your lease, lender or customers may ask for more.
Check what your restaurant depot has to carry
Send us your state and your lease or loan insurance clause, and we will sort what comes from the law and what from the contract.