Georgia Roofing License Requirements (2026)

Georgia does not issue a trade-specific roofing license. Roofing contractors in Georgia operate under a patchwork: there is no state roofer credential, but the State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors (SLBGC) under O.C.G.A. §43-41 requires any contractor performing residential or general construction work valued at $2,500 or more to hold a Residential-Basic, Residential-Light Commercial, or General Contractor license. The SLBGC specifically exempts roofing as a stand-alone trade under §43-41-17(g) when performed as a specialty roofing business not engaged in other construction. In practice most Georgia roofers rely on that exemption and register only with their city or county plus carrying insurance and workers compensation.

Regulatory Oversight

This license is issued and enforced by Georgia Construction Industry Licensing Board (within the Georgia Secretary of State, Professional Licensing Boards Division) (GA CILB) pursuant to Official Code of Georgia Annotated (O.C.G.A.) Title 43 Chapter 14 (electrical, plumbing, conditioned air, low-voltage, utility); Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. Chapter 121. The Georgia CILB licenses electrical contractors, plumbers, conditioned air contractors, low-voltage contractors, and utility contractors statewide. The Board adopts the National Electrical Code, International Plumbing Code, and International Mechanical Code by reference. General contractors are licensed by a separate body — the State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors (SLBRGC).

Official portal: https://sos.ga.gov/georgia-construction-industry-licensing-board
Address: 237 Coliseum Drive, Macon, GA 31217
Phone: (478) 207-2440

Who May Apply

An applicant qualifies only after meeting the age floor of 21 and producing a valid Social Security Number. No Georgia residency requirement.

Good moral character

SLBGC reviews construction fraud felonies.

Background investigation

Background check required for SLBGC applicants; not required for the roofing exemption.

Required Experience and Education

There is no published year count for this credential in the cited sources. What actually controls eligibility is no state experience threshold under the §43-41-17(g) roofing specialty exemption; SLBGC Residential-Basic requires two years, General requires four years of supervisory experience.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

SLBGC Certification of Experience (if pursuing a GC license)
Project list with addresses, values, and roles
Reference letters from licensed GCs

Education substitution

SLBGC allows construction degree substitution for up to two years.

Examination Requirements

The licensing examination is delivered by PSI Services LLC (SLBGC General Contractor track only). All of the following parts must be cleared prior to issuance:

Georgia Residential-Basic Contractor or General Contractor Trade Exam — 110 questions, 270 minutes, passing score 70%
Georgia Business and Law Exam — 50 questions, 120 minutes, passing score 70%

Examination fee: $97 per exam.

Retake policy: Application valid one year; retakes at $97 each.

Insurance and Financial Requirements

The cited materials impose no contractor license bond for this credential. Bear in mind that specific contracts, permits, or public works can still require their own bonds.

General liability

Roofing specialty contractors relying on §43-41-17(g) must still carry general liability per most municipal ordinances — $500,000–$1,000,000 is market minimum. SLBGC General Contractor requires $500,000 GL.

Workers' compensation

Mandatory for every Georgia employer with three or more employees under O.C.G.A. §34-9-2.

Additional financial requirements

SLBGC General Contractor requires a CPA-reviewed financial statement showing $150,000 net worth or a $500,000 net-worth bond. Roofing specialty under the exemption has no state financial requirement.

Licensing Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$200
Examination	$194
Initial license	$200
Renewal (every 2 years)	$150

Keeping the License Current

Renewal of the Georgia — No State Roofing License (Municipal + GC for Large Projects) comes due every 2 years. As cited, the renewal fee stands at $150. SLBGC renews biennially. Roofing specialty exemption registrants follow city renewal cycles (typically annual).

Continuing education: SLBGC licensed contractors need three hours of CE per renewal cycle.

Downloadable Asset

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

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity and License Transfer

Georgia accepts the NASCLA Accredited Examination for this classification.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
Florida	Trade exam waived	Bilateral CILB endorsement.
South Carolina	Trade exam waived	Bilateral SC CLB endorsement.

NASCLA accreditation satisfies the General Contractor trade exam. Reciprocity does not apply to the roofing specialty exemption.

