Restaurants & Hospitality
Class Code 9084: Bar, Discotheque, Lounge, Nightclub or Tavern — Workers' Comp Insurance
Covers bars, taverns, lounges, and nightclubs where alcohol service and entertainment are the primary business, as distinct from a restaurant that happens to serve alcohol alongside food. It reflects the later hours, crowd management, and bar-service duties typical of this business type.
- Risk level:
- moderate
What code 9084 covers
Class 9084 applies to establishments primarily focused on serving alcoholic beverages, including bars, taverns, lounges, nightclubs, and similar venues, covering bartenders, servers, door and security staff employed directly by the venue, and any DJ or entertainment staff on payroll. This classification is distinct from a restaurant that serves alcohol as part of a food-focused dining experience, since the balance of activity — later hours, dance floors, live entertainment, and higher-volume bar service — presents a different exposure profile. Businesses combining a substantial restaurant operation with a separate late-night bar/entertainment concept may need portions of the business evaluated under both this code and the restaurant classification depending on how distinct the operations are. Liquor liability is a separate line of coverage from workers' comp and doesn't affect how the classification itself is determined.
Included operations
- Bartending and bar service
- Cocktail service and serving staff
- Door, security, and crowd-management staff employed by the venue
- DJ, entertainment, or event staff on payroll
Assigned elsewhere
Businesses that typically carry 9084
- Bars and taverns
- Nightclubs and lounges
- Sports bars with a bar-focused concept
- Live music venues with a bar component
- Independently owned locations
- Franchise and chain locations
- Multi-location hospitality operators
Common misclassifications
Code 9082
A restaurant with a large, active bar can be confused with a nightclub-style classification, and vice versa, depending on the actual balance of food versus bar business.
Code 9060
Bar operations at a country club or similar private club are typically evaluated under the club classification rather than as a standalone bar/nightclub.
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What drives the cost of code 9084
- Total annual payroll for employees assigned to this classification
- Experience modification factor based on claims history
- State-specific base rates and loss costs filed for this class code
- Claims frequency and severity trends for the business
- Safety programs, training, and workplace controls in place
- Payroll mix across multiple classifications at the same location
What underwriters look for
- Hours of operation, whether alcohol is served, and any entertainment offered
- Kitchen equipment, staffing levels, and food-prep versus front-of-house duties
- Prior claims history, especially slips, falls, and cuts or burns
- Seasonal staffing swings and use of tipped employees
State differences
This entry uses standard NCCI class code phraseology, which applies in most NCCI-governed states. Pennsylvania (PCRB), Delaware (DCRB), California (WCIRB), New Jersey (NJCRIB), Michigan, New York (NYCIRB), and Massachusetts maintain their own classification manuals, and code numbers or phraseology can differ there. Our agency confirms the correct classification for your state before quoting.
Where code 9084 fits
Quote class code 9084.
One application goes out to every carrier we can access for your class of business. You get a ranked comparison you can review and purchase online — with a licensed agent available whenever you want one.
Mon–Fri, 8:00am–6:00pm ET · Independent agency licensed in 23 states
Class code 9084 questions
How is this different from a restaurant that serves alcohol?
This code applies when bar and entertainment operations are the primary focus of the business, rather than a restaurant where food service leads and alcohol is secondary.
Does this code cover our door staff or security?
Yes, security and door staff employed directly by the venue are part of this classification.
What about DJs or entertainers we hire directly?
Entertainment staff on the venue's payroll are included in this classification.
Is liquor liability included in this workers' comp classification?
No, liquor liability is a separate type of coverage entirely and doesn't factor into the workers' comp classification itself.
Last reviewed · Reviewed by Provident Financial Group licensed agents