Fall roof and gutter checklist: before you call anyone

1. Gutters only?

Gutter cleaning is one of the jobs that needs no L&I contractor registration in Washington, so a handyman or a window crew can take it on. (L&I F625-084-000) Ask them to tell you, in writing or by photo, anything they see on the roof while they are up there. That is your free first look.

2. Moss on the roof?

WSU Extension passes on roofers' reports that moss roots work into cracks and speed up leaks, cedar shingles most of all. (WSU Extension)

• The license: anyone paid to put moss killer on your roof needs a WSDA commercial pesticide applicator license, roofers and pressure washers included, even for one job. The category is Structural and Turf Demossing. (WSDA) (WSDA categories) The application fee for that license is $250, and WSDA requires liability insurance or a surety bond. (WSDA, read Oct 18, 2026)
• The timing: that same product label says to apply before the fall rains or in early spring, and that dead moss can come off three to five weeks later. That is the maker's label, not WSU advice. (product label)
• The runoff: the label warns the product is toxic to fish and can damage skylights, metal and concrete tiles. A state Ecology study in Lacey traced 43% of the zinc in local runoff to moss control products. (product label) (Ecology)

3. A leak, or a soft spot?

Now you need a roofer. Roofing is a registered contractor specialty, so look up the registration on L&I Verify first. (L&I) If water is already coming in, ask about a tarp as a stopgap until the repair.

4. Time for a new roof?

Whether a reroof needs a permit depends on where you live. In Seattle and unincorporated King County a like-for-like reroof on a house needs none; Olympia requires one. See the reroof permit rules by city.

5. After a windstorm

The state's urban forestry team says the turn from fall to winter brings a higher chance of windstorms. (WA DNR)

• Be wary of a crew that pushes you to sign that day. L&I and the OIC both list pressure to sign fast as a warning sign. (L&I) (OIC)
• Read any Assignment of Benefits before you sign it. It lets the contractor deal with your insurer and collect without your approval. (OIC)
• A roofer who offers to cover your deductible as a regular practice is breaking state law. (RCW 48.30A.015)

More in insurance claims and contractor rules.