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

Application Process, Step by Step

Decide: roofing specialty exemption or full SLBGC license. Pure-play roofers can rely on §43-41-17(g). Roofers who also do siding, framing, gutters, or remodels need the SLBGC license.
Register the business entity with the Georgia Secretary of State. LLC or corporation filing plus EIN.
Register with city or county. Most Georgia municipalities require a local business license and permit applications for each roof.
Bind general liability and workers compensation. $1,000,000 GL market standard; workers comp mandatory at three employees under §34-9-2.
If pursuing SLBGC GC license: document experience and submit application. Four years of supervisory experience plus financial statement and $200 application fee.
Pass the PSI trade and B&L exams (SLBGC track only). 70% on each. NASCLA accreditation waives the trade exam.
Comply with O.C.G.A. §10-7 insurance-claim rules. Written contract, deductible non-waiver, and three-day rescission on insurance-claim roofing work.

Document Checklist

The most critical documents or confirmations the applicant should have in hand before filing with GA CILB:

☐ Georgia Secretary of State business registration
☐ County or city business license and permit registration
☐ General liability certificate of insurance
☐ Workers compensation declaration page (3+ employees)
☐ Written contract complying with O.C.G.A. §10-7
☐ SLBGC application + $200 (if pursuing GC license)
☐ PSI exam pass certificates or NASCLA certificate (SLBGC only)

Recommended References

The references below are either cited by the board, used during the application, or standard preparation for the trade. They are listed purely for convenience — CLR earns no commission on any of them.

O.C.G.A. §43-41 — Residential and General Contractors — State of Georgia. Licensing law including the §43-41-17(g) roofing exemption.
O.C.G.A. §10-7 — Roofing Contracts — State of Georgia. Insurance-claim contract rules.
Georgia State Minimum Building Code (IBC/IRC) — Georgia DCA. Roof assembly requirements statewide.
NRCA Roofing Manual — National Roofing Contractors Association. Primary technical reference.

Frequent Application Errors

Based on the board's own instructions and the sources cited here, the problems below are what most often stall a Georgia Roofing application.

Expanding scope beyond roofing

The §43-41-17(g) exemption is narrow. Adding siding, gutters with fascia replacement, or remodel work kicks you into the SLBGC licensing regime. Retroactive complaints follow.

Waiving insurance deductibles

O.C.G.A. §10-7-5 prohibits deductible waiver on insurance-claim roofing. Violations are misdemeanors plus civil penalties.

Hailstorm chaser contracts

Out-of-state storm chasers routinely skip the three-day rescission disclosure. Homeowners use it to void contracts and the GA AG prosecutes repeat offenders.

Ignoring Hurricane Evacuation Zone wind fastening

Coastal Georgia counties (Chatham, Glynn, Camden, Liberty, McIntosh) enforce high-wind fastening under the IBC coastal appendix. Six-nail patterns are required on shingles.

Forgetting city business license renewals

Georgia cities lapse business licenses by calendar year. Unpaid city licenses stop permits being issued under your name.

Other Georgia Trade Licenses

Should the Roofing path not apply, these other Georgia trade guides from CLR may help:

Questions Applicants Ask

Do I need a state license to roof in Georgia?

Not if you operate as a pure-play roofing specialty under the §43-41-17(g) exemption. Roofers who also perform framing, siding, or remodeling must hold an SLBGC license.

What is O.C.G.A. §10-7?

Georgia's insurance-claim roofing statute. It requires a written contract, prohibits the roofer from waiving the homeowner's insurance deductible, and gives the homeowner a three-day rescission right.

Does Georgia require a roofing bond?

No state bond. Some cities and HOAs require a $10,000–$25,000 performance bond on large residential jobs, but there is no statewide requirement.

When is workers comp required?

At three or more employees under O.C.G.A. §34-9-2. Below that threshold it is optional but most GCs require it on commercial sites.

Is NASCLA accepted?

Yes for SLBGC General Contractor trade exam waiver. Not applicable to the roofing specialty exemption path.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-05-20 · Next scheduled review 2026-08-18