Restaurant Workers' Comp in Rhode Island
What Rhode Island requires of restaurants and bars for workers' compensation — when it kicks in, who's exempt, and what it costs.
Reviewed by J. Robert Smith, Licensed Insurance Agent (NPN 10378680). Last updated .
Yes. Rhode Island requires workers' compensation for essentially every employer with one or more employees, so a restaurant needs coverage from its first hire—there is no small-employer exemption despite outdated claims of a four-employee threshold. Sole proprietors, partners, and LLC members are excluded; corporate officers may opt out by filing a waiver. Beacon Mutual anchors the market.
- Required?
- Yes
- Kicks in at
- One or more employees (1+) under R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-29-6. There is no current size-based small-employer exemption.
- Restaurant rate
- NCCI class 9082 (full-service restaurant) approx. $1.00–$1.75 per $100 payroll; 9083 (limited-service/fast food) approx. $0.85–$1.40. Low-to-moderate hazard tier. Approximate, industry tier.
- Market
- Competitive private market with no monopolistic state fund; Beacon Mutual Insurance Company is a state-created competitive mutual carrier that also administers the assigned-risk residual market.
Is workers’ comp required for a restaurant in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island requires workers' compensation once you reach One or more employees (1+) under R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-29-6. There is no current size-based small-employer exemption.. Individual sole proprietors, partners, and LLC members are excluded from mandatory coverage, and most corporate officers may elect out by filing a waiver (Form DWC-11) with the Division of Workers' Compensation. Domestic service employees, certain agricultural workers, casual labor, and qualifying real estate salespersons are also exempt.
What restaurant workers’ comp costs in Rhode Island
The restaurant class-code rate in Rhode Island is NCCI class 9082 (full-service restaurant) approx. $1.00–$1.75 per $100 payroll; 9083 (limited-service/fast food) approx. $0.85–$1.40. Low-to-moderate hazard tier. Approximate, industry tier.. Your premium is that rate applied per $100 of payroll and adjusted by your experience modifier, so it scales with how many people you employ and your claims history. Competitive private market with no monopolistic state fund; Beacon Mutual Insurance Company is a state-created competitive mutual carrier that also administers the assigned-risk residual market.
What owners in Rhode Island miss
- Rhode Island's requirement kicks in at a single employee, and the widely repeated "fewer than four employees" exemption is outdated — both the RI DLT and § 28-29-6 confirm no size-based carve-out.
- Corporate officers must affirmatively file Form DWC-11 to exclude themselves.
- Beacon Mutual, created by the state, is the dominant carrier and runs the assigned-risk pool.
- Operating uninsured can bring fines up to $1,000 per day plus possible criminal charges.
Sources
- Rhode Island Department of Labor & Training: Basic Questions about Workers' Compensationprimaryretrieved 2026-07-27
- State of Rhode Island General Assembly: R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-29-6 — Employers subject to lawprimaryretrieved 2026-07-27
- Beacon Mutual Insurance Company: Beacon Mutual Workers' Comp for RI Businessindustryretrieved 2026-07-27
Cost examples are illustrative national figures gathered from public filings and industry surveys. They are not quotes. Your actual premium depends on your state, carrier, revenue, payroll, location, and coverage selections. Restaurant Insurance Authority is an insurance marketing and referral service, not an insurer or licensed agency. We connect business owners with licensed independent commercial-lines agents who specialize in food and beverage. Questions? Call (855) 480-1410.
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