Quick Answer: Roofing contractor insurance is a program built on general liability and workers compensation, with commercial auto, tools and equipment coverage, and often an umbrella. In Illinois it is also a licensing matter. To hold a roofing license you must show liability insurance of at least $250,000 for property damage and $500,000 for bodily injury per occurrence, workers compensation, and a surety bond of $10,000 or $25,000. Most contracts ask for more than the state does.
What Roofing Contractor Insurance Covers
General Liability
Helps address claims that your work injured someone or damaged a customer's property: a ladder through a window, a dropped bundle on a car, a neighbor who trips over your materials. It is the policy every certificate request starts with.
Workers Compensation
Pays for medical care and part of lost wages when an employee is hurt on the job. Roofing is one of the most dangerous trades in the country, so this is the coverage underwriters study hardest.
Commercial Auto
Covers the trucks and trailers that carry your crew, ladders, and material. A personal auto policy generally will not respond when the truck is being used for the business.
Tools and Equipment
Helps pay to repair or replace nailers, compressors, brakes, ladders, and safety gear that are stolen or damaged, whether they are in the truck, in the shop, or on a job site.
Commercial Umbrella
Adds limits on top of your general liability, auto, and employers liability. Commercial owners and general contractors often write a higher limit into the contract than a base policy provides.
License Bond
Illinois requires a continuous surety bond to hold a roofing license. A bond is not insurance: it protects the public, and you repay the surety for anything it pays out on your behalf. We place the bond along with the insurance.
Often added: commercial property for a shop or yard, and hired and non-owned auto for rented trucks and employees who drive their own. Running more than one trade? Start with our contractor insurance page.
Four Clauses to Read Before You Buy a Roofing Policy
Two roofing liability policies with the same limit can pay very differently. The difference is in the exclusions and conditions, and roofing policies carry more of them than most trades. These are the four we check on every account.
Open roof and water damage. Some policies exclude or limit water damage that happens while a roof is open. Others cover it only if the opening is covered a stated way whenever the crew leaves. A storm on a half-finished tear-off is the claim roofers fear most, so this wording comes first.
Heat application. Torch-applied membrane and hot tar work is often excluded unless it is added back, or covered only when conditions such as a fire watch and extinguishers on the roof are met. If you do any torch work at all, say so on the application.
Residential and height limits. Some policies exclude new residential construction, condominium or townhome projects, or work above a set number of stories. A policy that fits a shingle crew may not fit the same company's first commercial job.
Subcontractors. Many policies require every subcontractor to carry its own general liability and workers compensation and to hand you a certificate. Miss that step and a claim can be denied, and your premium audit can bill you for the sub's work. Our guide to certificate holders and additional insureds explains what to ask for.
The lowest roofing quote is often the one with the most exclusions
Compare what each policy leaves out before you compare price. Tell us the work you really do, including the jobs you only take a few times a year, and we match the wording to it.
Illinois Roofing License Insurance Requirements
Illinois licenses roofing contractors through the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Insurance and a bond are part of the license.
| Requirement | What the rule says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| A state license 225 ILCS 335/9, 10a |
It is unlawful to work as a roofing contractor in Illinois without a state license. The civil penalty for unlicensed work can reach $15,000 for each offense. | Roofing Industry Licensing Act |
| License type 225 ILCS 335/2 |
A limited license covers residential properties of 8 units or less. An unlimited license covers residential, commercial, and industrial roofing. | Roofing Industry Licensing Act |
| Liability insurance 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1460.20 |
At least $250,000 for each occurrence of property damage and $500,000 for each occurrence of personal injury or bodily harm. The policy must say it cannot be cancelled without 30 days written notice to the state. | Illinois Administrative Code |
| Workers compensation 225 ILCS 335/3 |
An applicant must show workers compensation insurance for roofing that covers its employees, or approval as a self-insurer. | Roofing Industry Licensing Act |
| Surety bond 225 ILCS 335/3, 3.2 |
A continuous bond of $10,000 for a limited license or $25,000 for an unlimited license. If the bond ends and no new one is filed, the license is cancelled. | Roofing Industry Licensing Act |
| Going without workers compensation | An employer that knowingly fails to insure can be fined up to $500 for every day without coverage, with a minimum fine of $10,000. | Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission |
| Fall protection 29 CFR 1926.501 |
Federal rules require fall protection for roofing work 6 feet or more above a lower level, on low-slope roofs, steep roofs, and residential jobs alike. | OSHA |
This is a summary for insurance planning, not legal advice. The Act was last amended by Public Act 104-427, effective August 15, 2025. Confirm current requirements with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation before you apply or renew. Working in another state? Each state sets its own rules, so tell us where you work.
