Workers' Comp Rates — Class 9014

Workers' Comp for Janitorial in Virginia (2026)

Virginia's 2026 NCCI filing proposes a -7.7% rate decrease effective April 1, 2026 — the largest single-filing decrease in this batch — and the July 1, 2026 maximum TTD of $1,507.01 makes Virginia the second-highest indemnity ceiling state after Vermont, requiring careful reserve-setting for long-duration janitorial claims.

Competitive marketStatute: Va. Code §65.2-100 et seq. (Virginia Workers' Compensation Act); benefit formula at §65.2-500; employer insurance obligation at §65.2-800; penalty at §65.2-805, §65.2-807; NCCI files Virginia loss costs independentlyEffective: Current; 2025–2026 rates (max $1,463.10/week effective 7/1/2025; max $1,507.01 effective 7/1/2026; NCCI VA 2025 advisory forum filing: -7.7% decrease eff. 4/1/2026)Last reviewed: Q2 2026
State
Virginia
Governing Statute
Va. Code §65.2-100 et seq. (Virginia Workers' Compensation Act); benefit formula at §65.2-500; employer insurance obligation at §65.2-800; penalty at §65.2-805, §65.2-807; NCCI files Virginia loss costs independently
NCCI Class Code 9014 — Janitorial Services by Contractors, No Window Cleaning Above Ground Level & Drivers
Enforcement Agency
Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission (VWC); 333 E Franklin St, Richmond, VA 23219; workcomp.virginia.gov
Civil Penalty
Failure to insure: Class 3 misdemeanor for first offense; Class 2 misdemeanor for subsequent offense (Va. Code §65.2-805); civil penalty: up to $250/day of noncompliance; Uninsured Employer's Fund pays injured workers and recoups from employer + 10% surcharge; employer loses WC immunity and is exposed to civil tort suit; VWC may issue stop-work order (§65.2-807)

How workers' comp works for janitorial in Virginia

Virginia is an NCCI state with a competitive private insurance market regulated by the State Corporation Commission's Bureau of Insurance and administered by the Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission (VWC). Coverage is mandatory for employers with two or more employees — a lower threshold than many Southern states. All employers must maintain coverage through licensed private carriers or qualify as self-insured. The VWC resets the maximum and minimum weekly benefit rates each July 1 based on the state average weekly wage. For 2025–2026, the maximum is $1,463.10/week (7/1/2025), increasing to $1,507.01/week (7/1/2026) — the second-highest ceiling in this batch after Vermont.

NCCI filed a significant -7.7% decrease to Virginia voluntary market loss costs effective April 1, 2026 — the largest voluntary market decrease in this nine-state batch. Policies attaching on or after April 1, 2026 will reflect this reduction. Virginia's Medical Fee Schedule, updated effective January 1, 2026, also controls treatment costs and is incorporated into the NCCI loss cost filing.

Class code and rate (2026)

  • Code 9014 — Janitorial Services by Contractors, No Window Cleaning Above Ground Level & Drivers. Virginia NCCI filed a -7.7% voluntary market decrease effective April 1, 2026 (per NCCI VA 2025 advisory forum filing). Indicative market rate for Virginia 9014 pre-reduction: approximately $2.60/$100 payroll; post-reduction: approximately $2.40/$100. Confirm current rate via NCCI Class Lookup (ncci.com) or Virginia SCC Bureau of Insurance.
  • Code 9170 — Janitorial with above-ground window cleaning. Higher rate; separate payroll required.

Indemnity benefits (Virginia 2026)

  • Max weekly TTD/PTD/death: $1,463.10 (effective 7/1/2025 per VWC rates schedule); increases to $1,507.01 effective 7/1/2026 (per VWC 2026 rates announcement at workcomp.virginia.gov).
  • Min weekly TTD: $365.78 (effective 7/1/2025); increases to $376.75 effective 7/1/2026.
  • Waiting period: 7 calendar days; first 7 days compensated retroactively if disability exceeds 21 days (Va. Code §65.2-500(C)) — the same retroactive trigger as Georgia and South Dakota.
  • Compensation rate: 66.67% of average weekly wage, capped at statutory maximum (§65.2-500).
  • TTD maximum duration: 500 weeks (§65.2-500(A)).
  • COLA (cost of living adjustment): effective October 1, 2025 COLA rate of 2.85%; effective October 1, 2026: 2.65% — long-duration claimants receive annual adjustments (VWC rates schedule).

Coverage thresholds and exemptions

  • Mandatory for employers with 2 or more employees (full-time or part-time); Va. Code §65.2-101 and §65.2-800.
  • Excluded: agricultural laborers, domestic servants, certain casual employees not in regular course of business.
  • Corporate officers may elect exclusion from coverage by filing a written waiver with the VWC; sole proprietors and partners may elect in voluntarily.
  • Independent contractor test: Virginia uses a multi-factor control test under §65.2-101 and VWC case law; the statutory "worker" definition is broadly construed. Janitorial workers supervised by a contractor are typically statutory employees.

Failure-to-insure penalty

Under Va. Code §65.2-805, operating without required workers' compensation coverage is a Class 3 misdemeanor for a first offense and a Class 2 misdemeanor for each subsequent offense (Class 2 carries up to 6 months imprisonment and a fine up to $1,000). The VWC may also impose a civil penalty of up to $250 per day of noncompliance and issue a stop-work order (§65.2-807) halting all business operations. The Uninsured Employer's Fund pays injured workers and then seeks full reimbursement from the employer plus a 10% surcharge on all benefits paid. The employer additionally loses workers' compensation immunity and becomes exposed to a common-law tort suit by the injured employee.

Cost drivers specific to janitorial in Virginia

  • Top injuries (BLS NAICS 561720): slips/falls, back/shoulder strains, chemical exposure — Virginia's large government, healthcare, and tech sector base creates high-volume commercial cleaning demand, especially in Northern Virginia and the Richmond metro area.
  • Virginia's COLA adjustment (2.65–2.85% annually) means long-duration claims grow in cost each October — a significant tail-risk driver for catastrophic or PTD claims.
  • The -7.7% NCCI rate decrease effective 4/1/2026 is the steepest in this batch; employers with April or later policy renewal dates will see meaningful premium relief.
  • Virginia's updated Medical Fee Schedule (effective 1/1/2026) strengthens cost containment on medical benefits — a favorable trend for carriers and employers.
  • Bid-math note: at ~$2.40/$100 (post-4/1/2026 reduction), load WC at approximately 2.4% of gross wages in Virginia bids. Pre-4/1/2026 renewals: use ~$2.6%.

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This page is informational only. It does not constitute legal advice, tax advice, or a professional compliance determination. Laws vary by state and locality, change over time, and apply differently depending on your specific facts and circumstances. Before taking any action with legal or business consequences, consult a licensed attorney or CPA qualified in your jurisdiction.