Florida Roofing Contractor License Requirements (2026)

The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB) issues two roofing credentials under F.S. Chapter 489: the Certified Roofing Contractor (license prefix CCC) which is valid statewide, and the Registered Roofing Contractor (license prefix RC) which is valid only in the local jurisdiction that issued the underlying competency exam. Roofing in Florida is treated as Division I "Certified" trade work alongside general, building, and residential. Florida is a hurricane-driven market — the CILB requires every roofer to demonstrate financial responsibility, post a Recovery Fund contribution, and follow F.S. §489.147 prohibition on insurance deductible waiver and on contacting homeowners about insurance claims.

The Licensing Authority

Authority over this credential rests with Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation — Construction Industry Licensing Board (DBPR / CILB), which issues and polices it under Florida Statutes Chapter 489 Part I; Florida Administrative Code Chapter 61G4. State regulator that licenses certified roofing contractors (CCC) statewide and registered roofing contractors (RC) by local jurisdiction.

Official portal: https://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/construction-industry/
Address: 2601 Blair Stone Road, Tallahassee, FL 32399
Phone: (850) 487-1395

Baseline Eligibility

Eligibility begins with two baseline checks: the applicant must be 18 or older and must provide a valid Social Security Number. No Florida residency requirement.

Good moral character

CILB conducts a fitness review and reviews felonies under F.S. §489.129. Crimes directly related to construction or fraud are disqualifying.

Background investigation

Mandatory FDLE/FBI fingerprint-based background check.

Experience and Education Requirements

A minimum of four years of proven experience in the roofing trade with at least one year as a foreman, supervisor, or contractor; or a four-year construction degree plus one year of experience must be documented and verified. Unless the board publishes a different lookback period, applicants should keep payroll, tax, project, or supervisor records that support the claimed experience.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

CILB Experience Affidavit signed and notarized by each employer
W-2 or 1099 corroboration of dates
Project list with addresses, dollar values, and the role of the applicant

Education substitution

Up to three years substitution for a four-year accredited construction degree under 61G4-15.001.

The Licensing Examination

Professional Testing Inc. / Pearson VUE (under contract to DBPR) administers the required examination. Each part below must be passed before the license will issue:

Roofing Trade Knowledge exam — single-ply, BUR, modified bitumen, tile, shingle, metal, hot-mop fire safety, FBC roof assemblies, wind uplift — 100 questions, 360 minutes, passing score 70%
Business and Finance exam — Florida construction law, lien law, contract law, accounting — 120 questions, 390 minutes, passing score 70%
Project Management exam — 70 questions, 270 minutes, passing score 70%

Examination fee: $135 per exam paid to Professional Testing.

Retake policy: Failed exams may be retaken individually with a new fee. Each application stays open for one year.

Financial Security and Insurance

Before the license is issued, the applicant must file a $20,000 contractor license surety bond in the form prescribed by the DBPR / CILB.

General liability

CILB requires public liability insurance of at least $300,000 ($100,000 bodily injury / $25,000 property damage) under F.A.C. 61G4-15.005. Most carriers and customers require $1,000,000.

Workers' compensation

Mandatory for any Florida construction employer with one or more employees under F.S. §440.02. Sole proprietors must elect in or out via DWC-251 affidavit.

Additional financial requirements

Mandatory financial responsibility under F.S. §489.115 — minimum credit score of 660 (FICO) or a $20,000 surety bond, plus a current personal financial statement showing positive net worth.

Fee Schedule

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$249
Examination	$405
Initial license	$249
Renewal (every 2 years)	$209

License Renewal

The Florida Certified Roofing Contractor (CCC) — DBPR / CILB must be renewed every 2 years. The fee to renew is presently $209. Renews August 31 of even years. Florida CILB tracks CE through the Department of Education. Failure to complete CE blocks renewal.

Continuing education: 14 hours of CILB-approved CE every two years, including 1 hour each on workers compensation, business practices, workplace safety, laws and rules, and advanced building code; plus 1 hour on wind mitigation methodology.

Downloadable Asset

2026 Florida Roofing License Roadmap (PDF) — a printable step-by-step checklist for the application process.

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity Map

Florida grants no NASCLA reciprocity for this classification.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
Georgia	Trade exam waived	Bilateral CILB–Georgia State Licensing Board endorsement for active roofers in good standing.
Louisiana	Trade exam waived	Bilateral CILB–LSLBC endorsement for commercial roofers.
Tennessee	Trade exam waived	Bilateral CILB–Tennessee BC-D-12 endorsement.
North Carolina	Trade exam waived	Endorsement for active NCLBGC roofers.

Florida endorses out-of-state roofers from limited reciprocity states. The Business and Finance exam is never waived.

Weighing more than one jurisdiction? The national hub compares Roofing license requirements in every state — exam, bond, fee, and experience thresholds side by side.

