Texas Roofing Contractor Insurance
What Texas Requires
Texas has no roofing contractor license. There is no state minimum to quote. What there is instead: a general contractor, property manager, or insurance restoration program you want to work for can require proof of coverage before you set foot on the property.
- This is an excess and surplus lines placement, and E&S is broker-access only.
- Steep-pitch percentage, height, hot work, and tear-off versus new construction are the underwriting questions that decide the rate. Have the answers ready.
- The exclusions matter more here than the limit: hot work, work above a stated number of stories, subsidence, and the classic one — no coverage for damage to your own work.
- Comp is where roofers get hurt financially. If you 1099 crews, expect the auditor to count uninsured subs as your payroll at the roofing class rate. On a non-subscriber basis you also lose your common-law defenses against an injured worker.
Source: Texas Legislature Online, HB 3344 (89th Legislature, 2025), bill history
There's No State Minimum, so the Contract Is the Floor
Texas sets no insurance requirement for roofers, which means the number that matters is whatever your customer's contract says. Read the insurance exhibit before you bid — there's no state floor to fall back on.
Workers' Comp: Texas Is Different
In Texas, a private employer can choose whether to carry workers' compensation: under Labor Code § 406.002(a), an employer "may elect to obtain workers' compensation insurance coverage," except public employers and as otherwise provided by law. That creates three traps roofers walk into.
If you go without it, you're a non-subscriber. You must file a notice of no coverage with the Texas Department of Insurance's Division of Workers' Compensation through its Employer E-File system, notify employees in writing, post notice at the workplace, and file annually. You also lose the common-law defenses that comp normally gives you, which means an injured employee can sue you directly for negligence.
If you work government jobs, it isn't optional. Contractors on state or local government building and construction contracts must provide workers' comp for every employee on the project.
If you use uninsured subs, their injuries can land on your policy. Your comp auditor will count an uninsured sub as your employee and charge you the payroll at your class rate. Collect certificates from every sub before they start, and check that the certificate was active on the dates they worked.
Sources: Tex. Labor Code § 406.002 · TDI Division of Workers' Compensation, non-subscriber notices and Employer E-File · Tex. Labor Code § 406.033 · Tex. Labor Code § 406.096 · TDLR electrical contractor license requirements
What Drives Your Premium
Three things, in rough order of impact:
- Payroll and class code. Comp is rated per $100 of payroll by class code. If your whole payroll is lumped into the highest-rated code, you're overpaying — including office staff who never touch a job site.
- Percentage of work at height, and commercial versus residential mix. Residential service work and high-rise commercial are different risks and often different carriers.
- Subcontractor spend. Money paid to uninsured subs gets added to your rating basis at audit.
Review your class code assignments with your broker before renewal, not after the audit catches the discrepancy. Audit disputes are winnable but slow, and the bill is due while you argue.
The Endorsements That Decide Whether You Get Paid
The coverage argument on a job site is almost never about the limit. It's about endorsements.
- CG 20 10 adds an additional insured for ongoing operations. CG 20 37 covers completed operations. A GC contract usually requires both.
- Primary and non-contributory wording means your policy pays first. Without it, your carrier can point at the GC's policy and stall.
- Waiver of subrogation gives up your carrier's right to recover from the GC after it pays. Check whether your contract's insurance exhibit asks for it.
- Blanket additional insured beats per-certificate endorsements once you're running multiple jobs. Ask whether certificates are unlimited or priced individually.
What You Should Actually Carry
Carry the coverages below, at the amount your contract sets:
| Coverage | Why |
|---|---|
| General liability | No state minimum applies. The contract's insurance exhibit sets the limit; read it before you bid. |
| Workers' compensation | Government jobs require it; subscriber status protects you from direct suit |
| Commercial auto | Personal auto policies exclude business use. A service van on a personal policy is a denied claim waiting to happen |
| Tools and equipment (inland marine) | Your GL covers damage you cause to others, not your own tools out of the van |
| Umbrella | When a contract's insurance exhibit calls for limits above your primary policy. The exhibit sets the amount, and whether it means umbrella or excess. |
| Installation floater | Materials on site before the job is complete, which property coverage does not reach |
Questions People Ask
Does Texas require roofing contractors to carry insurance?
No. Texas has no roofing contractor license. There is no state minimum to quote. What there is instead: a general contractor, property manager, or insurance restoration program you want to work for can require proof of coverage before you set foot on the property.
Is workers' comp required for contractors in Texas?
In Texas, a private employer can choose whether to carry workers' compensation: under Labor Code § 406.002(a), an employer "may elect to obtain workers' compensation insurance coverage," except public employers and as otherwise provided by law. Contractors on state or local government building and construction contracts must provide workers' comp for every employee on the project.
Why won't standard carriers write roofing?
This is an excess and surplus lines placement, and E&S is broker-access only.
Can I get contractor insurance after being non-renewed?
A non-renewal is a placement problem with a deadline. It is not a verdict on your business, and it is not the same as a cancellation.
What's the difference between CG 20 10 and CG 20 37?
CG 20 10 adds an additional insured for ongoing operations. CG 20 37 covers completed operations. A GC contract usually requires both.