Roofing Contractor Insurance
General liability, workers’ comp, license bonds and commercial auto for roofers across the West, from a licensed broker who knows how roofing gets underwritten. Same-day certificates of insurance. Call (949) 868-7350.
What Insurance Does a Roofing Contractor Need?
Most roofers need four things: general liability with completed operations coverage, workers’ comp as soon as anyone else is on the roof, a license bond where your state requires one, and commercial auto for the trucks and trailers that haul your materials. Most general contractors and property managers ask roofing subs for $1M per occurrence / $2M aggregate in liability, plus additional insured and waiver of subrogation wording.
Roofing is one of the hardest trades to insure. Many standard carriers won’t write it, and many roofing policies come with height limits, torch-down exclusions or new-construction exclusions that a contractor doesn’t find until a claim is denied. The Hard Hat Insurance team, the construction division of Bearstar Insurance Services, places roofers with carriers that want roofing business and reads the exclusions before you sign, whether you install residential shingles, put down commercial membrane or metal roofs, or repair storm damage.
Commercial General Liability
Roofing General Liability
General liability pays when your work damages property or injures someone who isn’t your employee. For roofers, the most common claims are interior water damage while a roof is open, falling materials, and leaks that show up after the job is finished. That’s why completed operations coverage matters as much as coverage during the job.
Limits matched to your state license and your GC’s contract.
Additional insured, waiver of subrogation and primary/non-contributory wording when your GC requires it.
Surety Bonds
Contractor License & Permit Bonds
Oregon, Washington, California, Nevada and Arizona all require a contractor bond to get or keep your license, and many cities require permit bonds. We can often issue bonds the same day, with a quick quote and no long application.
Bad credit programs available.
License, permit and contract bonds.
Roofing is one of the most expensive workers’ comp classifications in every state, so getting the classification right is the biggest lever on your premium. Office staff and outside sales or estimators should be reported under their own, lower-rated codes. In California, roofers with a C-39 license must carry workers’ comp even with no employees, and in Washington workers’ comp is only available through L&I. Elsewhere, we compare state funds with private carriers that write roofing.
Pay-as-you-go options available (helps cash flow).
Waivers of subrogation for commercial contracts.
Workers' Compensation
What We Cover
Commercial Auto
Work Truck & Fleet
Your personal auto policy may not cover an accident in a truck used for work, especially one hauling a trailer, ladders or a load of shingles. Commercial auto covers your work trucks, trailers and the drivers you hire, with higher limits when a contract calls for them.
Builders Risk
Builders Risk (Course of Construction)
Protect your project from fire, wind, water damage and theft of materials, all common on job sites. We cover the structure from the ground up until the job is signed off.
Covers materials on-site and in transit.
Required by most lenders for new construction and remodels.
Inland Marine (Tools & Equipment): Covers theft of your generator, compressor and hand tools from the job site or your truck.
Professional Liability: For design-build contractors and construction managers.
Excess Liability (Umbrella): When the standard $1M limit isn’t enough for a big commercial contract.
And More
Roofing Insurance by State
Oregon: No separate roofing license. You need a CCB license, and your bond and liability minimums depend on your endorsement. See Oregon roofing contractor insurance.
Washington: Roofers register with L&I as contractors and keep a bond and liability insurance on file. Workers’ comp comes only from L&I. See Washington roofing contractor insurance.
California: Roofing requires a CSLB C-39 license, a $25,000 license bond, and workers’ comp even if you have no employees.
Nevada: Roofing falls under NSCB classification C-15 (Roofing and Siding), or C-15a for roofing only.
Arizona: The ROC licenses roofers as R-42 (residential), C-42 (commercial) or CR-42 (dual).
Texas: No statewide roofing license, but many cities require registration and permits, and most GCs and homeowners still ask for proof of insurance.
Colorado: No statewide roofing license. Cities and counties license roofers, and state law sets requirements for written roofing contracts.
Main line: (949) 868-7350
Jesus Galvan, licensed insurance broker in OR, WA, CA, NV, AZ, TX and CO. Se habla español.
Need a COI Today?
Most GCs and property managers ask roofing subs for $1M/$2M GL with completed operations, additional insured, waiver of subrogation, primary/non-contributory wording and proof of workers’ comp. Send us your GC’s requirements and we’ll confirm your policy meets them before you sign.
5 Roofing Exclusions That Can Leave You Uninsured
1. Height limitation
Excludes work above a set height, often two or three stories. A problem if you take on apartments or commercial buildings.
2. Hot work / torch-down exclusion
Excludes torch-applied membranes and hot asphalt. If you do flat or low-slope roofs, you need this covered.
3. New construction or tract housing exclusion
Excludes work on new homes or developments, which can remove a large share of a roofer’s income.
4. Subcontractor and action-over exclusions
Some policies require every sub to carry their own insurance naming you as additional insured, or a claim on that job may be denied. Others exclude claims where an injured worker sues the GC, who passes the claim to you. Many GCs require that exclusion removed.
5. Interior water damage limits
Caps or excludes water damage to a building’s interior while the roof is open, one of the most common roofing claims. We review these provisions before you sign and tell you plainly what’s covered and what it would cost to fix.
Roofing Contractor Insurance FAQ
What insurance do roofing contractors need?
General liability with completed operations coverage, workers’ comp once you have anyone working for you (always, in California), a license bond in states that require one, and commercial auto for work vehicles. Builders risk and an umbrella are common add-ons for larger jobs.
How much general liability do roofers need?
State minimums vary. In Oregon they depend on your CCB endorsement. Most GCs and property managers require $1M per occurrence / $2M aggregate regardless, and larger commercial contracts often add an umbrella.
Do I need workers’ comp if I work alone?
It depends on your state. California C-39 roofers must carry it even with no employees, and Washington coverage comes only through L&I. In most other states, a sole owner with no employees can be exempt, but you need coverage as soon as you pay anyone for labor, and many GCs require it even from solo roofers.
Can I get insurance if I’ve had claims or I’m a new business?
Usually, yes. We work with specialty carriers that write new roofing companies and roofers with prior claims, though pricing and terms vary.
Does my GL policy cover a roof that leaks after the job?
Only if your policy includes completed operations coverage and the damage isn’t excluded. The repair of your own faulty work is usually not covered, but resulting damage to the building’s interior often is.
Contact
Call
info@hardhatinsurance.net
Hard Hat Insurance is a specialized marketing division of Bearstar Insurance Services.
Insurance services provided by Bearstar Insurance Services.
Jesus Galvan is a licensed insurance broker in CA, NV, TX, AZ, OR, CO, and WA.
License numbers available upon request. Coverage availability varies by state.
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