Georgia Roofing License Requirements

Official classification: No dedicated statewide roofing license; roofers use Residential Basic, Residential Light Commercial, or General Contractor license issued by SLBRGC · Issued by the State Licensing Board for Residential and Commercial General Contractors (SLBRGC), Georgia Secretary of State.

🏠 RooferGA ✔ Verified 2026-06-22

In Georgia, roofers must hold the No dedicated statewide roofing license; roofers use Residential Basic, Residential Light Commercial, or General Contractor license issued by SLBRGC, issued by the State Licensing Board for Residential and Commercial General Contractors (SLBRGC), Georgia Secretary of State, and no state surety bond is required. Full requirements — experience, exams, fees, insurance, renewal and reciprocity — are detailed below.

How to become a licensed roofer in Georgia

Follow these steps to earn your No dedicated statewide roofing license; roofers use Residential Basic, Residential Light Commercial, or General Contractor license issued by SLBRGC. Every figure is verified against the State Licensing Board for Residential and Commercial General Contractors (SLBRGC), Georgia Secretary of State; full detail for each step is further down the page.

Build the required experience. Residential Basic: 2 years documented experience in residential construction (roofing qualifies) plus successful completion of at least 2 projects in the prior 4 years. Residential Light Commercial and General Contractor: 4 years documented experience or 4-year accredited degree in engineering, architecture, or construction management, plus at least 2 completed projects in the prior 4 years.
Pass the exam for the license class you are applying for. Providers, passing scores and fees are in the Exams section below.
Check the insurance rules. Liability: Residential Basic: $300,000 per occurrence. Residential Light Commercial and General Contractor: $500,000 per occurrence. Workers' compensation: Required under O.C.G.A. §34-9-2 for any business with 3 or more employees.
Clear the background check. Applicants must disclose all arrests, charges, or convictions; affirmative answers require written explanation with supporting documentation.
Meet the credit / financial requirement. Minimum net worth per the Board's FAQ: Residential Basic $25,000; Residential Light Commercial $25,000; Commercial General Contractor Limited Tier $25,000; Commercial General Contractor $150,000. Applicants affirm the figure on the application and submit proof when directed (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 553-4).
Submit your application and fees. Apply through the State Licensing Board for Residential and Commercial General Contractors (SLBRGC), Georgia Secretary of State — $200 application fee + $5–$10 processing fee (submitted via GOALS portal) application fee, plus a $100 (initial license fee) license fee. Processing time: Application processing time not publicly stated by SLBRGC; exam approval and scheduling through PSI after board review.
Keep the license active. Renewal: Every 2 years (June 30 of even-numbered years). Continuing education: Residential Basic: 3 hours annually. Residential Light Commercial: 6 hours annually. General Contractor: None required.

Georgia roofer license lookup

To confirm a roofer is properly licensed in Georgia — or to check the status of your own license — search the issuing agency's official license database. The record shows whether the license is active and in good standing.

Verify a license now: Search the official goals.sos.ga.gov database →

License types

Residential Basic Contractor (roofing use-case) — Residential roofing projects over $2,500 in combined labor and materials; no commercial work
Residential Light Commercial Contractor (roofing use-case) — Residential and commercial roofing on structures under 4 stories and less than 25,000 sq ft; projects over $2,500
General Contractor — Unlimited (roofing use-case) — All roofing work, residential or commercial, no dollar or size limit

Requirements at a glance

Experience required	Residential Basic: 2 years documented experience in residential construction (roofing qualifies) plus successful completion of at least 2 projects in the prior 4 years. Residential Light Commercial and General Contractor: 4 years documented experience or 4-year accredited degree in engineering, architecture, or construction management, plus at least 2 completed projects in the prior 4 years.
Application fee	$200 application fee + $5–$10 processing fee (submitted via GOALS portal)
License fee	$100 (initial license fee)
Renewal fee	$100 (biennial; due June 30 of even-numbered years); $200 late penalty after June 30
Renewal period	Every 2 years (June 30 of even-numbered years)
Continuing education	Residential Basic: 3 hours annually. Residential Light Commercial: 6 hours annually. General Contractor: None required.
Bond required	No bond alternative is listed: the Board's rule has general contractors affirm a minimum net worth of $150,000 (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 553-4), and its FAQ lists $25,000 for Residential Basic, Residential Light Commercial and the Commercial General Contractor Limited Tier.
Liability insurance	Residential Basic: $300,000 per occurrence. Residential Light Commercial and General Contractor: $500,000 per occurrence.
Property damage	—
Workers' comp	Required under O.C.G.A. §34-9-2 for any business with 3 or more employees.
Background check	Applicants must disclose all arrests, charges, or convictions; affirmative answers require written explanation with supporting documentation.
Credit requirement	Minimum net worth per the Board's FAQ: Residential Basic $25,000; Residential Light Commercial $25,000; Commercial General Contractor Limited Tier $25,000; Commercial General Contractor $150,000. Applicants affirm the figure on the application and submit proof when directed (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 553-4).
Reciprocity	Louisiana (Residential Basic and General Contractor Unlimited tracks — must still pass Georgia Business & Law exam); Mississippi (Residential Basic and General Contractor Unlimited tracks — must still pass Georgia Business & Law exam); South Carolina (Residential Basic track only — must still pass Georgia Business & Law exam) · compare all states
Processing time	Application processing time not publicly stated by SLBRGC; exam approval and scheduling through PSI after board review

