Do Roofers Need Workers' Comp Insurance in Indiana, Illinois, or Michigan?

If you run a roofing crew, this question probably comes up more than almost any other, usually right after a general contractor asks you for proof of coverage before they'll let you on the job site. Short answer: yes, in all three states you almost certainly need it, but the rules aren't identical from state to state, and roofing gets treated a little differently than a lot of other trades because of how risky the work is considered.

Here's how it breaks down.

Indiana

Indiana requires workers' compensation coverage for basically every employer, even if you only have one employee. There's no "under 3 employees, you're exempt" rule like some states have. Sole proprietors and partners can typically exclude themselves from coverage, but the moment you bring on a helper, even part time, you're expected to carry a policy.

For roofers specifically, a lot of general contractors and property management companies in Indiana won't even let you quote a job without a certificate showing active workers' comp, regardless of what the state technically requires. So even in the rare case where you might be exempt on paper, you may still need the policy to actually get work.

Illinois

Illinois is one of the stricter states out there. Virtually every employer needs coverage, and there's no minimum employee count that gets you out of it. What trips up a lot of roofing contractors in Illinois is how the state treats subcontractors and sole proprietors on construction sites. If you're a one-person operation working as a sub, general contractors will often require you to either carry your own workers' comp policy or sign a specific waiver, because Illinois law can make the GC responsible for an uninsured sub's injury.

Given how often roofing injuries happen (falls are the obvious one, but ladder incidents and material handling injuries come up a lot too), most Illinois GCs treat this as non negotiable.

Michigan

Michigan's threshold is a bit different. You generally need workers' comp if you have three or more employees at one time, or one or more employees working 35 hours or more per week for at least 13 weeks. Agricultural employers have their own separate rules.

That said, plenty of Michigan roofing contractors carry a policy well before they technically hit that threshold, again because it's often required to bid jobs, work with certain suppliers, or satisfy a bonding requirement.

Why this matters beyond "the law says so"

Roofing is consistently one of the more dangerous trades to insure, and workers' comp isn't just a box to check. If someone on your crew gets hurt without coverage in place, you could be looking at medical bills, lost wages, and potentially a lawsuit coming straight out of your business (or your own pocket). A solid policy also tends to make you look more credible to the GCs and homeowners you're bidding to, which matters more than people expect in a competitive market.

What to do next

Rules like these shift depending on how your business is structured, how many people you employ, and which state (or states) you actually work in. If you're running crews across the Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan border area, it's worth having someone actually look at your specific setup rather than going off a general rule of thumb.

That's the kind of thing we help roofing contractors sort out every week here at Shurr Insurance. If you want a straight answer on what you actually need for your crew size and where you work, give us a call and we'll walk through it with you.

This blog is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or insurance advice. Coverage needs vary by business, and policy terms, conditions, and availability differ by carrier and state. Please contact Shurr Insurance Agency directly to discuss your specific business and coverage options.