The Sample certificate of insurance for trade and business licenses is the City of Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I) model of the ACORD 25 Certificate of Liability Insurance, bundled with an instruction sheet for licenses. L&I says certain permits and licenses require proof of insurance, and the instruction sheet says this certificate is submitted to the Department before a license is issued, which makes it part of getting a Philadelphia business license or trade license that carries an insurance requirement. On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF; the original PDF is published by L&I at phila.gov.
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What is ACORD 25?
The Sample certificate of insurance for trade and business licenses is a filled-in example of the ACORD 25 Certificate of Liability Insurance, published by the City of Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I) with a five-page instruction sheet for licenses, showing how proof of insurance must appear.
The certificate has three sections. Section I holds the date, the producer (the agency issuing the policy), the insured and the insurers providing coverage with their NAIC numbers. Section II lists the general liability, automobile liability and workers compensation and employers' liability policies, with policy numbers, policy periods and limits. Section III names the certificate holder and carries the authorized representative's signature.
The instruction sheet explains items 1 through 8 and ends with two limits tables: one by trade license type (for example Contractor, Demolition, Electrical Contractor, Excavation Contractor, Home Inspector, Master Plumber) and one by business license type (for example Tow Company, Carnival, Streetery, Sidewalk Café, Hot Work, Public Garage or Lot). The tables show the minimum limits to match, so the certificate you complete must follow the row for your license.
The document is not a license application. It proves insurance coverage that L&I needs before a license is issued, and the printed certificate states that it is issued as a matter of information only and confers no rights on the certificate holder. The sample's names, numbers and dates are illustrations to replace with your own.
Who needs to file ACORD 25?
Applicants for a Philadelphia trade license or business license whose license type appears in the limits tables of the L&I instruction sheet use this certificate to show proof of insurance coverage. Trade license types listed include Contractor, Demolition, Electrical Contractor, Electrical Inspection Agency, Excavation Contractor, Expediter, Fire Suppression Contractor, Home Inspector, PA. Home Improvement, Master Plumber and Special Inspection Agency. Business license types listed include Tow Company, Carnival, Streetery, Sidewalk Café, Residential Property Wholesaler, Hot Work, Fleet Vehicle Mobile Fueling, and Public Garage or Lot.
Conditions and exceptions printed in the instructions:
- The Additional Insured box is selected only for Demolition Contractor and Home Inspector licenses.
- A corporation whose employees use their own vehicles for work must carry automobile liability for hired and non-owned autos.
- A Tow Company storing vehicles needs Garage Keeper's Legal Liability Insurance and must list the City of Philadelphia as Certificate Holder.
- Some license types show N/A for automobile liability or workers compensation in the tables.
- Sole proprietors, business partners and corporate officers who do all the contracting work themselves submit a notarized statement or a State Workers Insurance Fund (SWIF) certificate that they have no employees, instead of workers compensation proof.
The insurance producer or authorized representative issues and signs the certificate.
When to file ACORD 25
Submit the certificate before the license is issued: the instruction sheet says the completed ACORD 25 is submitted to the Department to show proof of insurance coverage before a license is issued. No separate due date is printed on it.
Check the policy period dates (items 4e, 5d and 6c) so that each policy is in force, since the certificate shows the effective and expiration dates for each one. If you submit the sole-proprietor or partner statement in place of workers compensation and later hire employees, the instructions say you must update your license with Workman's Compensation. For timing questions about a particular license, call L&I at 215-686-8686.
Documents you need
- For automobile liability only: a declarations page from the insurance company showing the minimum insurance amounts, accepted in lieu of the ACORD 25 form.
- If you are a sole proprietor, business partner or corporate officer performing all contracting work yourself: a notarized statement or a State Workers Insurance Fund (SWIF) certificate that you have no employees.
- If the Description of Operations / Locations / Vehicles box needs more space: ACORD 101, Additional Remarks Schedule, may be attached.
- For a Tow Company storing vehicles: Garage Keeper's Legal Liability Insurance, with the City of Philadelphia listed as Certificate Holder.
How to fill out ACORD 25
Enter the certificate date
Item 1: enter the date the certificate was issued, in MM/DD/YYYY format.
Enter the producer information
Item 2: provide the name and address of the agency issuing the insurance policy. Item 2a: add the agency's contact name, phone number, fax number and email.
Enter the insured and insurers
Item 3: provide the name and address of the insured company or individual. Item 3a: list the insurers for General Liability, Automobile Liability and Workers Compensation, each with its NAIC number.
