What insurance do event venues require?
What is the short answer?
There are two questions: what the venue carries, and what it asks the client or vendor to carry. For clients, the common ask is general liability insurance with limits that usually start at $1 million per occurrence, the venue named as an additional insured, and a certificate of insurance sent before the event. Some venues ask for more at large or higher-risk events.
If alcohol is served, venues commonly require liquor liability coverage too; some prefer a licensed, insured bartender. Most venues ask vendors (caterers, DJs, photographers) to carry their own policies and send their own certificates.
For your own policy, a broker who writes event venues can tell you what property, general liability and liquor liability you need. Limits vary by venue and state, so confirm them in writing and put the requirement in the contract.
How MyVenueHQ tracks vendor certificates
It tracks vendors, not the client renting the space.
- In Settings, Vendors, set the least cover you accept (the default is $1,000,000) and whether the certificate must name your venue as additional insured.
- Press Request a certificate on a vendor. They upload a file from an emailed link, with no account, and type in the insurer, policy number, amount and dates.
- You check it against the file and press Approve. Only approved certificates count.
- The vendor is emailed 30 days and 7 days before it ends, and once after. On an event, More, then Vendors shows who is covered on the day.
It does not read the file for you or stop a booking with an uncovered vendor.
Where MyVenueHQ fits
Vendor certificate tracking is on the free plan. Track vendor insurance.
More venue owner questions
Sources
Rules and prices vary by city, state and venue. This is general guidance, not legal or insurance advice.