Completed Operations

Completed operations coverage is a critical part of any tree service GL policy. It protects you when something goes wrong after you have packed up your trucks and left. A common example: you remove a large pine tree on a Monday, and by Thursday the stump hole — which you backfilled — collapses under a child running across the yard, causing an injury. Your completed operations coverage responds to this claim because the work was finished and the injury arose from the completed job.

Another frequent scenario involves root systems. You grind a stump down to grade, but the remaining lateral roots eventually decay, creating a sinkhole that damages a driveway or foundation. This type of slow-developing damage is exactly what completed operations is designed to address.

Most standard commercial GL policies include completed operations coverage automatically, but you should verify the limits. The "Products-Completed Operations Aggregate" is a separate aggregate that applies specifically to these claims. A common structure is a $2 million products-completed operations aggregate alongside a $2 million general aggregate. Make sure your completed operations aggregate has not been reduced or excluded — some carriers try to limit this coverage on high-risk trades.

Many contracts require you to maintain completed operations coverage for a specified period after the project ends — often one to three years. Some municipal and utility contracts require it for five years. This means you cannot simply drop your GL coverage the day you finish a project. If you are planning to close or sell your business, this ongoing obligation is something you must account for.