Texas Roofer License Requirements

Official classification: No statewide license — voluntary RCAT registration; municipal permits apply · Issued by the No state agency licenses roofers; voluntary program run by the Roofing Contractors Association of Texas (RCAT).

🏠 RooferTX ✔ Verified 2026-10-01

In Texas, roofers must hold the No statewide license — voluntary RCAT registration; municipal permits apply, issued by the No state agency licenses roofers; voluntary program run by the Roofing Contractors Association of Texas (RCAT), 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 Texas

Texas 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. Texas 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. Not state-mandated. RCAT requires $300,000 CSL general liability (residential) or $500,000 CSL (commercial) — or a $100,000 surety bond instead.
Post any local bond. No statewide bond. RCAT accepts a $100,000 surety bond as an alternative to its general-liability requirement; some cities require a permit/registration bond.
Register and pay the local fees. RCAT initial license: members $550 (one category) / $750 (both); non-members $850 / $1,050. RCAT membership (required for the member rate) is billed separately; dues are not published publicly — budget roughly $500/yr.
Renew on your city's schedule. Annual (RCAT).

Texas roofer license lookup

Texas has no statewide roofer license, so there is no state license database to search — verify a contractor's registration or license with the city or county where the work will be done.

License types

RCAT Licensed Residential Roofing Contractor (voluntary) — Voluntary credential. Requires $300,000 combined-single-limit general liability or a $100,000 surety bond, plus workers' comp or equivalent. Pass a business/safety exam and a residential roofing exam at 70%+.
RCAT Licensed Commercial Roofing Contractor (voluntary) — Voluntary credential. Requires $500,000 combined-single-limit general liability or a $100,000 surety bond, plus workers' comp or equivalent. Pass a business/safety exam and a commercial roofing exam at 70%+.
Municipal permits (mandatory in practice) — Roofing work generally requires a city building permit and inspection; some cities require contractor registration before issuing roofing permits. The mandatory layer is local, not state.

Requirements at a glance

Experience required	No state requirement. RCAT (voluntary) requires the applicant to be a principal in a Texas-domiciled roofing company for at least 2 continuous years before applying.
Application fee	RCAT initial license: members $550 (one category) / $750 (both); non-members $850 / $1,050. RCAT membership (required for the member rate) is billed separately; dues are not published publicly — budget roughly $500/yr.
License fee	Included above
Renewal fee	$250 per year (RCAT)
Renewal period	Annual (RCAT)
Continuing education	RCAT: 8 Continuing Education Units per 12-month period.
Bond required	No statewide bond. RCAT accepts a $100,000 surety bond as an alternative to its general-liability requirement; some cities require a permit/registration bond.
Liability insurance	Not state-mandated. RCAT requires $300,000 CSL general liability (residential) or $500,000 CSL (commercial) — or a $100,000 surety bond instead.
Property damage	Covered within the combined single limit above.
Workers' comp	Not state-mandated for roofers, but RCAT requires workers' compensation or equivalent benefits.
Background check	Texas has no state roofing license, so there is no state background check. RCAT's voluntary licensing program lists no criminal background check among its applicant requirements (RCAT).
Credit requirement	None
Reciprocity	N/A — no statewide license; RCAT is a private voluntary credential · other states' agreements
Processing time	RCAT: exams must be completed within one year of application approval.

What a Texas roofer license costs

Fees are set per city; the figures on this page are one city's example.

Exams

RCAT Business & Safety Exam	Provider: RCAT · Passing: 70% · Fee: Included in RCAT licensing fee
RCAT Roofing Specialty Exam (Residential and/or Commercial)	Provider: RCAT · Passing: 70% · Fee: Included in RCAT licensing fee; complete within 1 year of approval

Renewing a Texas roofer license

Because Texas licenses roofers locally, renewal runs through the same city office that issued the credential. The figures below are the voluntary RCAT registration; municipal permits apply rules; other Texas municipalities set their own.

Renewal period	Annual (RCAT)
Renewal fee	$250 per year (RCAT)
Continuing education	RCAT: 8 Continuing Education Units per 12-month period.
Where to renew	No state agency licenses roofers; voluntary program run by the Roofing Contractors Association of Texas (RCAT)

Local / municipal notes

Texas does NOT license roofers at the state level — anyone can legally call themselves a roofer. The RCAT 'license' is a respected but VOLUNTARY industry credential, not a government license. What IS required in practice: a city building permit (and inspection) for roofing work, plus whatever insurance/registration the local jurisdiction mandates. Homeowners should verify a roofer's insurance and RCAT status directly.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Texas roofer license cost?

Application: RCAT initial license: members $550 (one category) / $750 (both); non-members $850 / $1,050. RCAT membership (required for the member rate) is billed separately; dues are not published publicly — budget roughly $500/yr. License: Included above. Renewal: $250 per year (RCAT).

Do roofers in Texas need a surety bond?

No statewide bond. RCAT accepts a $100,000 surety bond as an alternative to its general-liability requirement; some cities require a permit/registration bond.

What experience is required for a Texas roofer license?

No state requirement. RCAT (voluntary) requires the applicant to be a principal in a Texas-domiciled roofing company for at least 2 continuous years before applying.

Is insurance required for roofers in Texas?

Liability: Not state-mandated. RCAT requires $300,000 CSL general liability (residential) or $500,000 CSL (commercial) — or a $100,000 surety bond instead. Property damage: Covered within the combined single limit above. Workers' compensation: Not state-mandated for roofers, but RCAT requires workers' compensation or equivalent benefits.

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

Processing time: RCAT: exams must be completed within one year of application approval.

Is a background check required for roofers in Texas?

Background check: Texas has no state roofing license, so there is no state background check. RCAT's voluntary licensing program lists no criminal background check among its applicant requirements (RCAT).

How often must a Texas roofer license be renewed?

Annual (RCAT). Continuing education: RCAT: 8 Continuing Education Units per 12-month period.

Fees and rules change frequently (often annually). This page was last verified on 2026-10-01 — always confirm current requirements directly with the No state agency licenses roofers; voluntary program run by the Roofing Contractors Association of Texas (RCAT) before applying. This is not legal advice.