- None stated. Contracts for home improvement jobs over $500 must be in writing.
- Every year. Contractors must register annually.
Do you need a state license in New Jersey?
New Jersey 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.
None stated. Contracts for home improvement jobs over $500 must be in writing.
Contractors who are not registered will not be issued municipal construction permits.
The New Jersey license for this work
There is one license to aim for here.
| License | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) registration | Residential home improvement work, which includes roofing and siding |
Steps to get licensed in New Jersey
- Get $500,000 per occurrence commercial general liability insurance.
- Register as a home improvement contractor with the Division of Consumer Affairs.
- Use written contracts for jobs over $500.
- Pull local construction permits with your registration number.
- Renew the registration every year.
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.
New Jersey 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 New Jersey
We could not confirm the current fee schedule on an official page. Check with the board before you budget: New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs.
Insurance and bond
Insurance. Commercial general liability insurance of at least $500,000 per occurrence.
Bond. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Every year. Contractors must register annually.
Reciprocity. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Good to know in New Jersey
- People working on a home they or their family own do not need to register.
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 New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs 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.