Quick answer
A Florida roofing contractor usually needs general liability, workers' compensation, commercial auto for trucks and trailers, and equipment coverage for tools. Certified and registered roofing contractors must keep at least $100,000 of public liability and $25,000 of property damage coverage for the life of the license (Rule 61G4-15.003), and a construction business needs workers' comp from its first employee. Insurers rate roofing on its own, so tell them exactly what work you do.
Coverage a roofing contractor usually needs
| Coverage | What it's for |
|---|---|
| General liability | Damage to a client's home or belongings during the job, such as rain getting in while the roof is open, and injuries to people at the site. Ask how the policy treats building height, torch-down and other hot work, and water damage during tear-off; some policies limit them by endorsement. |
| Workers' compensation | Falls, burns and heat illness. A Florida construction business needs it from its first employee, and every building permit asks for proof of coverage or an exemption. |
| Commercial auto | Work trucks, dump trailers and the vehicles that carry crews and material between jobs. |
| Equipment (inland marine) | Ladders, hoists, nail guns, kettles and trailers, including theft from a job site or a parked truck. General liability doesn't cover your own tools. |
| Umbrella or excess liability | Higher limits that general contractors, property managers and commercial jobs often write into the contract. |
| Bonds | Bid, performance and payment bonds that public and larger commercial roofing jobs often ask for. |
Florida and federal rules that apply
- To get or renew a certification or registration, a roofing contractor signs an affidavit that it carries workers' compensation and public liability and property damage insurance (section 489.115(5), Florida Statutes). Rule 61G4-15.003 sets the roofing minimums at $100,000 of public liability and $25,000 of property damage, kept for the life of an active license. The Construction Industry Licensing Board audits licensees at random, and the certificate must show the exact name of the business the license qualifies.
- A construction business needs workers' compensation once it has one employee (section 440.02). Only corporate officers and LLC members who own at least 10 percent can elect the construction exemption, three per company at most, and every building permit application needs a certificate of coverage or an exemption certificate (section 440.103).
- A contractor may not offer a homeowner a rebate, gift, cash, a waived deductible or anything else of value for a roof inspection or for filing a roof claim, and may not interpret the policy, advise on coverage or adjust the claim without a public adjuster license. Each violation can bring a fine of up to $10,000 (section 489.147).
- Residential roof contracts must include the state's notice about those practices and a notice telling the owner to check coverage with their insurer before signing. A contract signed within 180 days of a declared state of emergency for the area can be cancelled within 10 days or by the official start date, whichever comes first (section 489.147(5)-(7)).
- Locally, Polk County's Building Division asks a state certified contractor registering with it for a general liability certificate and a workers' comp certificate or exemption in the license holder's name, with Polk County Building Division as certificate holder.
As of October 2026. Sources are listed at the end of the page.
What drives the price
- Residential versus commercial work, and reroofs versus new construction
- Building heights and roof pitch you work on
- Torch-down, hot asphalt or other hot work
- Payroll by role, and what you pay subcontractors (an uninsured sub's payroll can be added to yours at audit)
- Years in business and the license holder's experience
- Claims in the last three to five years
Have this ready before you ask for a quote
- Your DBPR license number and the exact business name it qualifies
- Your work mix: residential and commercial, reroof, repair and new construction, and the tallest building you work on
- Roof systems you install, and whether you do any hot work
- Annual revenue, payroll by role, and subcontractor costs with their certificates of insurance
- Officers or members with their ownership shares and any DFS exemption certificates
- Trucks and trailers with VINs, and an equipment list with values
- Contracts that set insurance requirements, and loss runs for the last five years
Don't have everything? Send what you have; an agent will ask for the rest. Coverage can't be bound or changed through this website, and each insurance company makes its own underwriting decision.