Does general liability cover my work after I finish a project?

Does a standard CGL policy include completed operations coverage?

Yes. Most standard commercial general liability (CGL) policies include products-completed operations coverage as a built-in component. This coverage applies after you finish a project and leave the job site. It protects against bodily injury or property damage to a third party that results from your completed work.

How is completed operations coverage different from ongoing operations coverage?

A CGL policy divides work into two phases. Ongoing operations coverage applies while you are actively working on a job. The moment work is finished and turned over to the client, completed operations coverage takes over. Together, they follow a project from start through completion and beyond, with no gap between the two phases.

What kinds of Georgia contractors face the most exposure here?

Georgia contractors, builders, and tradespeople carry real exposure from finished work. Problems can surface weeks, months, or even years after a job is done - a slow leak, a framing defect, wiring that passes inspection but later fails. Completed operations coverage is what responds when a delayed failure causes third-party injury or damage. Without it, the contractor absorbs that cost directly. For a fuller picture of what commercial coverage lines apply to your trade, see our guide on what commercial coverage Georgia businesses typically need.

For example, a Marietta plumber finishes a water heater installation and leaves the job. Three weeks later, an improperly connected fitting fails and floods the client's basement, causing $22,000 in water damage. The plumber's CGL policy responds through completed operations coverage because the damage resulted from finished work.

What does completed operations coverage exclude?

Understanding the exclusions matters as much as knowing what is covered. Completed operations coverage typically does not pay for:

• The cost to redo the faulty work itself. If a pipe fitting was installed wrong, replacing that fitting is usually excluded.
• Damage limited to the work product alone. If the faulty fitting damages surrounding cabinetry or flooring, those damages are typically covered - but not the fitting itself.
• Professional errors on design-build or design-assist work, which fall under professional liability (errors and omissions) coverage, not CGL.
• Specific trade exclusions. A roofing exclusion, for example, appears in many CGL forms.

How do I confirm my completed operations coverage meets contract requirements?

Reviewing the actual policy form, not just the certificate of insurance, is the only way to know exactly what is and is not covered. Certificates issued to general contractors or property owners often reference completed operations coverage, and some project contracts require that coverage to be maintained for a defined period after work is complete.

For example, a general contractor on a commercial build may require subcontractors to carry completed operations coverage for two years after the project closes out. A certificate showing coverage does not guarantee the limits or the duration match what the contract demands - only the policy form does.

Confirming your policy meets those contractual requirements before a project starts avoids gaps that surface only at claim time. If you want to understand how completed operations fits alongside claims-made versus occurrence policy structures, that distinction also affects when a policy responds to a delayed claim. A licensed advisor can review your current policy language, identify exclusions specific to your trade, and confirm whether your completed operations limits fit the scope of projects you take on. Request a free coverage review and our team will walk through your policy with you.