North Carolina Roofing License Requirements (2026)

The North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors (NCLBGC) licenses roofing contractors under N.C.G.S. Chapter 87. Any project where the cost of the undertaking is $30,000 or more requires an NCLBGC license. Roofing falls under the "Specialty Contractor — Roofing" classification (S-Roofing) or under the broader Building Contractor classification. NCLBGC issues three monetary tiers: Limited ($1,000,000 single project, $1,500,000 cumulative), Intermediate ($1,500,000 / unlimited), and Unlimited (no cap). Each tier has a corresponding net-worth requirement and the same trade and Business and Law exam.

The Licensing Authority

Authority over this credential rests with North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors (NCLBGC), which issues and polices it under N.C.G.S. Chapter 87 Article 1; 21 NCAC 12. State regulator that licenses general contractors and the Specialty Contractor — Roofing classification statewide for projects $30,000 or more.

Official portal: https://nclbgc.org/
Address: 5400 Creedmoor Road, Raleigh, NC 27612
Phone: (919) 571-4183

Baseline Eligibility

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

Good moral character

NCLBGC reviews fraud and construction-related felonies.

Background investigation

Disclosure required on application.

Experience and Education Requirements

The cited source set does not publish a fixed year-based experience threshold for this credential. The controlling requirement is no minimum experience threshold under N.C.G.S. §87-10; the trade exam and financial statement are the gating requirements.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

Project list for the qualifying party
Reference letters from licensed GCs

Education substitution

Not applicable.

The Licensing Examination

PSI Services LLC administers the required examination. Each part below must be passed before the license will issue:

NC Roofing Specialty Trade Exam — IBC Chapter 15, NRCA practices, hot-mop fire safety — 100 questions, 240 minutes, passing score 70%
NC Business and Law Exam — 50 questions, 120 minutes, passing score 70%

Examination fee: $87 per exam paid to PSI.

Retake policy: Failed exams retaken at $87; application valid one year.

Financial Security and Insurance

No statewide contractor license surety bond is required for this credential in the cited sources. Project-specific, permit, or public-works bonds may still apply, so confirm bonding before bidding a given job.

General liability

NCLBGC does not set a state minimum but most NC permits require $500,000–$1,000,000 GL.

Workers' compensation

Mandatory for every NC employer with three or more employees under N.C.G.S. §97-2; construction subcontractors must be covered or carry their own.

Additional financial requirements

Reviewed or audited financial statement showing minimum working capital: Limited $17,000, Intermediate $75,000, Unlimited $150,000 under §87-10. Surety bonds may substitute for working capital deficiency.

Fee Schedule

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$75
Examination	$174
Initial license	$75
Renewal (every year)	$75

License Renewal

The North Carolina Limited / Intermediate / Unlimited General Contractor — Roofing Specialty must be renewed every year. The fee to renew is presently $75. Annual renewal by January 1. Updated financials required.

Continuing education: Eight hours of NCLBGC-approved CE annually for Building Contractor classifications. Roofing specialty CE requirement varies — check current NCLBGC rule.

Downloadable Asset

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

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity Map

North Carolina honors the NASCLA Accredited Examination toward this classification.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
South Carolina	Trade exam waived	Bilateral NCLBGC–SC CLB endorsement.
Tennessee	Trade exam waived	Bilateral NCLBGC–TBLC endorsement.
Georgia	Trade exam waived	Bilateral NCLBGC–GA SLBGC endorsement.

NASCLA accreditation waives the trade exam. Business and Law 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

Pick the monetary tier (Limited, Intermediate, Unlimited). Tier ties to required working capital and project size cap.
Prepare reviewed or audited financial statement. Showing the working capital required for the chosen tier.
Submit the NCLBGC application. $75 application fee plus monetary-tier license fee.
Pass the PSI Roofing trade and Business and Law exams. 70% on each. NASCLA waives the trade exam.
Bind general liability and workers compensation. Workers comp mandatory at three employees under §97-2.
Receive license and renew annually. Annual renewal $75–$150 depending on tier.
Comply with N.C.G.S. §75-23 storm-chaser rules. Three-day rescission and deductible non-waiver on insurance-claim residential roofing.

Common Application Pitfalls

The errors below are the ones that most frequently cost North Carolina Roofing applicants time, drawn from the cited board guidance.

Coastal high-wind fastening

NC coastal counties (Brunswick, New Hanover, Pender, Onslow, Carteret, Dare, Hyde, Tyrrell, Currituck) enforce ASCE 7 wind loads with enhanced fastening. Six-nail patterns and ring-shank fasteners required.

Hurricane secondary water barrier

Coastal reroofs require self-adhering underlayment beneath shingles. Standard felt fails post-storm inspections and voids carrier warranties.

Working under the $30K threshold without license

NCLBGC exempts only projects under $30K. Bidding $35K work without a license is unlicensed contracting under §87-1.

Storm-chaser deductible rebating

N.C.G.S. §75-23 prohibits insurance deductible waiver on residential roofing. NC AG actively prosecutes after hurricane events.

OSHA fall protection

NC OSH enforces fall protection at six feet with state-level penalties. Aggressive inspection on residential reroof sites.

Before Filing: A Checklist

Before submitting to NCLBGC, the applicant should have each of the following ready:

☐ NCLBGC application + $75
☐ Reviewed or audited financial statement matching tier
☐ PSI Roofing trade exam pass (70%+)
☐ PSI Business and Law pass (70%+)
☐ General liability certificate of insurance
☐ NC workers comp declaration page (3+ employees)

Preparation Resources

The following references are cited by the regulator, used in the application process, or commonly used to prepare for the trade scope. Listed for reader convenience; CLR receives no compensation for these recommendations.

North Carolina Contractor Candidate Information Bulletin — PSI Services. Exam source list.
N.C.G.S. Chapter 87 and 21 NCAC 12 — State of North Carolina. Licensing law and rules.
NC State Building Code (IBC adoption with amendments) — NC Department of Insurance. Roof assembly and high-wind coastal amendments.

Other North Carolina Trade Licenses

Looking at a different trade? CLR also publishes these North Carolina licensing guides:

Answers to Common Questions

What is the North Carolina threshold?

$30,000. Any project with a cost of the undertaking $30,000 or more requires an NCLBGC license.

What are the working capital requirements?

Limited $17,000, Intermediate $75,000, Unlimited $150,000 under N.C.G.S. §87-10. CPA-reviewed or audited financial statement required.

Does NC accept NASCLA?

Yes for the trade exam. Business and Law never waived.

Is workers comp mandatory?

Yes at three or more employees under §97-2. Subcontractors must carry their own coverage or be covered by the GC.

When does the license renew?

Annually by January 1. Renewal fee tied to tier ($75 Limited, $100 Intermediate, $125 Unlimited).

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-06-08 · Next scheduled review 2026-09-06