Workers' comp and liability insurance for care agencies in Sonoma County

Coverage for Sonoma care providers

• Workers' compensation: class 8827(1) for in-home care and 8827(2) for in-home nursing ($2.794 per $100 of payroll), 9070(1) for RCFEs ($5.213), advisory rates for policies starting on or after September 1, 2026
• Professional and general liability, including the $1M / $3M every RCFE and home care organization must carry
• The $10,000 dishonesty bond for home care organizations, and resident cash bonds for RCFEs
• Hired and non-owned auto, abuse and molestation, and employment practices liability

Minimum wages in Sonoma County

Local minimum wages in Sonoma County: Sonoma $18.47 (January 1, 2026; 26+ employees; $17.38 for 25 or fewer); Petaluma $18.31 (January 1, 2026); Santa Rosa $18.21 (January 1, 2026). Cities without their own ordinance follow the $16.90 state minimum. Workers' comp is priced on payroll, so these wage floors set your premium. Five full-time caregivers at Santa Rosa's $18.21 is about $189,384 in annual payroll, or roughly $5,291 in advisory pure premium for in-home care and $9,873 for an RCFE, before carrier expenses and pricing.

Licensing offices for Sonoma County

Assisted living and board and care homes in Sonoma County are licensed through the CDSS Adult and Senior Care regional office in Santa Rosa (1450 Neotomas Avenue), which also covers Napa, Marin, Solano, Yolo and the North Coast. Home health agencies and hospices work with the CDPH Santa Rosa satellite office (2170 Northpoint Parkway), which also covers Napa, Marin, Mendocino, Humboldt, Lake and Del Norte. Home care organizations are licensed statewide by the CDSS Home Care Services Branch in Sacramento.

Wildfire and power shutoffs in Sonoma County

Sonoma County care providers plan around wildfire evacuations and Public Safety Power Shutoffs. RCFEs must keep emergency plans covering 72 hours of self-reliance through power failures, with two evacuation sites, one outside the immediate area (Health and Safety Code 1569.695). Standard business income insurance usually requires physical damage, so a planned shutoff may not trigger it. We review utility service interruption, spoilage and evacuation coverage with Sonoma clients before fire season.