Window cleaning coverage, from the ladder to the roofline.
General liability, workers' comp, commercial auto and equipment coverage for residential and commercial window cleaners, high-rise and rope access crews, and solar panel cleaners.
By Sam Alishahi · CA Insurance License #4348151 · Reviewed October 2026 · How this page is researched
Height changes everything
Carriers start with one question: how high do you work? A crew cleaning storefronts and homes from the ground and ladders is a very different risk from rope access, boatswain's chairs or lifts on a high-rise, and many carriers limit the height of work they'll cover.
The rest of the picture is the client's property: a cracked pane, a ladder through a skylight, water inside a home, scratched glass or a damaged solar panel. I match your crew's work to carriers whose guidelines fit it, then set limits to meet your contracts and building managers' requirements.
- General liabilityInjuries and damage to clients' property from your work.
- Workers' compRequired in California for employers, and priced by the work your crew does.
- Commercial autoVans and trucks that carry your crew, ladders and water systems.
- Tools and equipmentLadders, water-fed poles, purification systems and rope gear.
What underwriters will ask
Having these ready means I can go to market on the first call. The quote form asks for the same things, and anything you don’t know yet can wait.
- Work: residential, commercial, solar, gutters or pressure washing.
- Height: maximum stories, and whether you use ropes, chairs or lifts.
- Crew: number of employees, subcontractors and annual payroll.
- Revenue: annual gross receipts, split by type of work.
- Vehicles and equipment: vans, trucks and equipment values.
- History: current policies and loss runs.
Window cleaning insurance, answered
Does it matter how high we work?
Yes. Carriers rate and accept window cleaners by height, and many won't cover work above a certain number of stories. High-rise and rope access work usually goes to carriers that specialize in it, so tell me the tallest building you clean.
Does general liability cover a window we break?
Damage you cause to a client's property is the main reason window cleaners carry general liability, but policies limit coverage for damage to the specific part of the property you're working on. I'll walk through how your policy handles it before you buy.
Is workers' comp required for a small window cleaning crew?
Yes. California requires employers to carry workers' compensation, even with one employee. Ladder and height work is one of the bigger cost drivers, so payroll should be reported by the kind of work each person does.
Can solar panel cleaning be added?
Usually, but tell the carrier. Solar cleaning puts your crew on roofs and around equipment you don't own, and some window cleaning policies are written only for glass.
Do I need commercial auto for my work van?
If the van is owned by the business or used mainly for work, a personal auto policy may not respond to a claim. Commercial auto covers the vehicle; the ladders and gear it carries are insured separately.
Do you offer window cleaning insurance outside California?
Yes. Clients across the country send the same quote form. California policies are placed directly; outside California the request is handled together with a partner agency in your state, and the shopping across carriers works the same way. Rules, minimums and markets differ by state — see insurance requirements by state.
Tell me about your crew. I'll shop it.
The work you do, how high you go and your payroll are enough to start.
Alishahi Insurance · Saman Alishahi, independent insurance broker, California License #4348151. General information, not a quote or a promise of coverage; coverage depends on underwriting and the terms, conditions and exclusions of the policy actually issued.
Tell me how to reach you. I’ll take it from there.
Takes about 30 seconds. I review every request personally and call you back, usually the same day.
(424) 552-4545Answered 24/7 · CA License #4348151
Get a reminder before your renewal.
Tell me when your policy renews and I’ll email you about six weeks before, when it’s worth comparing. One email, no calls.