Guides · Paperwork and licenses
The Florida roofing license
Yes. And of all the home trades, roofing is where the state pushes hardest, for a reason that explains itself: it's where the most money moves after every hurricane season, and where the most people appear overnight.
Updated 2026-09-15
The number that starts with CCC
The certified roofing license carries a number starting with CCC followed by six or seven digits. With it you work statewide without needing a local license in each jurisdiction.
That prefix is also something a customer can check in a minute. Worth remembering when selling: showing your number before anyone asks puts you ahead of whoever turns up with nothing.
What the state asks for
Four years of experience, or a mix of college education and experience adding up to the same, with at least one year in a supervisory role.
Two exams, trade plus business and finance, each passed at 70 or better. As in plumbing, the finance one catches people out: it's contracts, payroll and taxes, not shingles.
Financial responsibility, shown in practice through a $10,000 surety bond or through your credit history, depending on the case.
Insurance at state-set minimums: at least $100,000 public liability and $25,000 property damage, plus workers' compensation. These aren't industry suggestions, they're the floor for getting licensed at all.
And fingerprinting, with its background check.
Why roofing gets the bond and other trades don't
A bad roof doesn't show on the day it's finished. It shows with the first hard storm, sometimes months later, and by then the money is spent. The bond exists so something is left to answer with when whoever did the work is gone.
For anyone who does hold the paperwork this is an advantage, not an obstacle: it cuts down who you're bidding against.
doubts
What people usually ask
Can I do a small roof repair without a license?
No. Unlike painting, Florida sets no dollar threshold that puts roofing work outside the rules. Replacing a few loose tiles counts the same as redoing the whole roof.
What's the difference between certified and registered?
Certified works statewide. Registered only works in the counties where you've met local requirements, which ties the business to a map.
Does a degree replace the years?
It can replace part of the experience if it's in a construction-related field, but the supervisory year still stands. Schooling doesn't substitute for having run a crew.
What if I only lay tile for another contractor?
Working as an employee of someone licensed is a different thing and needs no license of your own. The license is for contracting directly with the homeowner, pulling the permit and getting paid for the job. Sources: [DBPR / CILB](https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/construction-industry/), [ContractorRequirements](https://contractorrequirements.com/roofer/florida/), [Finturf](https://finturf.com/blog/florida-roofing-license/).