What does a general contractor require on a roofer's certificate of insurance?

A GC typically requires general liability (often $1M/$2M), workers' compensation, and commercial auto, plus additional insured endorsements for ongoing and completed operations, primary and non-contributory wording, and a waiver of subrogation.

What is the difference between ongoing and completed operations additional insured?

Ongoing operations (form CG 20 10) covers the GC while the roofing work is in progress. Completed operations (form CG 20 37) covers the GC after the roof is finished, which matters because roof leaks and defects often appear later. GCs usually require both.

Does a certificate of insurance grant coverage?

No. The ACORD 25 certificate only summarizes coverage that is already in force. The actual contractual protections such as additional insured status, waivers, and primary wording come from endorsements attached to the policy, which is why GCs often ask for copies of the endorsements.

Why do certificates of insurance get rejected?

Common reasons include the wrong certificate holder name, limits below contract requirements, missing endorsements even though a box is checked, no project reference, expired dates, and a missing per-project aggregate endorsement.

Certificate of Insurance for Roofers: What GCs Require Before You Start

By Tamir Lerner · Roofing Insurance CA · Updated 2026

Quick answer: Before a general contractor lets a roofer start, they typically require a certificate of insurance (COI) showing general liability (commonly $1M/$2M), workers' compensation, and commercial auto — plus specific endorsements: additional insured (ongoing and completed operations), primary and non-contributory wording, and a waiver of subrogation. The certificate itself is proof; the actual protection comes from the endorsements behind it.

A certificate of insurance is the one document standing between you and the job. Get it wrong and the GC's risk manager bounces you off the site — sometimes the morning you're supposed to start. Here's what general contractors in California actually look for on a roofer's COI, and why each item matters.

What a certificate of insurance actually is

A COI (usually the ACORD 25 form) is a one-page snapshot proving you have coverage in force: which policies, which carriers, the limits, and the effective dates. Important nuance: the certificate itself does not grant coverage. It just summarizes it. The real contractual protections — additional insured status, waivers, primary wording — live in endorsements attached to your policy. A GC's insurance department knows this, which is why they often ask for copies of the endorsements, not just the certificate.

The core coverages a GC expects

Coverage	Typical requirement
General liability	Often $1,000,000 per occurrence / $2,000,000 aggregate
Workers' compensation	Statutory limits (required for C-39 roofers in California)
Employer's liability	Commonly $1,000,000
Commercial auto	Often $1,000,000 combined single limit
Umbrella / excess	Frequently $1M–$5M+ on larger projects

Larger commercial and public projects push these numbers higher, and may add pollution or professional requirements. Always read the contract's insurance exhibit before you assume the standard limits are enough.

The endorsements that make or break your COI

Additional insured (ongoing AND completed operations)

The GC wants to be named as an additional insured on your general liability so your policy defends them if a claim arises from your roofing work. There are two flavors, and GCs usually want both:

Ongoing operations (endorsement form CG 20 10) — covers the GC during the project while work is underway.
Completed operations (endorsement form CG 20 37) — covers the GC after the roof is finished, which matters because roof failures and leaks often surface later. This is the one roofers most often forget, and it's the one that protects everyone for construction-defect claims down the road.

Primary and non-contributory

This wording says your policy pays first and the GC's own insurance doesn't have to chip in ("contribute") for a claim arising from your work. Without it, insurers argue over who pays, and the GC's risk manager will reject the COI.

Waiver of subrogation

Subrogation is your insurer's right to go after another party to recover what it paid. A waiver of subrogation (on both GL and workers' comp) means your carrier gives up the right to come back against the GC. GCs require this so an injury on your crew doesn't turn into your insurer suing them. Note: a workers' comp waiver usually adds a small premium.

The details that get COIs rejected

Wrong certificate holder. The GC's exact legal name and address must appear in the certificate holder box — typos get bounced.
Missing project reference. Many GCs want the job name or number in the description of operations.
Additional insured named but no endorsement attached. Checking a box on the ACORD isn't enough; the CG 20 10 / CG 20 37 endorsements must actually be on the policy.
Limits too low. If the contract requires $2M and your COI shows $1M, you're out until you fix it.
Expired or soon-to-expire dates. Coverage must be in force for the whole project period.
Missing per-project aggregate. On multi-sub jobs, GCs often require a per-project aggregate endorsement so one big claim elsewhere doesn't exhaust your limit.
No C-39 license number. Some GCs also verify your active CSLB roofing license alongside the COI.

How to be the roofer whose COI clears on the first try

Send the GC's full insurance requirements (the contract exhibit) to your agent before you need to start — not the night before.
Ask your agent to issue the COI with the correct certificate holder, project reference, and all required endorsements attached.
Confirm your GL includes both ongoing and completed-operations additional insured coverage.
Verify primary and non-contributory language and waivers of subrogation are on the policy, not just noted on the certificate.
Keep your workers' comp active and your CSLB C-39 license current — both get checked.
Build in lead time: some endorsements take a day or two to add, and a few carry extra premium.

Bottom line

A clean certificate of insurance is a competitive advantage. Roofers who can turn around a correct, fully endorsed COI fast get on jobs faster and keep GCs happy. The certificate proves you have coverage; the endorsements behind it are what the GC is really buying. Make sure both are right.

For license verification and contractor requirements, see the Contractors State License Board (CSLB). For workers' comp certificate rules, see the California DIR Division of Workers' Compensation.

Need a COI that clears the GC on the first try?

Thrive Risk Management issues fully endorsed certificates — additional insured (ongoing and completed ops), primary and non-contributory, and waivers of subrogation — fast, so you never lose a job over paperwork.

Get a free quote
Call (818) 356-8150

General information only, not legal or coverage advice. Certificate and endorsement requirements vary by contract, project and carrier. Always review the specific insurance requirements in your contract and confirm endorsements with a licensed agent.