Mississippi Roofing License Requirements

Official classification: Commercial Roofing Contractor (Roofing, Sheet Metal & Siding specialty) / Residential Roofer · Issued by the Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC).

🏠 RooferMS ✔ Verified 2026-10-01

In Mississippi, roofers must hold the Commercial Roofing Contractor (Roofing, Sheet Metal & Siding specialty) / Residential Roofer, issued by the Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC), 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 Mississippi

Follow these steps to earn your Commercial Roofing Contractor (Roofing, Sheet Metal & Siding specialty) / Residential Roofer. Every figure is verified against the Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC); full detail for each step is further down the page.

Build the required experience. No fixed number of years is set by statute; the board weighs the applicant's experience and ability (Miss. Code 31-3-13 for commercial; 73-59-5 for residential), and the qualifying party must be regularly employed by the license holder.
Pass the Law & Business Management Exam and Roofing, Sheet Metal & Siding Trade Exam (commercial) / Residential Roofer Exam exams. Providers, passing scores and fees are in the Exams section below.
Check the insurance rules. Liability: Commercial: $300,000 per occurrence / $600,000 aggregate general liability. Residential: general liability required (no minimum amount set). Property damage: Included in the general liability policy. Workers' compensation: Required under Mississippi law for employers with 5+ employees (Miss. Code 71-3-5).
Clear the background check. The board reviews each applicant's record — character, prior-contract performance, and compliance with state law (Miss. Code 31-3-13; 73-59-5).
Meet the credit / financial requirement. Commercial: a CPA-reviewed financial statement from the past 12 months showing net worth of at least $20,000 (roofing is a specialty classification). Residential: none specified.
Submit your application and fees. Apply through the Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC) — $400 (commercial roofing specialty, one classification); $50 (residential roofer); +$100 to add roofing to an existing commercial license application fee, plus a Included in the application fee. For commercial applicants the statutes levy a $200 special privilege license tax (Miss. Code 31-3-17) and a $200 Construction Education Fund fee (31-3-14); the Board's fee schedule lists a $400 commercial application fee. license fee. Processing time: About a week once complete: fully completed applications (with passing exam scores) go to the Board for review weekly on Fridays, and approved licenses are issued the following Wednesday.
Keep the license active. Renewal: Annual (1 year). Continuing education: Commercial: none. Residential: 2 hours per year for licenses issued on or after July 1, 2015.

Mississippi roofer license lookup

To confirm a roofer is properly licensed in Mississippi — 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 search.msboc.us database →

License types

Commercial Roofing Contractor (Roofing, Sheet Metal & Siding) — Roofing, sheet metal, siding, and waterproofing on projects of $50,000 or more — a specialty classification under Building Construction (trade exam required).
Residential Roofer — Residential roofing where the improvement cost exceeds $10,000 — a subclassification of the Residential Remodeler license; authorizes roofing only, not general remodeling, and requires a separate roofer exam.

Requirements at a glance

Experience required	No fixed number of years is set by statute; the board weighs the applicant's experience and ability (Miss. Code 31-3-13 for commercial; 73-59-5 for residential), and the qualifying party must be regularly employed by the license holder.
Application fee	$400 (commercial roofing specialty, one classification); $50 (residential roofer); +$100 to add roofing to an existing commercial license
License fee	Included in the application fee. For commercial applicants the statutes levy a $200 special privilege license tax (Miss. Code 31-3-17) and a $200 Construction Education Fund fee (31-3-14); the Board's fee schedule lists a $400 commercial application fee.
Renewal fee	$400/year (commercial); $100/year (residential)
Renewal period	Annual (1 year)
Continuing education	Commercial: none. Residential: 2 hours per year for licenses issued on or after July 1, 2015.
Bond required	No state surety bond is required by the MSBOC. Some Mississippi municipalities require a local bond (amounts vary by city).
Liability insurance	Commercial: $300,000 per occurrence / $600,000 aggregate general liability. Residential: general liability required (no minimum amount set).
Property damage	Included in the general liability policy
Workers' comp	Required under Mississippi law for employers with 5+ employees (Miss. Code 71-3-5)
Background check	The board reviews each applicant's record — character, prior-contract performance, and compliance with state law (Miss. Code 31-3-13; 73-59-5).
Credit requirement	Commercial: a CPA-reviewed financial statement from the past 12 months showing net worth of at least $20,000 (roofing is a specialty classification). Residential: none specified.
Reciprocity	Trade-exam waivers only, not full reciprocity; every applicant still takes the Mississippi Business and Law exam. North Carolina's General Contractors board is listed for roofing by name. Boards listed as waiving all exams except named trades: the Alabama General Contractors Board (except mechanical and plumbing), Arkansas (except mechanical and electrical), Louisiana by recognized passing scores (except mechanical and plumbing; the formal agreement has ended), and Tennessee (all exams). Georgia's Board of Residential and General Contractors is listed without naming classifications.; Expedited licensure for military-trained applicants and spouses (Miss. Code 73-50-1).; Mississippi also recognizes occupational licenses from other states under the Universal Recognition of Occupational Licensure Act (Miss. Code 73-50-2). · compare all states
Processing time	About a week once complete: fully completed applications (with passing exam scores) go to the Board for review weekly on Fridays, and approved licenses are issued the following Wednesday.