The state minimum is rarely what a customer asks for. Commercial owners, property managers, and general contractors set their own terms: higher limits, additional insured status, and a certificate of insurance before you set a ladder. Send us the insurance section of the contract and we match the policy and the certificate to it. More on Illinois rules in our contractor insurance guide and our Illinois workers compensation page.
Why Roofing Is Hard to Insure
Roofers die on the job at about 15 times the rate of the average American worker. Underwriters price that, and they reward the contractors who manage it.
| Published figure | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Fatal injury rate, roofers | 48.7 per 100,000 full-time workers | Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024 |
| Fatal injury rate, all workers | 3.3 per 100,000 full-time workers | Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024 |
| Roofers killed on the job | 104 in 2024 | Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024 |
| Most cited OSHA standard | Fall protection, general requirements | OSHA, fiscal year 2025 |
Fatal injury rates are per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers, from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries. A written fall protection program, documented training, and a clean loss history are what a roofing underwriter wants to see first. See how losses feed your price in our guide to the experience modification rate.
What Roofing Contractor Insurance Costs
Insureon publishes what small contractors pay for each policy. These are its figures, not our quotes.
| Policy | Median per month | Median per year |
|---|---|---|
| General liability | $317 | $3,808 |
| Commercial auto | $268 | $3,212 |
| Workers compensation | $175 | $2,101 |
| Commercial umbrella | $93 | $1,111 |
| Tools and equipment | $42 | $505 |
| Surety bond | $9 | $112 |
Source: Insureon, updated August 10, 2026: medians for small businesses that bought through Insureon, most with fewer than five employees. The general liability figure is for roofing contractors, on a $1,000,000 per occurrence, $2,000,000 aggregate policy. The other five figures match Insureon's medians across all construction trades, so treat them as a starting point for a roofer. A larger crew pays more: workers compensation rises with payroll.
Eight things move your own number.
| Cost factor | How it moves the premium | What to have ready |
|---|---|---|
| Payroll | Workers compensation is priced on payroll, so every roofer you add moves the premium. | Payroll by job duty, and how many people work on the roof |
| Residential or commercial | Carriers price the two differently, and some write only one. | Your split by revenue, and your license type |
| Roofing systems | Shingle, metal, and single-ply membrane work price differently from torch-applied and hot tar work. | The systems you install and how much of each |
| New roofs or repairs | Tear-offs, new construction, and repair work carry different exposure. | Your split of new, reroof, and repair work |
| Height | Higher buildings mean more fall exposure, and some policies set a limit. | The tallest building you work on, in stories |
| Subcontractors | Uninsured subs can be charged to your policies at audit. | Annual subcontractor cost and their certificates |
| Claims history | Past losses and your experience modification move both liability and workers compensation. | Loss runs for the last three to five years |
| Safety program | Written fall protection rules and training are the first thing a roofing underwriter asks about. | Your safety manual and training records, if you have them |
Not sure how payroll is classified? Read workers compensation class codes explained.
What we need for a roofing insurance quote
Roofing underwriters ask for the same items on every account. Having them ready gets your quote back sooner, and a complete submission is easier to place.
