Louisiana Roofer License Requirements

Official classification: Roofing and Sheet Metal, Siding (commercial specialty classification) / Roofing (residential specialty) · Issued by the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC).

🏠 RooferLA ✔ Verified 2026-09-30

In Louisiana, roofers must hold the Roofing and Sheet Metal, Siding (commercial specialty classification) / Roofing (residential specialty), issued by the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC), 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 Louisiana

Follow these steps to earn your Roofing and Sheet Metal, Siding (commercial specialty classification) / Roofing (residential specialty). Every figure is verified against the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC); full detail for each step is further down the page.

Build the required experience. No fixed statutory hour requirement; the qualifying party must pass the applicable trade and business/law exams.
Pass the Roofing specialty / trade examination and Louisiana Business and Law examination (50 questions) exams. Providers, passing scores and fees are in the Exams section below.
Check the insurance rules. Liability: Commercial: not mandated (exempt from the board insurance filing). Residential specialty: liability insurance of at least $500,000, or a liability trust fund of the same amount, required at application and renewal (La. R.S. 37:2156.1(F)(1)); some older LSLBC web pages still show $100,000. Property damage: Covered within the residential general-liability requirement. Workers' compensation: Required under LA Title 23; a certificate is filed for residential specialty work.
Clear the background check. The board's background investigation covers identification, criminal history and financial history (La. R.S. 37:2156.1(C)); a contractor not domiciled in Louisiana may be charged up to $400 for it (37:2156(D)). No fingerprint check is specified.
Meet the credit / financial requirement. Financial statement showing net worth of at least $50,000 (current within 12 months); a shortfall may be covered only by an irrevocable letter of credit, not a bond (La. R.S. 37:2156.1(B)(2)).
Submit your application and fees. Apply through the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC) — Statutory caps: examination $50, license $100, renewal $100, delinquent $50, home improvement $50 (La. R.S. 37:2156(C)); a contractor not domiciled in Louisiana may be charged up to $400 more for the background investigation (37:2156(D)). application fee, plus a $100 statutory cap; additional classifications cost extra license fee. Processing time: Variable; applications are acted on at scheduled board meetings.
Keep the license active. Renewal: 1, 2, or 3 years (licensee elects); expires on the anniversary of the issue date. Continuing education: Residential roofing specialty: 6 hours annually under the residential continuing-education rule. None required for the commercial specialty.

Louisiana roofer license lookup

To confirm a roofer is properly licensed in Louisiana — 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 arlspublic.lslbc.louisiana.gov database →

License types

Roofing and Sheet Metal, Siding (commercial specialty) — Specialty classification under Building Construction for commercial roofing projects of $50,000 or more.
Roofing (residential specialty) — Residential roofing subcontractor specialty; required when residential roofing work exceeds $7,500.

Requirements at a glance

Experience required	No fixed statutory hour requirement; the qualifying party must pass the applicable trade and business/law exams.
Application fee	Statutory caps: examination $50, license $100, renewal $100, delinquent $50, home improvement $50 (La. R.S. 37:2156(C)); a contractor not domiciled in Louisiana may be charged up to $400 more for the background investigation (37:2156(D)).
License fee	$100 statutory cap; additional classifications cost extra
Renewal fee	$100 statutory cap; $50 delinquent fee
Renewal period	1, 2, or 3 years (licensee elects); expires on the anniversary of the issue date
Continuing education	Residential roofing specialty: 6 hours annually under the residential continuing-education rule. None required for the commercial specialty.
Bond required	No board-mandated surety bond. An applicant short of the $50,000 net-worth requirement may cover the shortfall only with an irrevocable letter of credit, not a bond (La. R.S. 37:2156.1(B)(2)).
Liability insurance	Commercial: not mandated (exempt from the board insurance filing). Residential specialty: liability insurance of at least $500,000, or a liability trust fund of the same amount, required at application and renewal (La. R.S. 37:2156.1(F)(1)); some older LSLBC web pages still show $100,000.
Property damage	Covered within the residential general-liability requirement
Workers' comp	Required under LA Title 23; a certificate is filed for residential specialty work
Background check	The board's background investigation covers identification, criminal history and financial history (La. R.S. 37:2156.1(C)); a contractor not domiciled in Louisiana may be charged up to $400 for it (37:2156(D)). No fingerprint check is specified.
Credit requirement	Financial statement showing net worth of at least $50,000 (current within 12 months); a shortfall may be covered only by an irrevocable letter of credit, not a bond (La. R.S. 37:2156.1(B)(2)).
Reciprocity	As of 2024, LSLBC accepts any out-of-state exam passed without waiver or exemption in a comparable classification — there is no fixed reciprocal-state list, and the business/law portion is never waived. · compare all states
Processing time	Variable; applications are acted on at scheduled board meetings.

