Michigan Roofer License Requirements

Official classification: Maintenance & Alteration Contractor License — Roofing Classification · Issued by the Michigan LARA — Bureau of Construction Codes, Residential Builders Section.

🏠 RooferMI ✔ Verified 2026-06-22

In Michigan, roofers must hold the Maintenance & Alteration Contractor License — Roofing Classification, issued by the Michigan LARA — Bureau of Construction Codes, Residential Builders Section, 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 Michigan

Michigan licenses roofers at the city level rather than statewide, so the path runs through your local permitting office. Here are the general steps — the verified specifics are detailed further down the page.

Start with your city, not the state. Michigan has no statewide roofer license — registration, bonds and insurance are set by each municipality, so confirm the rules with your local permitting office first.
Carry the insurance your city requires. No specific state-mandated minimum is confirmed in statute; general liability is commonly required by clients.
Post any local bond. No state-level surety bond is required for the Maintenance & Alteration (roofing) license; some counties/municipalities require a local bond.
Register and pay the local fees. $195 (nonrefundable license fee; veteran fee waiver available)
Renew on your city's schedule. Every 3 years; licenses expire May 31.

License types

Maintenance & Alteration Contractor (Roofing) — Licensed to perform roofing maintenance, repair, and alteration work on existing residential structures in Michigan; also covers related classifications (carpentry, masonry, siding) if selected

Requirements at a glance

Experience required	No minimum work-hours requirement specified in statute; applicants must complete 60 hours of approved prelicensure education (at least 6 hours each in: business management/estimating, design and building science, contracts/liability/risk management, marketing and sales, project management, Michigan Residential Code, MIOSHA construction safety; remaining 18 hours from approved electives).
Application fee	$195 (nonrefundable license fee; veteran fee waiver available)
License fee	Included in application fee
Renewal fee	$150 every 3 years (online via MiPLUS; licenses expire May 31 on a triennial cycle)
Renewal period	Every 3 years; licenses expire May 31
Continuing education	First 6 years of licensure: 21 hours per 3-year renewal cycle (must include building codes, safety, and construction law changes); After 6 years: 3 hours per 3-year cycle
Bond required	No state-level surety bond is required for the Maintenance & Alteration (roofing) license; some counties/municipalities require a local bond.
Liability insurance	No specific state-mandated minimum is confirmed in statute; general liability is commonly required by clients.
Property damage	Covered under general liability policy
Workers' comp	Required under Michigan Workers' Disability Compensation Act if employer has 3+ employees at any time, or 1+ full-time employee (35+ hrs/week) for 13+ weeks
Background check	Not explicitly required as part of standard M&A Contractor application; 'good moral character' standard applies
Credit requirement	None
Reciprocity	Out-of-state applicants holding a current equivalent license may submit verification to potentially waive the 60-hour prelicensure education requirement; no full reciprocity agreement with any state
Processing time	Not publicly disclosed by LARA; PSI exam scheduling at five Michigan testing centers, six days a week

Exams

Maintenance & Alteration Contractor Examination	Provider: PSI (on behalf of LARA BCC) · Passing: Not publicly disclosed by LARA · Fee: $114 (paid to PSI)

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Local / municipal notes

The Maintenance & Alteration Contractor license with a Roofing classification is the standard residential roofing license in Michigan, governed by PA 299 of 1980 (Residential Builders Act). It covers roofing on existing residential structures only; building an entirely new home requires a Residential Builder license. Commercial roofing is not state-licensed — regulated by local municipalities only.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Michigan roofer license cost?

Application: $195 (nonrefundable license fee; veteran fee waiver available). License: Included in application fee. Renewal: $150 every 3 years (online via MiPLUS; licenses expire May 31 on a triennial cycle).

Do roofers in Michigan need a surety bond?

No state-level surety bond is required for the Maintenance & Alteration (roofing) license; some counties/municipalities require a local bond.

What experience is required for a Michigan roofer license?

No minimum work-hours requirement specified in statute; applicants must complete 60 hours of approved prelicensure education (at least 6 hours each in: business management/estimating, design and building science, contracts/liability/risk management, marketing and sales, project management, Michigan Residential Code, MIOSHA construction safety; remaining 18 hours from approved electives).

Is insurance required for roofers in Michigan?

Liability: No specific state-mandated minimum is confirmed in statute; general liability is commonly required by clients. Workers' compensation: Required under Michigan Workers' Disability Compensation Act if employer has 3+ employees at any time, or 1+ full-time employee (35+ hrs/week) for 13+ weeks

How often must a Michigan roofer license be renewed?

Every 3 years; licenses expire May 31. Continuing education: First 6 years of licensure: 21 hours per 3-year renewal cycle (must include building codes, safety, and construction law changes); After 6 years: 3 hours per 3-year cycle

Fees and rules change frequently (often annually). This page was last verified on 2026-06-22 — always confirm current requirements directly with the Michigan LARA — Bureau of Construction Codes, Residential Builders Section before applying. This is not legal advice.