Massachusetts Roofing License Requirements (2026)

Massachusetts regulates roofing through two stacked credentials. Every contractor performing residential construction, repair, or improvement on an existing one- to four-family dwelling must hold a Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) Registration from the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation (OCABR) under MGL Chapter 142A. Additionally, any structural roof work (replacement of sheathing, trusses, framing, or rafters) requires a Construction Supervisor License (CSL) — Unrestricted or Restricted Roof Coverings class — from the Massachusetts Board of Building Regulations and Standards (BBRS) under 780 CMR. Pure roof covering replacement without structural change only needs the HIC.

Federal requirement: EPA Lead RRP Rule

Pre-1978 housing triggers the federal EPA Lead RRP Rule for any paint-disturbing renovation, repair, or painting work — a requirement that stands apart from whatever Massachusetts does or does not license. See our complete EPA RRP Lead Certification guide for who needs firm and renovator certification, what it costs, and how renewal works.

Regulatory Oversight

Under Massachusetts General Laws (MGL) Chapter 143 §95; 780 CMR (Massachusetts State Building Code), Massachusetts Office of Public Safety and Inspections — Board of Building Regulations and Standards (OPSI/BBRS) is the body that issues this license and enforces compliance with it. OPSI administers the Construction Supervisor License (CSL) program under the Board of Building Regulations and Standards, enforces the Massachusetts State Building Code, and conducts disciplinary hearings for licensed construction supervisors.

Official portal: https://www.mass.gov/orgs/office-of-public-safety-and-inspections
Address: 1000 Washington Street, Suite 710, Boston, MA 02118
Phone: (617) 727-3200

Who May Apply

An applicant qualifies only after meeting the age floor of 18 and producing a valid Social Security Number. No Massachusetts residency requirement.

Good moral character

OCABR reviews consumer fraud history.

Background investigation

Disclosure on application.

Required Experience and Education

Plan to substantiate three years of documented experience in construction for the CSL Unrestricted class; HIC Registration has no experience threshold with hard records. Payroll, tax, project logs, and supervisor verification are what the board relies on when it reviews the claim.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

MA Employment Verification Form
Payroll or tax corroboration of hours
Reference letters from licensed CSLs or GCs

Education substitution

Accredited trade school or apprenticeship may substitute for portions of the CSL experience requirement.

Examination Requirements

Examinations are administered by Prov Inc. (under contract to BBRS). The applicant must pass the following examination parts before the license can issue:

CSL Unrestricted or CSL Restricted Roof Coverings Exam — 780 CMR building code, structural roof framing, ventilation, MSBC amendments — 75 questions, 240 minutes, passing score 70%

Examination fee: $100 paid to Prov.

Retake policy: Failed exams retaken at $100; application valid two years.

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

OCABR does not set a statutory GL minimum but most MA municipalities require $500,000–$1,000,000 at permit.

Workers' compensation

Mandatory for every Massachusetts employer with one or more employees under MGL c. 152.

Additional financial requirements

HIC registrants pay a Guaranty Fund assessment (currently $100 at initial registration and $100 at biennial renewal) that funds homeowner restitution. No bond required.

Licensing Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$150
Examination	$100
Initial license	$250
Renewal (every 2 years)	$250

Keeping the License Current

Renewal of the Massachusetts Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) Registration / CSL Unrestricted comes due every 2 years. As cited, the renewal fee stands at $250. Biennial renewal for both HIC and CSL.

Continuing education: CSL licensees need 12 hours of BBRS-approved CE every two years. HIC has no CE.

Downloadable Asset

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

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity and License Transfer

The NASCLA Accredited Examination is not accepted by Massachusetts for this classification.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
No formal bilateral reciprocity agreements identified.

No reciprocity. HIC and CSL must be obtained directly.

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

Register the business entity with the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth. LLC or corporation filing plus EIN.
Apply for the HIC Registration. OCABR online application with $150 registration fee and $100 Guaranty Fund assessment.
Document three years of experience (CSL applicants only). Required for CSL Unrestricted or Restricted Roof Coverings class.
Pass the Prov CSL exam. 70% on the 780 CMR building code exam administered by Prov.
Bind general liability and workers compensation. Workers comp mandatory at one employee under MGL c. 152.
Adopt MGL c. 142A compliant contract template. Written contract over $1,000 must include HIC number, payment schedule (no more than one-third deposit), start/end dates, and homeowner rights.
Receive HIC and CSL and renew. HIC renews biennially ($150 + $100 Guaranty Fund). CSL renews biennially ($100) with continuing education.

Recommended References

What follows are the regulator-cited and commonly used preparation references for this trade. They appear here for convenience only; CLR takes no compensation for them.

Massachusetts State Building Code 780 CMR — BBRS. Primary code reference for the CSL exam.
MGL Chapter 142A — Home Improvement Contractors — Commonwealth of Massachusetts. HIC statute.
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 Massachusetts Roofing application.

Taking deposits over one-third

MGL c. 142A limits deposits to one-third of total contract. Violations trigger AG investigation and Chapter 93A treble damages.

Skipping CSL when replacing sheathing

Any structural work on the roof deck requires a CSL on the permit. HIC-only contractors who replace rotted sheathing without a CSL face stop-work orders.

Ice dam season planning

Massachusetts IRC requires ice barrier on eaves. Improper ventilation or missing ice barrier creates winter ice dam claims — Mass homeowners sue aggressively.

Lead-safe renovation

Mass DEP plus EPA RRP rules require certified firms on pre-1978 homes. Roofing work disturbing painted soffits triggers the rule.

Letting Guaranty Fund lapse

HIC renewal fails without the $100 Guaranty Fund assessment. Registration auto-lapses on the due date.

Document Checklist

The items below are the ones worth confirming before the application is filed with OPSI/BBRS:

☐ Massachusetts Secretary entity registration
☐ HIC application + $250 (registration + Guaranty Fund)
☐ CSL application and Prov exam pass certificate (if pulling structural permits)
☐ General liability certificate of insurance
☐ Massachusetts workers compensation declaration page
☐ MGL c. 142A compliant contract template

Other Massachusetts Trade Licenses

If the Roofing license is not the right fit, the following published Massachusetts trade guides are also covered by CLR:

Questions Applicants Ask

What is the difference between HIC and CSL?

HIC (Home Improvement Contractor) is a consumer protection registration required for all residential work on one- to four-family dwellings. CSL (Construction Supervisor License) is a BBRS-issued competency license required to pull permits for structural work.

Do I need a CSL for a shingle replacement?

Pure roof covering replacement without sheathing or framing replacement only requires the HIC. As soon as sheathing or framing is replaced, a CSL is required on the permit.

What is the Guaranty Fund?

A state fund that pays homeowners restitution for HIC violations. HIC registrants pay $100 at initial registration and $100 at each biennial renewal.

What are the MGL c. 142A contract rules?

Written contract for any project over $1,000 with HIC number, payment schedule limiting deposit to one-third, start/end dates, and homeowner rights notice.

How often does the HIC renew?

Biennially. Fee $150 plus $100 Guaranty Fund assessment.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-04-12 · Next scheduled review 2026-07-11