- No license is needed if the whole project, including labor, materials and taxes, is $1,500 or less and needs no building permit.
- Four years of supervisory experience in the roofing classification within the past 10 years.
- Plan for a trade exam and a business and law exam.
- A bond only if the board requires one.
- All contractor licenses expire September 30 of even numbered years. Sole proprietors and entities submit a current tax clearance with the renewal.
Do you need a state license in Hawaii?
Hawaii licenses roofing work at the state level through the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Contractors License Board. Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
No license is needed if the whole project, including labor, materials and taxes, is $1,500 or less and needs no building permit.
Hawaii license types for roofing work
Hawaii splits the work into 6 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 |
|---|---|
| C-42 Roofing contractor | Roofing work |
| C-42a Aluminum and other metal shingles contractor | Metal shingles |
| C-42b Wood shingles and wood shakes contractor | Wood shingles and shakes |
| C-42c Concrete and clay tile contractor | Concrete and clay tile roofs |
| C-42e Urethane foam contractor | Urethane foam roofing |
| C-42g Roof coatings contractor | Roof coatings |
Steps to get licensed in Hawaii
- Build 4 years of supervisory roofing experience within the past 10 years.
- Apply to the Contractors License Board for the C-42 classification and pay the $50 application fee by the monthly deadline.
- Once the board approves you, pass Part I Business and Law and Part II Trade exams within six months.
- Pay the license fee and file proof of liability insurance and workers compensation, plus any bond the board requires.
- Renew by September 30 of each even numbered year with a current tax clearance.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. Four years of supervisory experience in the roofing classification within the past 10 years.
The license to apply for. C-42 Roofing Contractor.
Hawaii roofing exams
Trade exam. Yes. Part II of the contractor exam covers the trade.
Business and law exam. Yes. Part I of the contractor exam covers business and law.
What it costs in Hawaii
The board lists 5 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 |
|---|---|
| Application fee | $50 |
| Exam fee, specialty classifications | $80 |
| License fee, sole proprietor or entity, Oct 1 of an even year to Sept 30 of an odd year | $663 |
| License fee, sole proprietor or entity, Oct 1 of an odd year to Sept 30 of an even year | $494 |
| Contractor renewal, sole proprietor or entity | $353 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. Bodily injury liability of $100,000 per person and $300,000 per occurrence, property damage liability of $50,000, plus workers compensation if you have employees.
Bond. A bond only if the board requires one.
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. All contractor licenses expire September 30 of even numbered years. Sole proprietors and entities submit a current tax clearance with the renewal.
Reciprocity. Hawaii has no reciprocity agreements. All applicants meet the same licensing and exam requirements.
Good to know in Hawaii
- Holders of a specialty license automatically hold the subclassifications of their main classification.
- Business entities apply with a responsible managing employee, who must live in Hawaii while the license is in effect.
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 Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Contractors License Board 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.