What a Louisiana roofer license costs

Application fee	Statutory caps: examination $50, license $100, renewal $100, delinquent $50, home improvement $50 (La. R.S. 37:2156(C)); a contractor not domiciled in Louisiana may be charged up to $400 more for the background investigation (37:2156(D)).
License fee	$100 statutory cap; additional classifications cost extra.
Roofing specialty / trade examination	$50 statutory cap per classification exam.
Louisiana Business and Law examination (50 questions)	$50 statutory cap.
Surety bond	No board-mandated surety bond. An applicant short of the $50,000 net-worth requirement may cover the shortfall only with an irrevocable letter of credit, not a bond (La. R.S. 37:2156.1(B)(2)).
Renewal fee	$100 statutory cap; $50 delinquent fee.
Renewal period	1, 2, or 3 years (licensee elects); expires on the anniversary of the issue date.

Exams

Roofing specialty / trade examination	Provider: PSI · Passing: Not publicly disclosed · Fee: $50 statutory cap per classification exam
Louisiana Business and Law examination (50 questions)	Provider: LSLBC Contractor Licensing Portal (online) · Passing: 70 out of 100 · Fee: $50 statutory cap

Renewing a Louisiana roofer license

The Roofing and Sheet Metal, Siding (commercial specialty classification) / Roofing (residential specialty) renews on a fixed cycle set by the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC). 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	1, 2, or 3 years (licensee elects); expires on the anniversary of the issue date
Renewal fee	$100 statutory cap; $50 delinquent fee
Continuing education	Residential roofing specialty: 6 hours annually under the residential continuing-education rule. None required for the commercial specialty.
Where to renew	Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC)

Local / municipal notes

Roofing falls under either the commercial 'Roofing and Sheet Metal, Siding' specialty ($50k+) or the residential 'Roofing' specialty (over $7,500). Choose the tier matching the project type.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Louisiana roofer license cost?

Application: Statutory caps: examination $50, license $100, renewal $100, delinquent $50, home improvement $50 (La. R.S. 37:2156(C)); a contractor not domiciled in Louisiana may be charged up to $400 more for the background investigation (37:2156(D)). License: $100 statutory cap; additional classifications cost extra. Renewal: $100 statutory cap; $50 delinquent fee.

How do I look up a roofer license in Louisiana?

Search the official license database at arlspublic.lslbc.louisiana.gov. The record shows whether the license is active and in good standing.

Do roofers in Louisiana need a surety bond?

No board-mandated surety bond. An applicant short of the $50,000 net-worth requirement may cover the shortfall only with an irrevocable letter of credit, not a bond (La. R.S. 37:2156.1(B)(2)).

What experience is required for a Louisiana roofer license?

No fixed statutory hour requirement; the qualifying party must pass the applicable trade and business/law exams.

Is insurance required for roofers in Louisiana?

Liability: Commercial: not mandated (exempt from the board insurance filing). Residential specialty: liability insurance of at least $500,000, or a liability trust fund of the same amount, required at application and renewal (La. R.S. 37:2156.1(F)(1)); some older LSLBC web pages still show $100,000. Property damage: Covered within the residential general-liability requirement. Workers' compensation: Required under LA Title 23; a certificate is filed for residential specialty work.

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

Processing time: Variable; applications are acted on at scheduled board meetings.

Is a background check required for roofers in Louisiana?

Background check: The board's background investigation covers identification, criminal history and financial history (La. R.S. 37:2156.1(C)); a contractor not domiciled in Louisiana may be charged up to $400 for it (37:2156(D)). No fingerprint check is specified.

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

Credit requirement: Financial statement showing net worth of at least $50,000 (current within 12 months); a shortfall may be covered only by an irrevocable letter of credit, not a bond (La. R.S. 37:2156.1(B)(2)).

How often must a Louisiana roofer license be renewed?

1, 2, or 3 years (licensee elects); expires on the anniversary of the issue date. Continuing education: Residential roofing specialty: 6 hours annually under the residential continuing-education rule. None required for the commercial specialty.

Fees and rules change frequently (often annually). This page was last verified on 2026-09-30 — always confirm current requirements directly with the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC) before applying. This is not legal advice.