Church Insurance in North Dakota
North Dakota churches deal with blizzards, extreme cold, spring flooding along the Red River and summer hail. Congregations in Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks, Minot and small prairie towns often serve as community centers, which adds liability exposure for meals, funerals and events.
North Dakota Church Coverage
- Church property insurance for buildings, boilers and contents, with collapse and equipment breakdown coverage.
- General liability for worship and community use of church buildings.
- Abuse and molestation coverage for children’s and youth programs.
- D&O insurance for church councils and personnel decisions.
- Church auto insurance for winter travel across long distances.
North Dakota Winter, Flood and Hail Risks
Snow load, ice dams and frozen pipes cause many winter claims, and a heating failure in an empty building can cause serious damage quickly. Spring snowmelt flooding along the Red, Sheyenne, Souris and Missouri rivers is excluded from standard property policies and needs separate flood coverage. Summer hail and wind add roof claims, so check your wind and hail deductible.
North Dakota Workers’ Compensation: A State-Fund System
North Dakota is one of a few monopolistic states. Workers’ compensation coverage for North Dakota employees must come from Workforce Safety and Insurance (WSI), the state fund, not from private insurers. Your church’s workers’ comp therefore will not appear on a private package policy for North Dakota staff, and churches should also ask about employer’s liability coverage, which a private policy can add. This is general information, not legal advice.
North Dakota Nonprofit Law: Volunteer and Director Protection
NDCC § 32-03-45 protects people who volunteer for nonprofit organizations from civil liability for acts or omissions when they act in good faith, within the scope of their duties and with reasonable care, subject to other conditions. It does not protect against harm caused by negligent operation of a motor vehicle. NDCC § 32-03-44 separately protects uncompensated directors, officers and trustees of qualifying nonprofits. North Dakota also has a charitable organization immunity chapter, NDCC Chapter 32-03.3, with its own conditions.
These statutes are condition-heavy and do not remove the need for liability coverage. Ask your attorney how they apply to your church. More on our nonprofit insurance page. This is general information, not legal advice.
Working With Church Property Insurance on Your North Dakota Policy
Church Property Insurance has helped congregations since 2012 and has worked with more than 500 churches nationwide. Kevin Edwards is a licensed insurance agent and an active youth pastor, so the questions we ask about your building, your ministries and your volunteers come from someone who serves in a church every week. We do not charge broker fees; we are paid by carrier commission, and any taxes or fees a state requires are shown on your quote. Turnaround depends on the carrier and on how complete your information is, so we will tell you what to expect when we start. Request a church insurance quote to begin.
North Dakota Church Insurance FAQs
Can a North Dakota church buy workers comp from a private insurer?
No. North Dakota workers compensation must come from Workforce Safety and Insurance, the state fund.
What is employer liability coverage for North Dakota churches?
Because WSI is a state fund, churches may need employer liability coverage added to a private policy to fill gaps. Ask your agent.
Are North Dakota church volunteers protected?
NDCC 32-03-45 protects nonprofit volunteers acting in good faith and with reasonable care within their duties, but not for negligent operation of a motor vehicle.
Do North Dakota churches need flood insurance?
Churches near the Red River and other flood-prone rivers should consider it, because standard policies exclude flood.
How can North Dakota churches prevent freeze damage?
Use freeze alarms, keep heat on, service boilers each fall and check buildings during cold spells.