Commercial Property Insurance In Colorado: Your 2025 Guide
Commercial building insurance isn’t just a smart move for business owners in Colorado – it’s a must-have to protect your business assets. A solid policy helps prevent major out-of-pocket expenses from unexpected disasters and often fulfills requirements for business loans or contractual obligations. Most importantly, having commercial property insurance gives you peace of mind, so you can focus on growing your company without worrying about a big financial hit if disaster strikes.
Understanding Colorado’s Unique Challenges
Colorado is a beautiful place to live but can be a difficult place to get affordable insurance due to unique weather-related risks. The right commercial building insurance helps you bounce back and keep your operations running, even if one of these Colorado events happens:
Hailstorms
Nicknamed “Hail Alley,” the Front Range region (including Denver, Colorado Springs, and Fort Collins) is prone to frequent hailstorms with stones sometimes the size of golf balls or larger. Hail can cause massive damage to roofs, windows, vehicles, and outdoor equipment. Higher wind/hail deductibles are often standard in Colorado policies because of these frequent events.
Wildfires
Wildfires can spread quickly in dry and mountainous areas, posing serious risks to businesses located near forests or wildland-urban interfaces. In addition to smoke and fire damage, nearby businesses may also face mandatory evacuations or closures, leading to added costs and lost income.
Severe Winter Storms
In Colorado, winter storms can bring heavy snow, ice, and freezing temperatures. These storms can damage roofs, freeze pipes, and disrupt power. Building owners in mountainous areas often experience rapid temperature fluctuations, which can be especially hard on roofs and building exteriors.
Flooding
While not as frequent as hail or wildfire events, flooding does happen. Heavy rainfall, snowmelt, and even post-wildfire burn scars can lead to flash floods. Businesses in certain areas should still consider flood insurance, since standard policies typically don’t cover it.
Needing To Insure A Building In Colorado?
We can help!
Types Of Coverages Colorado Business Owners Need
From severe hailstorms to everyday slip-and-fall risks, having the right commercial insurance policies can protect your business from financial setbacks. Here are some types of coverage you may need in Colorado.
Commercial Property Insurance
This coverage protects the physical assets of your business, including the building, equipment, inventory, and furnishings. In Colorado, where you face hail, wildfires, and severe winter weather, a robust commercial property policy ensures you can repair or replace damaged property and get back on track quickly.
Premises Liability Coverage
Also called general liability, premises liability protects you if someone is injured on your property or if you accidentally damage someone else’s property. For example, if a customer slips and falls in your office during an icy winter day, liability coverage helps cover medical expenses and legal fees if they decide to sue.
Wind/Hail Coverage
In Colorado’s Hail Alley, many standard property insurance policies have higher deductibles specifically for wind or hail damage. Wind/hail coverage ensures you have protection for this common peril. Depending on your policy, you may consider a wind deductible buyback endorsement to lower your out-of-pocket costs if wind or hail damage occurs.
Flood Insurance
Most standard policies exclude flooding. Since flash floods can happen along the Front Range and in mountain communities (especially near burn scar areas after wildfires), many Colorado businesses will want to look into separate flood insurance. This coverage helps you repair or replace property damaged by rising water.
Business Income Insurance
Also called business interruption insurance, this coverage pays for ongoing expenses like payroll, rent, and utilities if you’re forced to close due to a covered loss. Whether the disaster is a wildfire, severe hail damage, or heavy snow collapsing your roof, business income insurance keeps your finances stable until repairs are done or you’ve relocated.
Tips For Colorado Building Owners
There’s a lot to consider when shopping for commercial property insurance. Here are some ways to get the best coverage.
Get Agreed-Value Property Coverage
Agreed-value property coverage means you and your insurer set a fixed value for your building at the start of the policy. If a covered loss occurs, you receive the agreed-upon amount without worrying about depreciation or coinsurance penalties. With Colorado’s rapidly increasing construction costs, agreed-value coverage can save you from expensive surprises.
Find The Deductible Sweet Spot
Your premium depends on factors like coverage limits, risk level, and deductible. Typically, higher deductibles lower your premium – but the key is striking the right balance. Because hail claims in Colorado can be frequent, consider whether a percentage-based wind/hail deductible fits your budget, and shop around to see which carrier offers the best value.
