State Roofing Contractor Licensing

How roofing contractor licensing works state by state - who requires a license, who does not, and where to verify one.

State license

The state sets qualifications and issues a license number. This is the strongest signal: the roofer had to meet a real bar to get it, and you can look them up.

State registration

The state keeps a list of contractors, but registering doesn't test roofing skill. It confirms the business filed paperwork, nothing more. Still worth checking, but don't treat “registered” as “vetted.”

City or county only

The state doesn't require anything, so any rules come from your local building department. You'll need to do more of the homework yourself.

Find your state

Notes
Alabama License required Jobs $10k+ AL Licensing Board for General Contractors Roofers need a Roofing & Sheet Metal Contractor license for residential jobs over $10,000 (or commercial over $50,000).
Alaska License required All jobs AK Div. of Corporations, Business & Professional Licensing Roofers need a Specialty Contractor license.
Arizona License required All jobs AZ Registrar of Contractors Roofers need an R-42 Roofing license.
Arkansas License required Jobs $2k+ AR Contractors Licensing Board A contractor license is required for roofing work over $2,000.
California License required Jobs $500+ Contractors State License Board (CSLB) Roofers need a C-39 Roofing license for any job over $500.
Colorado No state license Local rules Local building department Roofing is regulated locally. Check with your city or county building department (Denver, Aurora, Boulder, and others each have their own rules).
Connecticut Registration required All jobs CT Dept. of Consumer Protection Roofers must register as a home improvement contractor. Registration confirms paperwork, not skill.
Delaware Registration required All jobs DE Division of Revenue / Dept. of Labor Contractors need a state business license and must register with the Department of Labor.
Florida License required All jobs FL Dept. of Business & Professional Regulation Roofers hold either a Certified license (works statewide) or a Registered license (limited to one local area).
Georgia No state license Local rules Local building department Roofers aren't required to hold a state license. Check with your city or county building department.
Hawaii License required Jobs $1k+ HI Dept. of Commerce & Consumer Affairs Roofers need a C-42 Roofing license for work over $1,000.
Idaho Registration required Jobs $2k+ ID Division of Occupational & Professional Licenses Roofers must register with the state for work over $2,000. Registration doesn't test skill.
Illinois License required All jobs IL Dept. of Financial & Professional Regulation Roofers must hold a state roofing license.
Indiana No state license Local rules Local building department Roofing is regulated locally. Check with your city or county building department.
Iowa Registration required Contractors $2k+/yr IA Division of Labor Contractors earning $2,000 or more a year must register with the state.
Kansas Registration required All jobs KS Attorney General Every roofing contractor must hold a roofing registration certificate.
Kentucky No state license Local rules Local building department There is no state roofing license. Check with your city or county building department.
Louisiana License required Jobs $7.5k+ LA State Licensing Board for Contractors As of January 1, 2026, residential roofing work over $7,500 requires a state license.
Maine No state license (for now) Local (until 2027) Local building department Roofing is regulated locally today. Starting January 1, 2027, residential contractors will need a state license for projects over $15,000.
Maryland License required All jobs MD Home Improvement Commission (MHIC) Roofing counts as home improvement, so roofers need an MHIC license.
Massachusetts License required All jobs MA Board of Building Regulations & Standards Roofers typically hold a Construction Supervisor License plus a Home Improvement Contractor registration.
Michigan License required All jobs MI Dept. of Licensing & Regulatory Affairs (LARA) Roofers need a Residential Builder or Maintenance & Alteration license.
Minnesota License required All jobs MN Dept. of Labor & Industry Roofers need a Residential Roofer license.
Mississippi License required Jobs $10k+ MS State Board of Contractors Roofers need a Residential Roofing license for jobs over $10,000.
Missouri No state license Local rules Local building department There is no working statewide roofing registry. Roofing is handled locally (St. Louis, Kansas City, and others). Be especially careful after storms, when out-of-town “storm chasers” are common.
Montana Registration required With employees MT Dept. of Labor & Industry Contractors with employees must register with the state. Registration isn't a license and doesn't test skill.
Nebraska Registration required All jobs NE Dept. of Labor All contractors must register with the state. Registration doesn't test skill.
Nevada License required All jobs NV State Contractors Board Roofers need a C-15 Roofing license.
New Hampshire No state license Local rules Local building department There is no state roofing license. Check with your city or county building department. (Note: some websites claim New Hampshire requires a “home improvement contractor registration.” It does not.)
New Jersey Registration required All jobs NJ Division of Consumer Affairs Roofers must hold a Home Improvement Contractor registration (the “13VH” number on their contracts and ads). New Jersey is in the process of adding a full license requirement, but for now it's registration only.
New Mexico License required All jobs NM Regulation & Licensing Department Roofers need a state construction license.
New York No state license Local rules Local consumer affairs office Only local governments (New York City, Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, and others) issue roofing credentials.
North Carolina License required for larger jobs Jobs $30k+ NC Licensing Board for General Contractors A General Contractor license is required for work of $30,000 or more; smaller repair jobs may not require one.
North Dakota License required Jobs $4k+ ND Secretary of State A contractor license is required for any job of $4,000 or more.
Ohio No state license Local rules Local building department Roofers register as a business with the state, but individual cities (Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati) set the actual rules.
Oklahoma Registration required All jobs OK Construction Industries Board Roofers must register with the state.
Oregon License required All jobs OR Construction Contractors Board (CCB) Roofers need a CCB license, and the “CCB#” is standard on Oregon roofers' materials.
Pennsylvania Registration required All jobs PA Office of Attorney General Roofers must hold a Home Improvement Contractor registration (a “PA” number that appears on all contracts, estimates, and ads).
Rhode Island Registration required All jobs RI Contractors' Registration & Licensing Board All contractors must register with the state, and commercial roofers need an additional license.
South Carolina Registration required All jobs SC Dept. of Labor, Licensing & Regulation Roofers must register with the state, and a bond is required for work of $5,000 or more.
South Dakota No state license Local rules Local building department The state only issues a business/tax registration, not a roofing credential. Roofing rules come from your city.
Tennessee License required for larger jobs Jobs $25k+ TN Board for Licensing Contractors A contractor license listing roofing is required for jobs of $25,000 or more; smaller jobs may not require one.
Texas No state license Local rules Local building department Texas does not license roofers. Some belong to a voluntary trade group (RCAT), which is a plus but not required.
Utah License required All jobs UT Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL) Roofers need an S280 Roofing Contractor license.
Vermont Registration required Jobs $10k+ VT Office of Professional Regulation Roofers must register for residential contracts over $10,000. Registration doesn't test skill.
Virginia License required Jobs $1k+ VA Dept. of Professional & Occupational Regulation (DPOR) Roofers need a contractor license with a roofing specialty for work over $1,000.
Washington Registration required All jobs WA Dept. of Labor & Industries Roofers must be registered with the state (working unregistered is a crime), but registration doesn't test skill.
West Virginia License required Jobs $2.5k+ WV Contractor Licensing Board Roofers need a contractor license for work over $2,500.
Wisconsin Registration required All jobs WI Dept. of Safety & Professional Services Roofers need a Dwelling Contractor certification to pull permits on one- and two-family homes. The state notes this does not measure competency.
Wyoming No state license Local rules Local building department Roofing is regulated locally. Check with your city or county building department.

