- Nonresident contractors post a surety bond of 6% of the contract price on contracts of $20,000 or more.
- Every year. The license is valid until January 1 and can be renewed for a full year.
Do you need a state license in Delaware?
Delaware 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.
Delaware license types for roofing work
Delaware splits the work into 2 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 |
|---|---|
| Resident contractor license | Contractors who regularly keep a place of business in Delaware |
| Nonresident contractor license | Out of state contractors, who may also have to post a surety bond |
Steps to get licensed in Delaware
- Pick the Resident or Non-Resident Contractors Package from the Division of Revenue.
- File your workers compensation insurance certificate and the Department of Labor notice certificate.
- If you are based out of state, post the nonresident surety bond on contracts of $20,000 or more.
- Pay the $75 license fee and get your license before you sign contracts.
- File and pay the gross receipts license fee, and renew the license every year.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. The board's pages do not list one.
The license to apply for. Delaware contractor business license (Division of Revenue).
Delaware 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 Delaware
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 |
|---|---|
| Contractor business license, per year | $75 |
| Gross receipts license fee | 0.6472% of gross receipts, after a $100,000 monthly deduction |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. You must file a certificate of workers compensation insurance, or proof you are an approved self insurer, before the license is issued.
Bond. Nonresident contractors post a surety bond of 6% of the contract price on contracts of $20,000 or more.
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Every year. The license is valid until January 1 and can be renewed for a full year.
Reciprocity. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Good to know in Delaware
- You must also file a Department of Labor notice certificate before the license is issued.
- The license must be in place before, or when, you sign a contract.
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 Delaware Division of Revenue 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.