Pennsylvania Roofer License Requirements

Official classification: Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) Registration · Issued by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Bureau of Consumer Protection.

🏠 RooferPA ✔ Verified 2026-07-09

In Pennsylvania, roofers must hold the Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) Registration, issued by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Bureau of Consumer Protection, 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 Pennsylvania

Follow these steps to earn your Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) Registration. Every figure is verified against the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Bureau of Consumer Protection; full detail for each step is further down the page.

  1. Build the required experience. None — HIC registration has no experience or exam requirement
  2. Confirm exam requirements. Pennsylvania sets no state trade exam for this license, though your city or county may require one.
  3. Check the insurance rules. Liability: $50,000 per occurrence minimum. Property damage: $50,000 per occurrence minimum. Workers' compensation: Required if the contractor has employees.
  4. Clear the background check. Criminal history and bankruptcy disclosures required on the application
  5. Submit your application and fees. Apply through the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Bureau of Consumer Protection — $100 application fee, plus a Included in the $100 registration fee license fee. Processing time: Apply online for faster processing; for a mailed application the Attorney General says to allow several weeks once it is complete (HIC application instructions).
  6. Keep the license active. Renewal: Every 2 years (biennial).

Pennsylvania roofer license lookup

To confirm a roofer is properly licensed in Pennsylvania — 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 hicsearch.attorneygeneral.gov database →

License types

Requirements at a glance

Experience requiredNone — HIC registration has no experience or exam requirement
Application fee$100
License feeIncluded in the $100 registration fee
Renewal fee$100 every 2 years
Renewal periodEvery 2 years (biennial)
Continuing educationNone required
Bond requiredNone required
Liability insurance$50,000 per occurrence minimum
Property damage$50,000 per occurrence minimum
Workers' compRequired if the contractor has employees
Background checkCriminal history and bankruptcy disclosures required on the application
Credit requirement—
ReciprocityNone · other states' agreements
Processing timeApply online for faster processing; for a mailed application the Attorney General says to allow several weeks once it is complete (HIC application instructions)

What a Pennsylvania roofer license costs

Application fee$100.
License feeIncluded in the $100 registration fee.
Surety bondNone required.
Renewal fee$100 every 2 years.
Renewal periodEvery 2 years (biennial).

Exams

No state trade exam is required — the Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) Registration is a registration, not an examined license. Local jurisdictions may set their own exam requirements.

Renewing a Pennsylvania roofer license

The Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) Registration renews on a fixed cycle set by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Bureau of Consumer Protection. Late and lapsed renewals are handled differently by every board, so check the renewal page linked below before the deadline passes.

Renewal periodEvery 2 years (biennial)
Renewal fee$100 every 2 years
Continuing educationNone required
Where to renewPennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Bureau of Consumer Protection

Renewal period: Every 2 years (biennial). Your expiry date is printed on your license.

Local / municipal notes

Pennsylvania has no roofing-specific license. Residential roofers register as Home Improvement Contractors with the Attorney General; some municipalities add their own contractor licensing on top. Commercial roofing is outside HICPA's scope.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Pennsylvania roofer license cost?

Application: $100. License: Included in the $100 registration fee. Renewal: $100 every 2 years.

How do I look up a roofer license in Pennsylvania?

Search the official license database at hicsearch.attorneygeneral.gov. The record shows whether the license is active and in good standing.

Do roofers in Pennsylvania need a surety bond?

None required

What experience is required for a Pennsylvania roofer license?

None — HIC registration has no experience or exam requirement

Is insurance required for roofers in Pennsylvania?

Liability: $50,000 per occurrence minimum. Property damage: $50,000 per occurrence minimum. Workers' compensation: Required if the contractor has employees.

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

Processing time: Apply online for faster processing; for a mailed application the Attorney General says to allow several weeks once it is complete (HIC application instructions).

Is a background check required for roofers in Pennsylvania?

Background check: Criminal history and bankruptcy disclosures required on the application.

How often must a Pennsylvania roofer license be renewed?

Every 2 years (biennial). Continuing education: None required.

Fees and rules change frequently (often annually). This page was last verified on 2026-07-09 — always confirm current requirements directly with the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Bureau of Consumer Protection before applying. This is not legal advice.

Official sources

attorneygeneral.gov/wp-content/uploads/HIC-Application-Instructions.pdf
attorneygeneral.gov/resources/home-improvement-contractor-registration
pa.gov/agencies/dli/programs-services/labor-management-relations/bureau-of-occupational-and-industrial-safety/uniform-construction-code-home/contractor-licensing
hicsearch.attorneygeneral.gov

⚡ Electrician
No Statewide License; Municipal Licensing System (Philadelphia Electrical Contractor example)
🔧 Plumber
No statewide license — Philadelphia Master Plumber License
🏗️ General Contractor
Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) Registration
Alabama
Roofers License
Arizona
CR-42 / C-42 / R-42 Roofing
Arkansas
Residential Roofing Registration
California
C-39 Roofing Contractor
Connecticut
Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) Registration
Florida
Roofing Contractor (Certified / Registered)
Georgia
No dedicated statewide roofing license; roofers use Residential Basic, Residential Light Commercial, or General Contractor license issued by SLBRGC
Hawaii
C-42 Roofing Contractor (with sub-classifications including C-42a metal shingles, C-42b wood shakes)
Illinois
Roofing Contractor License
Indiana
No statewide license — City of Indianapolis General Contractor License (covers roofing)
Iowa
Construction Contractor Registration
Kansas
Roofing Contractor Registration Certificate
Louisiana
Roofing and Sheet Metal, Siding (commercial specialty classification) / Roofing (residential specialty)
Maryland
Home Improvement Contractor License — Roofing (MHIC)
Massachusetts
Construction Supervisor License (CSL) — Specialty: Roof Covering (+ HIC Registration for residential work)
Michigan
Maintenance & Alteration Contractor License — Roofing Classification
Minnesota
Residential Roofer License
Mississippi
Commercial Roofing Contractor (Roofing, Sheet Metal & Siding specialty) / Residential Roofer
Missouri
No statewide roofing license or registration — roofing is licensed locally where a city requires it
Nevada
C-15a Roofing Contractor
New Jersey
Home Improvement Contractor Registration (Roofing)
New Mexico
GS-21 Roofing Contractor
New York
Home Improvement Contractor License
North Carolina
No separate roofing board — roofing of $40,000 or more requires an NCLBGC General Contractor license, available as a dedicated S(Roofing) specialty classification (or under the broader Building / Residential classifications)
Ohio
No statewide license — City of Columbus Home Improvement Limited Contractor License
Oklahoma
Roofing Contractor Registration
Oregon
CCB Contractor License with a roofing specialty endorsement (Residential Specialty Contractor or Commercial Specialty Contractor)
Rhode Island
Commercial Roofing License
South Carolina
General Contractor - Roofing (RF) classification [commercial]; Residential Specialty Contractor - Roofing [residential]
Tennessee
Contractor License, BC classification (Roofing is building category 21, includes gutters and vinyl siding)
Texas
No statewide license — voluntary RCAT registration; municipal permits apply
Utah
S280 Roofing Contractor
Virginia
Contractor License (Class A/B/C) with Roofing (ROC) specialty designation
Washington
Roofing Specialty Contractor Registration
Wisconsin
No statewide roofing license — residential roofing uses the Dwelling Contractor + Qualifier credentials