The policies a roofing business carries
Roofing carries the highest liability average of any trade in the Insureon figures on this site, and the reasons are easy to picture: a fall from the roof, a tarp that blows off before a storm, a nail in a neighbor's tire. Water getting in through an open roof is the claim most roofers plan around.
| Policy | Average a month |
|---|---|
| General liability | $317 |
| Tools and equipment | $42 |
| Commercial auto | $268 |
| Workers' compensation | $175 |
| Surety or license bond | $9 |
| Business owner's policy | $125 |
| Professional liability | $67 |
| Commercial umbrella | $93 |
Averages are what Insureon's customers who are roofers pay, from Insureon's cost page; most of its customers have fewer than five employees. Across all its small business customers, general liability runs $265 to $3,030 a year.
Claims roofers plan for
- A storm hits while the roof is open and water ruins a ceiling
- A bundle slides off the roof onto a car
- A helper falls from the eave
- Nails left in the driveway flatten a neighbor's tire
Ask your agent, in these words:
- Would my policy pay if a storm hits while the roof is open and water ruins a ceiling?
- Would my policy pay if a bundle slides off the roof onto a car?
- Would my policy pay if a helper falls from the eave?
- Would my policy pay if nails left in the driveway flatten a neighbor's tire?
Name the work you sell
A policy covers the work you describe on the application. From the roofing services list, name each of these and ask whether any is excluded: architectural shingle roof, installed; 3-tab shingle roof, installed; metal roof, installed; tear off one layer and haul away; leak repair and diagnosis; shingle replacement after wind damage; pipe boot and flashing repair; storm damage inspection; gutter cleaning on the same visit; ridge vent or attic ventilation; skylight reflash or replacement; roof soft wash.
Dump trailers, nail guns and compressors move from job to job, so a tools and equipment policy follows them off the truck. On the tools list, the items to list on the policy are second compressor and a coil siding nailer; shingle lift or ladder hoist; metal brake for drip edge and flashing; roof brackets, toe boards and guardrail kits; infrared camera or moisture meter; dump trailer of your own, and from the starter kit, personal fall arrest kit: harness, lanyard, rope grab and roof anchors; extension ladder rated for roofing loads, with standoff; multi-position ladder for valleys and interior attic access; roofing nailer and a second as a backup; portable air compressor and hoses.
State rules in the license
These are the insurance and bond lines in each state's roofing license rules, from our roofing license guide, which reads each state board's own pages. 36 of the 45 states we cover set an insurance or bond rule in the license itself. Click a state for the full license steps.
| State | Insurance in the license rules | Bond |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Not set in the license rules we checked | A $10,000 license or permit bond naming the board as obligee. |
| Alaska | Proof of workers' compensation insurance where state law requires it, plus public liability and property damage insurance of at least $20,000 property damage, $50,000 injury to one person and $100,000 injury to more than one person. | A $10,000 bond for a mechanical or specialty contractor. |
| Arizona | You must attest that you comply with workers' compensation insurance laws. | Residential specialty: $4,250 if yearly volume is under $375,000, or $7,500 at $375,000 or more. Commercial specialty: from $2,500 for $150,000 or less, rising with volume. Dual licenses combine both amounts. |
| Arkansas | Workers' compensation coverage if you have one or more employees. | A $15,000 residential roofing registrant surety bond. |
| California | Workers' compensation insurance is required. C-39 roofing contractors cannot file the no-employee exemption. | A $25,000 contractor bond. A separate $25,000 Bond of Qualifying Individual may be needed for an RME or RMO. |
| Connecticut | Home improvement contractors need general liability insurance of at least $20,000. | Not set in the license rules we checked |
| Delaware | You must file a certificate of workers compensation insurance, or proof you are an approved self insurer, before the license is issued. | Nonresident contractors post a surety bond of 6% of the contract price on contracts of $20,000 or more. |
| District of Columbia | A certificate of liability insurance is required for both license types. The amount is not stated on the DLCP page. | Home Improvement Contractors need a $25,000 surety bond. |
| Florida | Public liability of at least $100,000 and property damage of at least $25,000, plus workers compensation or an exemption. | Not set in the license rules we checked |
| Hawaii | Bodily injury liability of $100,000 per person and $300,000 per occurrence, property damage liability of $50,000, plus workers compensation if you have employees. | A bond only if the board requires one. |
| Idaho | General liability of at least $300,000 single limit, and workers' compensation or a statement of why it is not required. | Not set in the license rules we checked |
| Illinois | Public liability and property damage insurance in amounts the department sets, and workers' compensation for roofing that covers your employees. | Continuous bond of $10,000 for a limited license or $25,000 for an unlimited license. |
| Iowa | You need an Iowa unemployment insurance number even with no employees. Workers' compensation is required if you have employees. | Contractors based outside Iowa must file a $25,000 bond to register. |
| Kansas | Liability insurance of at least $500,000, and workers' compensation coverage or an exemption affidavit. | Not set in the license rules we checked |
| Louisiana | Residential license and home improvement applicants need general liability insurance of at least $100,000 and proof of workers compensation. | Not set in the license rules we checked |
| Maryland | Since June 1, 2024, every MHIC contractor must carry at least $500,000 general liability insurance. | If you do not meet the commission's financial solvency guidelines, you can use an indemnitor or buy a $30,000 or $100,000 surety bond. |