Verify their credentials and coverage (do this in every state)

  • License or registration: ask for the number and look it up with your state's agency.
  • Insurance: confirm general liability and workers' compensation, and ask for a certificate.
  • Manufacturer certifications: check for programs like GAF, CertainTeed, or Owens Corning, which often come with better warranties.
  • Permits: make sure they'll pull the required local permits. A roofer who wants to skip permits is a red flag.
  • Local rules: your city or county may require its own permit or license even if your state doesn't, so call your building department and ask.

Protect yourself before you sign

  • Written contract: get the scope, materials, price, timeline, and warranty in writing.
  • Reputation: read reviews and ask for recent local references.
  • Pressure tactics: be wary of large upfront deposits and anyone pushing you to sign on the spot, especially door-knockers after a storm.
  • No state license: lean harder on every check above, since there's no state credential to fall back on.
  • Trade associations: a voluntary membership can be a good sign, but it isn't the same as being licensed.

References

The sources below informed this guide, organized alphabetically by state. Government and primary sources - licensing boards, statutes, administrative code, and official verification tools - carry a Gov Page badge. The rest are industry, legal, and secondary references.

Multi-State & General Guides

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

Georgia

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New York

Ohio

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Dakota

Tennessee

Utah

Vermont

Virginia

Washington

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Wyoming