The Licensing Roadmap

Document four years of qualifying roofing experience. CILB Experience Affidavit notarized by each employer plus W-2 corroboration. At least one year must be at the foreman or supervisor level.
Submit the CILB application (Form DBPR CILB 4359). Initial Issuance of License application. $249 application fee plus $80 unlicensed activity fee.
Complete FDLE/FBI fingerprinting. Through a Live Scan vendor. CILB will not process the application without the background check.
Pass the three Professional Testing exams. Trade Knowledge, Business and Finance, and Project Management — each at 70%+. Open-book on Florida Building Code Chapter 15 and the NRCA Manual.
Demonstrate financial responsibility. Either FICO 660+ with the personal financial statement, or post a $20,000 financial responsibility bond under F.S. §489.115.
Bind public liability and property damage insurance. Minimum $300,000 statutory; carry $1,000,000 for commercial work.
Bind workers compensation or file the DWC-251 exemption. F.S. §440.02 requires coverage for any construction employee. Sole proprietors may elect out via DWC-251.
Receive the CCC number and renew biennially. Florida CCC licenses renew on August 31 of even years. Biennial fee $209 plus 14 hours of continuing education.

Before Filing: A Checklist

Before submitting to DBPR / CILB, the applicant should have each of the following ready:

☐ Four-year notarized CILB Experience Affidavit
☐ W-2 or 1099 corroboration for the qualifying period
☐ DBPR CILB 4359 application with $249 fee
☐ FDLE/FBI fingerprint clearance
☐ Pass certificates for Trade, Business and Finance, and Project Management exams
☐ Personal financial statement with FICO 660+ OR $20,000 financial responsibility bond
☐ Public liability insurance certificate ($300K statutory minimum, $1M commercial standard)
☐ Workers compensation declaration page or DWC-251 exemption affidavit

Common Application Pitfalls

These are the recurring mistakes that most often delay or reject a Florida Roofing application, based on the official instructions cited here.

Soliciting deductibles or insurance claims

F.S. §489.147 makes deductible waiver and insurance claim solicitation a third-degree felony as of the 2022 storm-chaser reform. Florida AOB attorneys watch for it.

Skipping the secondary water barrier (SWB) on reroofs

FBC §1511.7 requires a secondary water barrier on residential reroofs in the High Velocity Hurricane Zone (Miami-Dade and Broward) and across Florida for buildings of certain age. Inspectors fail jobs that lack it.

Hot-mop kettle fire safety

NFPA 241 and the FBC require a fire watch for hot-work operations. Kettle fires trigger DBPR discipline plus civil liability.

Failing the financial responsibility test

A FICO under 660 forces the $20,000 surety bond. Many applicants are surprised by the credit-pull requirement and have to delay licensure to rehab credit or post the bond.

Mixing up CCC and RC scope

A Registered Roofing Contractor (RC) cannot legally bid roofing in another county. Many one-county roofers expand and forget they need to upgrade to the CCC for statewide authority.

Preparation Resources

The list below collects the board's cited references and the materials applicants typically study from. CLR is not paid to recommend any of them.

Florida Building Code Chapter 15 — Roof Assemblies and Rooftop Structures — Florida Building Commission. Wind uplift, secondary water barrier, and product approval requirements. Open-book on the trade exam.
NRCA Roofing Manual (current edition) — National Roofing Contractors Association. Primary technical reference.
Builder's Guide to Accounting (Walker) — Craftsman Book Company. Reference for the Business and Finance exam.
Florida Statutes Chapter 489 Part I — State of Florida. Required reading for the Business and Finance and Laws and Rules exams.

Other Florida Trade Licenses

For a different Florida credential, see these companion guides published by CLR:

Answers to Common Questions

What is the difference between Certified (CCC) and Registered (RC) roofing contractor in Florida?

Certified Roofing Contractor (CCC) is a statewide DBPR credential that authorizes roofing in any Florida county. Registered Roofing Contractor (RC) is also issued by DBPR but is valid only in the local jurisdiction that administered the underlying competency exam.

What is F.S. §489.147 and how does it affect storm-chasing?

F.S. §489.147 prohibits roofers from soliciting homeowners after a storm to file an insurance claim, paying or rebating the homeowner's deductible, or interpreting insurance policy provisions for the homeowner. Violation is a third-degree felony as of the 2022 amendments.

Does Florida require workers compensation for one-person crews?

Florida requires every construction employer to carry workers compensation. Sole proprietors and corporate officers may file a DWC-251 election to exempt themselves, but anyone they hire as labor must be covered.

What is the financial responsibility requirement?

F.S. §489.115 requires either a personal credit score of 660+ FICO with a positive personal financial statement, or a $20,000 financial responsibility surety bond on the CILB-approved form.

When does the CCC license renew?

Every two years on August 31 of even-numbered years. Renewal fee $209 plus 14 hours of CILB-approved continuing education (including 1 hour each on workers comp, business practices, workplace safety, laws and rules, and advanced building code).

Primary Sources

Regulatory requirements on this page are drawn from the official board, statute, and exam-provider materials listed below.

Verified 2026-06-04 · Next scheduled review 2026-09-02