Maine workers compensation requirements decide exactly when you must carry coverage, who counts toward the threshold, and what it costs to skip it. This guide breaks down the Maine workers compensation requirements in plain English — the employee count that triggers the mandate, who is exempt, the penalty for going without, and how to get covered. All figures are from Maine sources, verified as of June 2026.
In This Maine Guide:
Is Workers’ Comp Required in Maine?
Yes, workers compensation insurance is required in Maine for all employers with one or more employees, with limited exemptions for certain agricultural employers and specific worker categories under Title 39-A of the Maine Revised Statutes
Maine Workers’ Comp Requirements at a Glance
Here are the exact Maine workers compensation requirements every employer should know:
| Employees that trigger the mandate | 1 |
| Which workers count | All employees count toward the threshold regardless of employment status, including full-time, part-time, temporary, and seasonal workers; there is no minimum hours or payroll requirement to trigger the mandate |
| Who is exempt | Sole proprietors without employees are automatically exempt; domestic workers in a private home are exempt; executive officers of nonprofit charitable, religious, or educational corporations are exempt; agricultural employers with 6 or fewer laborers are conditionally exempt if they maintain employers liability insurance of at least 100000 multiplied by the number of full-time equivalent employees and at least 5000 in medical payments coverage; seasonal or casual agricultural and aquacultural workers are exempt if the employer maintains at least 25000 in employers liability insurance and 5000 in medical payments coverage; a parent, spouse, or child of a sole proprietor, partner, or 20-percent-or-more corporate stockholder is exempt |
| Owners & officers | Corporate officers who own at least 20 percent of the outstanding stock of the corporation may elect to exclude themselves from coverage by filing an opt-out form with the Maine Workers Compensation Board; sole proprietors without employees are automatically excluded; partners may also opt out of coverage |
| Penalty for going without | Civil fine of up to 10000 or 108 percent of the premiums that should have been paid during the uninsured period, whichever is greater; additional fine of up to 200 per day for continued noncompliance; willful or knowing failure to secure coverage is a Class D crime (misdemeanor) under Maine law; the state may issue stop-work orders halting business operations; the employer may face revocation of corporate charter and business licenses and remains personally liable for all medical costs and lost wages of any injured employee |
| Monopolistic state? | No — buy from private carriers |
| State fund | Maine does not have a traditional state fund; MEMIC (Maine Employers Mutual Insurance Company) was created by legislative act in 1993 as a private mutual company owned by its policyholders and serves as the guaranteed market and insurer of last resort, but it is not a government-run state fund |
How to Get Workers’ Comp Coverage in Maine
Maine employers obtain coverage by purchasing a policy from any of the 370-plus private insurance carriers licensed in the state; employers who cannot find coverage in the voluntary market can obtain it through MEMIC as the assigned-risk or guaranteed market carrier; qualified employers may also apply to self-insure with approval from the Maine Workers Compensation Board
Private market: YES
What Workers’ Comp Covers in Maine
Workers’ compensation is a no-fault system: an injured employee gets benefits without having to prove the employer did anything wrong, and in exchange gives up the right to sue for most workplace injuries. A typical Maine policy pays for medical treatment tied to a work injury, part of the wages lost while the worker recovers, longer-term disability benefits if the injury is permanent, and death benefits to a family.
It also includes employers-liability coverage, which protects the business if an injury still leads to a lawsuit. That trade-off is the practical heart of the Maine workers compensation requirements: the coverage exists to keep one bad injury from sinking both the worker and the business.
Employees vs. Independent Contractors in Maine
The most common way owners get the Maine workers compensation requirements wrong is by assuming a worker is an “independent contractor” who does not count. State agencies look at how the work is actually controlled, not the label on a 1099. If Maine decides a contractor was really an employee, the business can owe back premiums and penalties as if coverage should have been in place all along.
When you are close to the employee threshold, confirm each worker’s status with your state board before you decide you are exempt.
Other Maine workers’-comp rules: Agricultural employers with more than 6 laborers can still qualify for exemption if total weekly labor hours across all workers never exceed 240 hours and have not exceeded 240 hours at any time during the 52 weeks preceding an injury; MEMIC was created by the Maine legislature in 1993 as part of major workers compensation reform and now insures more than 65 percent of Maine employers;
employers must file an injury report with the Workers Compensation Board within 7 days of any workplace injury causing a missed day of work; injured employees must notify their employer within 60 days of the injury; wage replacement benefits begin only after an employee misses more than 7 consecutive days of work
Understanding Maine Workers Compensation Requirements
The Maine workers compensation requirements exist to make sure injured employees get medical care and lost wages without having to sue. For most owners, the Maine workers compensation requirements come down to one number: the employee count that triggers the mandate, shown in the table above.
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Once you hit that count, Maine workers compensation requirements apply whether you planned for them or not, and the penalty for going without is real. If any part of the Maine workers compensation requirements is unclear for your business, your state workers’-comp board can confirm the threshold, the exemptions, and how to get covered.
Next step: Once you know what your business in Maine actually needs, comparing quotes from several carriers takes only a few minutes. Many owners do this right after they understand their state and trade requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is workers’ comp required in Maine?
Yes, workers compensation insurance is required in Maine for all employers with one or more employees, with limited exemptions for certain agricultural employers and specific worker categories under Title 39-A of the Maine Revised Statutes
What is the penalty for not having workers’ comp in Maine?
Civil fine of up to 10000 or 108 percent of the premiums that should have been paid during the uninsured period, whichever is greater; additional fine of up to 200 per day for continued noncompliance; willful or knowing failure to secure coverage is a Class D crime (misdemeanor) under Maine law; the state may issue stop-work orders halting business operations;
the employer may face revocation of corporate charter and business licenses and remains personally liable for all medical costs and lost wages of any injured employee
Who is exempt from Maine workers’ comp?
Sole proprietors without employees are automatically exempt; domestic workers in a private home are exempt; executive officers of nonprofit charitable, religious, or educational corporations are exempt; agricultural employers with 6 or fewer laborers are conditionally exempt if they maintain employers liability insurance of at least 100000 multiplied by the number of full-time equivalent employees and at least 5000 in medical payments coverage;
seasonal or casual agricultural and aquacultural workers are exempt if the employer maintains at least 25000 in employers liability insurance and 5000 in medical payments coverage; a parent, spouse, or child of a sole proprietor, partner, or 20-percent-or-more corporate stockholder is exempt
Official Maine Sources & Resources
- Maine Maine Workers Compensation Board: https://www.maine.gov/wcb/
- Maine Workers’ Comp Statute: https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/39-A/title39-Ach0sec0.html
- U.S. Department of Labor — Workers’ Comp: dol.gov
- U.S. Small Business Administration: sba.gov
These Maine workers compensation requirements were last verified against official sources in June 2026. Rules and penalties change — confirm the current figure with your state workers’-comp board or a licensed agent.
More Maine Business Insurance Guides
Disclaimer: This guide is informational only and is not insurance, legal, or tax advice. Business Insure Guide is an independent educational resource, not an insurance agency or carrier. Coverage needs, legal requirements, and prices vary by business, profession, and state and change over time. Always verify the exact requirement and price with a licensed insurance agent and your state before you buy.