- Your Illinois roofing license type and number, or the state you work in
- Years in business and annual revenue
- Payroll, split between roofers, office staff, and owners
- Your mix of residential and commercial work
- Your mix of new roofs, reroofs, and repairs
- The roofing systems you install, including any torch-applied or hot tar work
- The tallest building you work on
- What you pay subcontractors in a year, and whether you collect their certificates
- Each truck and trailer, and each driver
- The replacement value of your tools and equipment
- Loss runs for the last three to five years, if you have them
- The insurance section of any contract you need to meet
- Whether you need the license bond as well, and which license type
What Our Clients Say
Why Roofers Choose Pro Insurance Group
An Agency, Not a Carrier
We are an independent agency. We work for the roofer and shop the market on your behalf. Carriers pay us, so you pay no agency fee.
Roofing Markets
Not every carrier writes roofing. We take your account to the ones that do.
Bond and Insurance Together
We place the license bond and the policies the state asks for, and we read the exclusions with you before you buy.
Certificates, Fast
Owners and general contractors want a certificate before you start. We turn them around the same day in most cases.
We also insure the trades that share your job sites: electricians, plumbers, HVAC contractors, excavation contractors, and landscapers.
Roofing Contractor Insurance FAQ
What insurance does a roofing contractor need?
Most roofing contractors carry general liability, workers compensation, and commercial auto, then add tools and equipment coverage and an umbrella. In Illinois a licensed roofer must also keep liability insurance, workers compensation, and a surety bond on file with the state. Commercial owners and general contractors usually ask for higher limits than the state does.
How much does roofing contractor insurance cost?
Insureon reports a median general liability premium of $317 a month for small roofing businesses, as of August 2026. Its figures for workers compensation ($175) and commercial auto ($268) are medians across all construction trades. Most of those firms have fewer than five employees. Your price depends on payroll, the kind of roofing you do, your subcontractors, and your claims history.
What insurance does Illinois require for a roofing license?
State rules require at least $250,000 per occurrence for property damage and $500,000 per occurrence for personal injury or bodily harm. The Roofing Industry Licensing Act also requires workers compensation covering your employees, or approval as a self-insurer, and a continuous surety bond of $10,000 for a limited license or $25,000 for an unlimited license.
Do roofers need workers compensation in Illinois?
The Roofing Industry Licensing Act requires a license applicant to show workers compensation insurance for roofing that covers its employees, or approval as a self-insurer. Illinois law separately requires employers to insure almost everyone they hire. The Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission says an employer that knowingly goes without can be fined up to $500 a day, with a $10,000 minimum.
Does general liability cover water damage while a roof is open?
It depends on the policy. Some roofing liability policies exclude or limit water damage that happens while a roof is open, or require the opening to be covered a certain way whenever the crew leaves. Ask to see the wording before you buy, and tell us how you protect an open roof overnight.
Does my policy cover the subcontractors I hire?
Usually only if they carry their own. Many roofing policies require each subcontractor to have general liability and workers compensation and to give you a certificate. If a sub is uninsured, a claim can be denied, and at audit you can be charged premium for that sub's work. Collect certificates before the job starts.
Is a roofing license bond the same as insurance?
No. Insurance pays a covered claim on your behalf. A surety bond is a guarantee to the state and your customers that you will follow the licensing law. If the surety pays a claim against the bond, you repay it. Illinois requires both a bond and insurance to hold a roofing license, and we place both.
How fast can I get a certificate of insurance?
Once your policy is in force, we issue certificates the same day in most cases. Send us the insurance section of the contract or the certificate request, including any additional insured wording, and we match the certificate to it so your crew is not held at the gate.
Is Pro Insurance Group an insurance company?
No. Pro Insurance Group is an independent insurance agency, not an insurance carrier. We work for the roofing contractor, take the account to the carriers that write roofing, and place the policy with the company that fits. We are based in Elgin and Huntley, Illinois, and write business in 40+ states.
Get Your Roofing Insurance Quote
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Reviewed by Neal Fusco, VP Commercial Lines
25 years in insurance, including 16 at Zurich North America in workers' compensation managed care and claims.
Illinois licensed insurance producer #18515626