- Home improvement registration does not cover contracts under $200, work on commercial property, or subcontracted work.
Do you need a state license in Connecticut?
Connecticut licenses some roofing work at the state level and leaves the rest alone. Which side of that line a job falls on decides whether you need the state license.
Home improvement registration does not cover contracts under $200, work on commercial property, or subcontracted work.
Connecticut license types for roofing work
Connecticut splits the work into 3 licenses. Pick the one that matches the jobs you take, since working outside its scope is the same as working without one.
| License | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Home Improvement Contractor | Permanent changes to residential property, roofs included, under contract with a consumer |
| New Home Construction Contractor | Building new homes or parts of new homes |
| Major Contractor | Structural work, roofing included, on buildings over the threshold limits, such as 4 stories or 60 feet tall |
Steps to get licensed in Connecticut
- Decide whether to register as an individual or as a business entity.
- If you are an LLC or corporation, register with the Connecticut Secretary of State first.
- Get general liability insurance of at least $20,000.
- Apply online to the Department of Consumer Protection for home improvement contractor registration and pay the $220 fee.
- If you will do roofing or other structural work on large threshold buildings, apply for a major contractor registration as well.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
The license to apply for. Home Improvement Contractor registration.
Connecticut roofing exams
Trade exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Business and law exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
What it costs in Connecticut
The board lists 2 fees along the way. These are the state's own numbers. Insurance, any bond, exam prep and your business registration come on top.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Home improvement contractor application fee | $220 |
| Major contractor registration renewal | $500 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. Home improvement contractors need general liability insurance of at least $20,000.
Bond. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Reciprocity. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Good to know in Connecticut
- An LLC or corporation must register in its own name. A registration held as an individual does not cover the LLC.
- Business entities must register with the Connecticut Secretary of State before applying.
- If you build new homes, apply for New Home Construction Contractor registration first and add home improvement work to it.
After you are licensed
The license lets you take the work. Getting the work is the next job.
- Register the business. If you work under a name other than your own, register it where your state asks (often the Secretary of State, sometimes the county), and keep the name the same on your license, your truck and your invoices.
- Claim your Google Business Profile. It is the listing people see when they search for a roofer near them. Fill in your service area, hours and real photos of your work.
- Put up a website that shows the license. Customers look for it before they call. Koira builds a contractor website for you and keeps it current.
- See where you stand. The free Koira report checks how your business shows up in search and on maps against shops near you.
Where this comes from
Every fact on this page comes from the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, Occupational and Professional Licensing Division and the official pages below, checked October 8, 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the board before you file.
More for your trade: how roofing companies run on Koira.