- Home improvement jobs over $7,500 and up to $50,000 need a home improvement registration. Residential jobs of $50,000 or more, or any structural work, need a residential license. Commercial jobs of $50,000 or more need a commercial license.
- Plan for a trade exam and a business and law exam.
- You must send current insurance certificates at each renewal. State law bars multiyear renewal terms for licenses that depend on insurance.
Do you need a state license in Louisiana?
Louisiana 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 jobs over $7,500 and up to $50,000 need a home improvement registration. Residential jobs of $50,000 or more, or any structural work, need a residential license. Commercial jobs of $50,000 or more need a commercial license.
Louisiana license types for roofing work
Louisiana 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 |
|---|---|
| Residential Roofing (9.2) | Building, installing or repairing roofs on residential structures |
| Roofing and Sheet Metal, Siding | Commercial roof systems, roof decks, sheet metal and siding; a subclassification of Building Construction |
| Home Improvement Registration | Home improvement jobs over $7,500 and up to $50,000 |
Steps to get licensed in Louisiana
- Price your typical roofing jobs to see if you need a home improvement registration (over $7,500) or a residential license ($50,000 or more).
- Get general liability insurance of at least $100,000 and workers compensation coverage.
- Apply to the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors for the registration or license.
- For a residential license, complete the Business and Law course, pass the Residential Roofing trade exam and send a financial statement.
- Send current insurance certificates every time you renew.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
The license to apply for. Residential license with the Residential Roofing classification, or Home Improvement Registration for smaller jobs.
Louisiana roofing exams
Trade exam. Yes. The Residential Roofing classification has a trade exam.
Business and law exam. License applicants must complete the board's Business and Law course.
What it costs in Louisiana
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 fee, state law maximum | $50 |
| License fee, state law maximum | $100 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. Residential license and home improvement applicants need general liability insurance of at least $100,000 and proof of workers compensation.
Bond. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. You must send current insurance certificates at each renewal. State law bars multiyear renewal terms for licenses that depend on insurance.
Reciprocity. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Good to know in Louisiana
- Residential license applications need a financial statement showing at least $50,000 net worth, current within 12 months.
- The home improvement registration does not cover jobs over $50,000.
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 Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC) 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.