What a Georgia roofer license costs

Application fee	$200 application fee + $5–$10 processing fee (submitted via GOALS portal).
License fee	$100 (initial license fee).
Georgia Residential Basic Contractor Examination (90 questions, 200 minutes, open-book; covers roofing, carpentry, masonry, OSHA safety, and general building code)	Not publicly disclosed separately by SLBRGC; included in exam registration.
NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors (required for Residential Light Commercial and General Contractor tracks)	$130 (paid to PSI).
Georgia Business & Law Examination (required for all tracks)	$195 (paid to PSI).
Surety bond	No bond alternative is listed: the Board's rule has general contractors affirm a minimum net worth of $150,000 (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 553-4), and its FAQ lists $25,000 for Residential Basic, Residential Light Commercial and the Commercial General Contractor Limited Tier.
Renewal fee	$100 (biennial; due June 30 of even-numbered years); $200 late penalty after June 30.
Renewal period	Every 2 years (June 30 of even-numbered years).

Exams

Georgia Residential Basic Contractor Examination (90 questions, 200 minutes, open-book; covers roofing, carpentry, masonry, OSHA safety, and general building code)	Provider: PSI Exams (for SLBRGC) · Passing: 70% · Fee: Not publicly disclosed separately by SLBRGC; included in exam registration
NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors (required for Residential Light Commercial and General Contractor tracks)	Provider: NASCLA / PSI Exams · Passing: 70% · Fee: $130 (paid to PSI)
Georgia Business & Law Examination (required for all tracks)	Provider: PSI Exams (for SLBRGC) · Passing: 70% · Fee: $195 (paid to PSI)

Renewing a Georgia roofer license

The No dedicated statewide roofing license; roofers use Residential Basic, Residential Light Commercial, or General Contractor license issued by SLBRGC renews on a fixed cycle set by the State Licensing Board for Residential and Commercial General Contractors (SLBRGC), Georgia Secretary of State. Finish the continuing-education requirement before you file — boards generally will not process a renewal without it. Late and lapsed renewals are handled differently by every board, so check the renewal page linked below before the deadline passes.

Renewal period	Every 2 years (June 30 of even-numbered years)
Renewal fee	$100 (biennial; due June 30 of even-numbered years); $200 late penalty after June 30
Continuing education	Residential Basic: 3 hours annually. Residential Light Commercial: 6 hours annually. General Contractor: None required.
Where to renew	State Licensing Board for Residential and Commercial General Contractors (SLBRGC), Georgia Secretary of State

Local / municipal notes

Georgia does not issue a roofing-specific state license. Roofing work on any residential project valued over $2,500 legally requires a valid SLBRGC contractor license. The Georgia Roofing Contractors Association (GARCA) offers a voluntary certification program (not a state license) for steep-slope and low-slope roofing. Many counties also require a local business license or permit registration independent of the state license.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Georgia roofer license cost?

Application: $200 application fee + $5–$10 processing fee (submitted via GOALS portal). License: $100 (initial license fee). Renewal: $100 (biennial; due June 30 of even-numbered years); $200 late penalty after June 30.

How do I look up a roofer license in Georgia?

Search the official license database at goals.sos.ga.gov. The record shows whether the license is active and in good standing.

Do roofers in Georgia need a surety bond?

No bond alternative is listed: the Board's rule has general contractors affirm a minimum net worth of $150,000 (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 553-4), and its FAQ lists $25,000 for Residential Basic, Residential Light Commercial and the Commercial General Contractor Limited Tier.

What experience is required for a Georgia roofer license?

Residential Basic: 2 years documented experience in residential construction (roofing qualifies) plus successful completion of at least 2 projects in the prior 4 years. Residential Light Commercial and General Contractor: 4 years documented experience or 4-year accredited degree in engineering, architecture, or construction management, plus at least 2 completed projects in the prior 4 years.

Is insurance required for roofers in Georgia?

Liability: Residential Basic: $300,000 per occurrence. Residential Light Commercial and General Contractor: $500,000 per occurrence. Workers' compensation: Required under O.C.G.A. §34-9-2 for any business with 3 or more employees.

How long does it take to get a Georgia roofer license?

Processing time: Application processing time not publicly stated by SLBRGC; exam approval and scheduling through PSI after board review.

Is a background check required for roofers in Georgia?

Background check: Applicants must disclose all arrests, charges, or convictions; affirmative answers require written explanation with supporting documentation.

Is there a credit or financial requirement for a Georgia roofer license?

Credit requirement: Minimum net worth per the Board's FAQ: Residential Basic $25,000; Residential Light Commercial $25,000; Commercial General Contractor Limited Tier $25,000; Commercial General Contractor $150,000. Applicants affirm the figure on the application and submit proof when directed (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 553-4).

How often must a Georgia roofer license be renewed?

Every 2 years (June 30 of even-numbered years). Continuing education: Residential Basic: 3 hours annually. Residential Light Commercial: 6 hours annually. General Contractor: None required.

Fees and rules change frequently (often annually). This page was last verified on 2026-06-22 — always confirm current requirements directly with the State Licensing Board for Residential and Commercial General Contractors (SLBRGC), Georgia Secretary of State before applying. This is not legal advice.