HOA Liability Coverage for Special Events

As we head full steam into summer, we think it is a great time for some reminders about special events your associations may be holding, and appropriate liability protections to put in place.

Many HOA’s celebrate Independence Day with parades and picnics. National Night Out in August is another common date for community get-togethers. When planning these events, it is important to have the correct liability insurance in place, especially if your general liability (GL) insurance has exclusions for some types of activities.

Most of the time, your GL policy provides appropriate protection for the association, its volunteers and officers. When planning a special event, you should always contact your agent or broker to ensure that the activities you are planning are covered.

Other things to consider:

·    If you hire vendors (such as a food truck) be sure that they are properly insured and have the association named as additional insured for the day of the event.

·    If you have community members volunteering for the event, such as BBQing or face painting, use a sign-in sheet so you can keep track of who is “working” for the association.

·    Alcohol. Don’t sell it or encourage attendees to bring it. If you want it to be part of your event, contract with a catering company or other provider that has the appropriate licensing and insurance. Even if you are hiring a catering or bartending service, you may still need a special liquor liability policy as many GL policies are excluding this now.

It is exciting when associations plan special events as building community is so important. Please contact us at 415-431-7655 if you have any questions. Thank you.

This article originally appeared on the Berg and Labarre Insurance blog .