Oklahoma roofing contractor insurance and registration requirements

Last reviewed Oct 11, 2026. General information from official state sources, not legal or insurance advice.

Oklahoma requires every roofing contractor to register each year with the Construction Industries Board (CIB) under the Roofing Contractor Registration Act (59 O.S. §1151.1 and following). Registration is how the state makes sure a roofer carries liability insurance and workers' compensation (or a legal exemption) before working on your home. Here's what the law requires and how to check a roofer, especially after a storm.

Who must register

Any business doing residential or commercial roofing must register with the CIB every year, including subcontractors and out-of-state companies. There are two narrow exceptions:

• A homeowner or farm owner roofing their own property.
• A handyman who roofs as part of other repairs and does no more than two roofing jobs a year.

Registrations expire each year on the last day of the qualifying party's birth month. Commercial roofing also requires a commercial endorsement, which means passing an exam; installing shingles doesn't need one. A new residential roofing endorsement becomes required on January 1, 2027. Roofers already registered have until January 1, 2028 to pass the exam or complete extra continuing education.

Liability insurance

To register, a roofer must carry general liability insurance of at least (59 O.S. §1151.5):

• $500,000 for residential roofing
• $1,000,000 for commercial roofing

The policy must specifically cover roofing work (OAC 158:85-2-1). The CIB must be listed as a certificate holder. The insurer must tell the CIB if the policy is cancelled, and the roofer's registration is suspended on the cancellation date. Subcontractors must carry the same coverage.

Workers' compensation

A roofer must show either proof of workers' compensation coverage or an affidavit of exemption to register. Two rules protect homeowners:

• An exemption affidavit may be used only on residential jobs, and must be attached to the contract. Commercial jobs require full coverage for everyone on site (§1151.22).
• Every roofing contract must state that the workers are covered, and the law says a homeowner can't be held liable in the workers' comp system for injuries on the job.

Is there a roofing bond?

No. Oklahoma's Roofing Contractor Registration Act doesn't require a roofing bond, so your main protection is the roofer's insurance plus a clear written contract. Cities can't use the Act to add their own roofing registration on top of the state's.

What "not in good standing" means

The CIB marks a registration not in good standing when, for example, the liability insurance or workers' comp has lapsed, state business filings aren't current, or taxes are unpaid. Under §1151.5:

• A roofer not in good standing must stop soliciting and taking on new jobs.
• If you already have a contract with that roofer, you have the option to cancel it. The roofer is still owed the actual cost of materials and the value of labor already done.
• After 60 days not in good standing, the registration is suspended; after 90 days, it's revoked.

Your rights after a storm

Oklahoma has specific protections for roofing jobs paid by insurance:

• 72-hour cancellation after a claim denial. If your insurer denies all or part of your claim, you can cancel the roofing contract within 72 hours of receiving the written denial (59 O.S. §1151.21). Any payment must be refunded within 10 days, and the contract must explain this right in bold, 12-point type.
• No paying your deductible. A roofer may not advertise or promise to pay all or part of your insurance deductible, directly or indirectly (59 O.S. §1151.30, as amended effective November 1, 2025). The roofer must give you written notice of this rule with its first estimate.
• Out-of-state roofers must register like everyone else, and a registered roofer may not hire an unregistered out-of-state company.

After severe weather in April 2026, the Oklahoma Attorney General warned homeowners to be "extremely cautious of contractors who demand large upfront payments or insist on cash transactions." The CIB likewise warns about door-to-door solicitations after storms.

How to check an Oklahoma roofer

1. Search the roofer on the CIB's roofing registration search, linked from the CIB's "Are They Licensed?" page. Confirm the registration is current and in good standing, and that the business name matches your contract.
2. For commercial work, confirm the commercial endorsement. From 2027, look for the residential endorsement on home jobs.
3. Ask for a certificate of insurance showing at least $500,000 in coverage for roofing work, and confirm it with the insurer (see how to verify a certificate of insurance).
4. Read the contract for the workers' comp statement and the 72-hour cancellation notice.
5. Report problems to the CIB ([email protected] or 405-521-6550) or the Attorney General's consumer protection line (1-833-681-1895).

You can also look up any Oklahoma roofer's registration status and insurance on our Oklahoma lookup, checked daily against the CIB's public roofing registration data.