What a Mississippi roofer license costs

Application fee	$400 (commercial roofing specialty, one classification); $50 (residential roofer); +$100 to add roofing to an existing commercial license.
License fee	Included in the application fee. For commercial applicants the statutes levy a $200 special privilege license tax (Miss. Code 31-3-17) and a $200 Construction Education Fund fee (31-3-14); the Board's fee schedule lists a $400 commercial application fee.
Law & Business Management Exam	$120 per exam portion ($240 when registering for two portions together), paid to PSI.
Roofing, Sheet Metal & Siding Trade Exam (commercial) / Residential Roofer Exam	$120 per exam portion ($240 when registering for two portions together), paid to PSI.
Surety bond	No state surety bond is required by the MSBOC. Some Mississippi municipalities require a local bond (amounts vary by city).
Renewal fee	$400/year (commercial); $100/year (residential).
Renewal period	Annual (1 year).

Exams

Law & Business Management Exam	Provider: PSI (open book) · Passing: 70% · Fee: $120 per exam portion ($240 when registering for two portions together), paid to PSI
Roofing, Sheet Metal & Siding Trade Exam (commercial) / Residential Roofer Exam	Provider: PSI (open book) · Passing: 70% · Fee: $120 per exam portion ($240 when registering for two portions together), paid to PSI

Renewing a Mississippi roofer license

The Commercial Roofing Contractor (Roofing, Sheet Metal & Siding specialty) / Residential Roofer renews on a fixed cycle set by the Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC). 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	Annual (1 year)
Renewal fee	$400/year (commercial); $100/year (residential)
Continuing education	Commercial: none. Residential: 2 hours per year for licenses issued on or after July 1, 2015.
Where to renew	Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC)

Local / municipal notes

Commercial roofing requires the MSBOC Roofing, Sheet Metal & Siding specialty (under Building Construction) for projects $50,000+. A Residential Roofer license — a subclassification of the Residential Remodeler license — is required for residential roofing where the improvement cost exceeds $10,000, and it authorizes roofing only. Below $10,000 no MSBOC license is required (local permits may still apply).

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Mississippi roofer license cost?

Application: $400 (commercial roofing specialty, one classification); $50 (residential roofer); +$100 to add roofing to an existing commercial license. License: Included in the application fee. For commercial applicants the statutes levy a $200 special privilege license tax (Miss. Code 31-3-17) and a $200 Construction Education Fund fee (31-3-14); the Board's fee schedule lists a $400 commercial application fee. Renewal: $400/year (commercial); $100/year (residential).

How do I look up a roofer license in Mississippi?

Search the official license database at search.msboc.us. The record shows whether the license is active and in good standing.

Do roofers in Mississippi need a surety bond?

No state surety bond is required by the MSBOC. Some Mississippi municipalities require a local bond (amounts vary by city).

What experience is required for a Mississippi roofer license?

No fixed number of years is set by statute; the board weighs the applicant's experience and ability (Miss. Code 31-3-13 for commercial; 73-59-5 for residential), and the qualifying party must be regularly employed by the license holder.

Is insurance required for roofers in Mississippi?

Liability: Commercial: $300,000 per occurrence / $600,000 aggregate general liability. Residential: general liability required (no minimum amount set). Property damage: Included in the general liability policy. Workers' compensation: Required under Mississippi law for employers with 5+ employees (Miss. Code 71-3-5).

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

Processing time: About a week once complete: fully completed applications (with passing exam scores) go to the Board for review weekly on Fridays, and approved licenses are issued the following Wednesday.

Is a background check required for roofers in Mississippi?

Background check: The board reviews each applicant's record — character, prior-contract performance, and compliance with state law (Miss. Code 31-3-13; 73-59-5).

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

Credit requirement: Commercial: a CPA-reviewed financial statement from the past 12 months showing net worth of at least $20,000 (roofing is a specialty classification). Residential: none specified.

How often must a Mississippi roofer license be renewed?

Annual (1 year). Continuing education: Commercial: none. Residential: 2 hours per year for licenses issued on or after July 1, 2015.

Fees and rules change frequently (often annually). This page was last verified on 2026-10-01 — always confirm current requirements directly with the Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC) before applying. This is not legal advice.