Complete general liability coverage
Item 4: enter the insurer letter matching section 3a, select Commercial General Liability and Occur, and select Additional Insured only for Demolition Contractor and Home Inspector licenses. Enter the policy number (4d), the effective and expiration dates (4e) and the each-occurrence limit (4f).
Complete automobile liability coverage
Item 5: enter the matching insurer letter, select Any Auto (and/or Hired Autos and Non-Owned Autos), then the policy number (5c), policy dates (5d) and the combined single limit per accident (5e). A declarations page can replace the ACORD 25 for this coverage.
Complete workers compensation coverage
Item 6: enter the matching insurer letter, the policy number (6b), the policy dates (6c) and select WC Statutory Limits (6d). Enter the limits for each accident (6e), disease for each employee (6f) and the disease policy limit (6g).
Check limits against your license type
Compare each limit with the row for your license in the tables on pages 4 and 5 of the instruction sheet. Entries must reach the minimum shown for that license.
Describe operations if needed
Use the Description of Operations / Locations / Vehicles box in Section III. If you need more space, ACORD 101, Additional Remarks Schedule, may be attached.
Name the City as certificate holder
Item 7: enter The City of Philadelphia, Department of Licenses & Inspections, 1401 John F. Kennedy Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19102.
Have the representative sign
Item 8: the authorized representative must sign the certificate.
Review and download the completed PDF
Check that insurer letters match, policy dates are in MM/DD/YYYY, required boxes are selected and limits meet your license row. Download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF and submit it as described under How to submit.
How to submit ACORD 25
The instruction sheet says the completed certificate goes to the Department of Licenses and Inspections to show proof of insurance before a license is issued. It names no mailing address, portal or appointment process for the certificate itself.
- Certificate holder block (item 7): enter The City of Philadelphia, Department of Licenses & Inspections, 1401 John F. Kennedy Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19102. This is the name the certificate must show; the sheet does not present it as a drop-off address.
- Signature (item 8): the authorized representative must sign.
- Automobile exception: a declarations page from the insurance company with the minimum amounts is accepted in place of the ACORD 25 for automobile liability.
- Questions: call 215-686-8686 for further information on how to deliver the certificate for your license.
FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows L&I's channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Leaving the Certificate Holder block without The City of Philadelphia, Department of Licenses & Inspections, 1401 John F. Kennedy Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19102.
- Submitting the certificate unsigned; the authorized representative must sign it (item 8).
- Not selecting both the Commercial General Liability box and the Occur box in the general liability section.
- Not selecting the Any Auto box (or the Hired Autos and Non-Owned Autos boxes) in the automobile liability section.
- Not selecting the WC Statutory Limits box in the workers compensation section.
- Selecting the Additional Insured box for a license other than Demolition Contractor or Home Inspector.
- Entering insurer letters that do not match the insurers listed in section 3a.
- Showing limits below the minimums for your license type in the tables on pages 4 and 5 of the instruction sheet.
- Hiring employees after submitting the no-employees statement without updating the license with Workman's Compensation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Philadelphia L&I certificate of insurance for licenses?
It is a sample of the ACORD 25 Certificate of Liability Insurance with an instruction sheet from the Department of Licenses and Inspections. It shows how proof of insurance must be completed and submitted before a trade or business license is issued.
Do I need this certificate for a Philadelphia business license?
Only if your license type requires proof of insurance. L&I says certain permits and licenses do, and the instruction sheet lists limits for specific trade and business license types, such as Tow Company, Carnival or Hot Work. Call 215-686-8686 to confirm your license.
Can I use a declarations page instead of the ACORD 25?
For automobile liability, yes. The instruction sheet says a declarations page from the insurance company showing the minimum insurance amounts is acceptable in lieu of the ACORD 25 form. It does not extend that exception to general liability or workers compensation.
What if I am a sole proprietor with no employees?
If you, a business partner or a corporate officer will perform all the contracting work, submit a notarized statement or a State Workers Insurance Fund (SWIF) certificate that you have no employees. If you later hire employees, you must update your license with Workman's Compensation.
Who signs the certificate of insurance?
The authorized representative signs it (item 8). The certificate is issued by the insurance producer, whose name and address go in item 2, so you normally ask your agent to complete and sign it.
Who should be the certificate holder?
The City of Philadelphia, Department of Licenses & Inspections, 1401 John F. Kennedy Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19102. The instruction sheet says the City must be provided in Section III with this name and address.
When is the Additional Insured box checked?
Only for Demolition Contractor and Home Inspector licenses. The instruction sheet says the box must be selected only for those two license types; for every other license it is not selected.
Can I fill out the ACORD 25 sample online on FillingPDF?
You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is independent of the City of Philadelphia and does not submit the certificate; you deliver it to L&I through its channels.
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