| Minnesota | Liability insurance of at least $300,000 per occurrence, including at least $10,000 property damage, plus workers compensation or a written explanation of why you are exempt. | A $15,000 surety bond. |
| Mississippi | Proof of general liability insurance is required for every license and renewal. There is no minimum for residential licenses. Commercial licenses need at least $300,000 per occurrence or $600,000 aggregate. Send proof of workers comp if you have 5 or more employees. | Not set in the license rules we checked |
| Montana | The license application must include proof that you comply with Montana workers comp laws. | Not set in the license rules we checked |
| Nebraska | Contractors with employees must file a current workers comp certificate of insurance (ACORD 25) naming the Department of Labor as certificate holder. A contractor not required to carry workers comp signs a statement saying so. | Not set in the license rules we checked |
| New Jersey | Commercial general liability insurance of at least $500,000 per occurrence. | Not set in the license rules we checked |
| New Mexico | Workers compensation insurance is required of all licensees. A sole owner with no employees may be exempt. | A $10,000 bond from a surety authorized in New Mexico, covering the full license period. |
| North Carolina | Not set in the license rules we checked | You must show financial strength. A limited license needs $17,000 in working capital or $80,000 net worth. A surety bond can be used instead: $175,000 for limited, $500,000 for intermediate, $1,000,000 for unlimited. |
| North Dakota | You must file a certificate of liability insurance in the license name. You also need a workers compensation certificate from Workforce Safety and Insurance (WSI) if you have North Dakota employees, or a WSI letter of good standing if not. | Not set in the license rules we checked |
| Oklahoma | General liability of at least $500,000 for residential roofing work and $1,000,000 for a commercial endorsement. Contracts must state that workers are covered by workers comp. | Not set in the license rules we checked |
| Oregon | Residential specialty: $300,000 per occurrence general liability. Residential general: $500,000 per occurrence. | Residential specialty contractor $20,000. Residential general contractor $25,000. |
| Pennsylvania | General liability with at least $50,000 personal injury and $50,000 property damage coverage. | Not set in the license rules we checked |
| Rhode Island | Commercial roofers: $2,000,000 per occurrence with the board as certificate holder. Registered contractors: at least $500,000 combined single limit. | Not set in the license rules we checked |
| South Carolina | Not set in the license rules we checked | Residential registrants: $5,000 surety bond for jobs over $5,000. |
| Tennessee | General liability and workers comp (or a valid exemption) are required. Minimum general liability is $100,000 for a monetary limit up to $500,000, $500,000 for $500,001 to $1,500,000, and $1,000,000 above that. Home improvement licensees need general liability and workers comp too. | A CPA reviewed financial statement (audited above a $3,000,000 limit) less than 12 months old, or a contractor surety bond equal to at least 50% of the monetary limit requested. Home improvement licensees need a $10,000 surety bond or other financial security. |
| Utah | General liability of at least $1,000,000 per incident and $2,000,000 total, with DOPL as certificate holder. If you have employees you need workers comp; if not, a workers comp coverage waiver from the Utah Labor Commission. | Not set in the license rules we checked |
| Vermont | Liability insurance of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate, with proof at application and at each biennial renewal. | Not set in the license rules we checked |
| Virginia | Not set in the license rules we checked | Class A firms need a $45,000 net worth and Class B firms $15,000, or either can post a $50,000 surety bond instead. |
| Washington | General liability of $200,000 public liability and $50,000 property damage, or $250,000 combined single limit. L&I must be listed as certificate holder. | A continuous contractor surety bond of $15,000 for specialty contractors ($30,000 for general contractors), or an assignment of savings. |
| West Virginia | Workers' compensation and unemployment coverage for all employees working in West Virginia. | A wage bond status affidavit is required with every application. |
| Wisconsin | General liability insurance of at least $250,000 per occurrence, or a surety bond of at least $25,000, as proof of financial responsibility. | A surety bond of at least $25,000 can be used instead of the liability policy. A smaller bond gets the restricted certification. |
States not listed either leave insurance to cities and counties or set no rule in the license. Your city, your customers and your contracts can still ask for more.
Workers' comp and bonds
The SBA says every business with employees must carry workers' compensation, unemployment and disability insurance. Insureon's average for roofers is $175 a month, priced per $100 of payroll. A bond protects the state or the customer, not you; Insureon puts its yearly cost at a share of the bond amount:
| Bond amount | Estimated yearly cost |
|---|---|
| $5,000 | $25 to $500 |
| $10,000 | $50 to $1,000 |
| $50,000 | $250 to $5,000 |
Certificates of insurance
Homeowners, insurance adjusters and general contractors often ask for a certificate before the tear-off starts. Keep a PDF on your phone so you can send it the day they ask.
Sources
- Insureon: Insurance cost for roofers, checked October 9, 2026
- Insureon: General liability insurance cost, checked October 9, 2026
- Insureon: Workers' compensation insurance cost, checked October 9, 2026
- Insureon: Surety bond cost, checked October 9, 2026
- SBA: Get business insurance, checked October 9, 2026
- Koira: Roofing license requirements by state (each row lists its board sources), checked October 9, 2026
Last checked October 9, 2026. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change and differ by state and city, so confirm with the agency named before you act.