If You Are In A Wildfire Region, Don’t Wait Until Last Minute
Colorado’s wildfire-prone areas can be especially challenging to insure. Coverage options tend to tighten after major fire seasons, and premiums can climb quickly if there’s an uptick in wildfire activity. It’s best to start shopping for policies well before your current coverage expires. Getting quotes early may help you secure a broader range of options at more competitive rates, instead of scrambling after carriers have already imposed stricter underwriting.
Ask About Bundling (Business Owners Policy)
A business owners policy (BOP) bundles property insurance, liability coverage, and sometimes business interruption coverage into a single policy. This can simplify your insurance package and often lowers your overall premium. Not all carriers offer BOPs, so ask your agent for options that fit your type of business and risk level.
What Is The Colorado FAIR Plan?
The Fair Access to Insurance Requirements (FAIR) Plan is a new program created by House Bill 23-1288 and signed into law by the Governor on May 12, 2023. It’s designed as a market of last resort, helping homeowners and businesses secure property insurance coverage when they cannot obtain it from standard carriers. Here’s what you need to know:
Why Was the FAIR Plan Created?
Colorado’s challenging wildfire and hail environment, along with other high-risk factors, sometimes leads standard insurance companies to deny coverage. The FAIR Plan fills this gap by guaranteeing basic property insurance for those who can’t find it elsewhere. This program ensures that no property in Colorado goes completely uninsured.
What Coverage Will It Offer?
- Basic Coverage: The FAIR Plan will initially provide actual cash value (ACV) coverage for losses caused by fire or lightning, with optional endorsements for windstorms, hail, explosion, riot, civil commotion, vehicles, smoke, volcanic eruption, vandalism, and malicious mischief.
- Coverage Limits:
- Residential: Maximum combined property and contents limit of $750,000.
- Commercial: Maximum coverage of $5,000,000 per location (property + contents).
- Important Note: FAIR Plan policies only provide ACV coverage—depreciation is subtracted from the replacement cost when determining claim payouts. They do not offer replacement cost coverage.
When Will Coverage Be Available?
The Board overseeing the Colorado FAIR Plan Association was appointed in January 2024 and submitted its Plan of Operation, which was approved by the Division of Insurance on July 26, 2024. Policies are expected to be available in early 2025.
Are There Other Options?
Ultimately, the Colorado FAIR Plan is an important lifeline for businesses and homeowners that have exhausted all other insurance avenues. However, it is always best to secure coverage through the standard market if possible—both for cost savings and broader coverage options.
Best Insurance Carriers For Colorado Commercial Properties
Choosing the right provider makes all the difference in protecting your commercial building. Here are a few carriers that typically work well with Colorado businesses. At LandesBlosch, we’re always happy to compare quotes and customize a solution for you.
CrossCover Insurance Services
CrossCover offers flexible coverage options for a range of Colorado commercial properties, including offices, warehouses, and multi-family buildings. They understand that hail and wildfire risks can vary greatly by region and are often willing to work closely with clients when evaluating these risks.
Chubb
Known for its financial strength and exceptional claims service, Chubb provides comprehensive policies with competitive rates. They often cater to retail and office buildings, focusing on lower-risk businesses, but they also understand the hail and wildfire issues Colorado business owners face.
Travelers
Travelers has a long history in the insurance industry and offers coverage for a variety of commercial properties. While wind/hail deductibles may be higher in Colorado due to frequent storms, Travelers is known for its fair underwriting and strong claims handling.
Find The Right Commercial Building Policy
Colorado businesses face unique risks, from devastating hailstorms to unpredictable wildfires and winter weather. At LandesBlosch, we’ve been helping business owners find the right coverage for decades. Our team works with top insurance providers, ensuring you get the best policy for the best price. Contact us today to get quotes from leading companies that insure commercial buildings in Colorado. Let us help you stay protected so you can focus on what matters most: growing your business.
About The Author: Austin Landes, CIC
Austin is an experienced Commercial Risk Advisor specializing in property & casualty risk management for religious institutions, real estate, construction, and manufacturing.