Roofer Insurance in Ohio
Ohio requires Workers' Compensation for roofers. See the checklist below for the full breakdown and costs.
Ohio runs a state-fund workers'-comp system, so roofers buy that one coverage differently than everything else on this page.
The detail that sets Ohio apart for anyone handling other people's animals is liability: the state follows a strict liability standard when a dog bites, which is exactly why the coverage priorities below look a little different here than they would a state over.
How Ohio regulates roofers
Workers' comp · State fund (monopolistic)
Ohio is a monopolistic workers'-comp state: coverage must be bought through the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC), not a private insurer. A commercial package or BOP from a private carrier will not include workers' comp here — you buy it separately from the state fund, and you add employer's-liability (“stop-gap”) coverage through a private carrier because the BWC fund doesn't provide it.
Dog-bite liability · Strict liability (statutory)
Ohio Rev. Code § 955.28Ohio imposes strict statutory liability on a dog's owner, keeper, or harborer for injury the dog causes, regardless of the dog's prior behavior. Because a pet-care professional in physical control of a client's dog can be deemed its “keeper,” this statute can attach liability directly to your business — making general-liability and animal-bailee coverage especially important in Ohio.
Licensing & permits
Ohio requires annual county dog registration and licenses high-volume breeders under ORC Ch. 956 (Commercial Dog Breeders), overseen by the Ohio Department of Agriculture. There is no statewide license for sitters, walkers, or trainers; boarding kennels follow county rules.
SOURCE · State statutes & regulators as cited · Last reviewed 2026-07
Ohio coverage requirements
| Coverage | Required? | Minimum | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Workers' Compensation | Required | Statutory | Workers' comp is purchased through the state fund (monopolistic state). |
State regulator: Ohio Department of Insurance
Coverage checklist
| Coverage | Requirement | Annual cost |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial AutoCA | Required | $1,400–$2,600/yr |
| General LiabilityGL | Required | $600–$1,500/yr |
| Workers' CompensationWC | Required | $4,000–$12,000/yr |
| Inland Marine / Tools & EquipmentIM | Recommended | $300–$1,000/yr |
| Business Owner's PolicyBOP | Optional | $700–$1,800/yr |
| Commercial PropertyCP | Optional | $700–$2,500/yr |
| Professional Liability / E&OPL/E&O | Optional | $600–$1,500/yr |
Cost breakdown
- ·Truck size
- ·Equipment
Required for work trucks hauling materials and ladders.
- ·Height of work
- ·Steep-slope vs. flat
- ·Crew size
- ·Revenue
Required by licenses and GCs; fall and property-damage exposure keeps premiums high.
- ·Payroll
- ·Slope/height
- ·Experience mod
Required once you have employees; roofing is among the most expensive WC classes codes due to fall risk.
- ·Tool value
Covers nail guns, air compressors, and ladders.
- ·Office/shop
If you lease an office or yard.
- ·Shop ownership
If you own/lease a yard or shop.
- ·Design work
Rare unless you design roof systems.
Best carriers for roofer
Roofer insurance in Ohio — FAQ
Do roofers need workers' comp in Ohio?+
Yes, once you have employees — but in Ohio you buy it from the state fund, not a private insurer, and add stop-gap employer's-liability separately. Solo roofers with no staff are generally exempt.
If a dog in my care bites someone in Ohio, am I liable?+
Ohio imposes strict statutory liability on a dog's owner, keeper, or harborer for injury the dog causes, regardless of the dog's prior behavior. Because a pet-care professional in physical control of a client's dog can be deemed its “keeper,” this statute can attach liability directly to your business — making general-liability and animal-bailee coverage especially important in Ohio. That's why general-liability and animal-bailee coverage are worth prioritizing for roofers working in Ohio.
Do roofers need insurance?+
Yes. Roofing is one of the highest-risk trades. General liability and workers' comp are required by most licenses and contracts, and premiums reflect the fall and property-damage exposure.
Why is roofing insurance so expensive?+
Roofers have some of the highest workers' comp class codes because of fall injuries. General liability premiums are also elevated because a bad installation can damage an entire home or building.
Is workers' comp required for roofers?+
Yes, in nearly every state once you have employees. Texas is the only state where workers' comp is optional.
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