- Residential registration applies to jobs over $500. The commercial license applies to jobs over $10,000.
- Commercial: two years of experience within the last five years.
- Plan for a trade exam and a business and law exam.
- Residential registrants: $5,000 surety bond for jobs over $5,000.
- Commercial General Contractor licenses expire October 31 of even years.
Do you need a state license in South Carolina?
South Carolina 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.
Residential registration applies to jobs over $500. The commercial license applies to jobs over $10,000.
South Carolina license types for roofing work
South Carolina 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 |
|---|---|
| Residential Specialty Contractor, Roofer | Residential roofing, flashing, valleys and roof insulation panels above the deck |
| General Contractor, Roofing (or Specialty Roofing) | Commercial roofing, licensed by the Contractor's Licensing Board |
Steps to get licensed in South Carolina
- For homes, apply to the Residential Builders Commission for a specialty registration with the Roofer trade.
- Pay the $100 registration fee and file a $5,000 bond if you take jobs over $5,000.
- For commercial jobs over $10,000, pass the PSI Roofing exam and the commercial business and law exam.
- Apply to the Contractor's Licensing Board with the $350 fee and a financial statement or bond.
- Renew on time.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. Commercial: two years of experience within the last five years.
The license to apply for. Residential Specialty Contractor registration, Roofer (residential); General Contractor, Roofing classification (commercial).
South Carolina roofing exams
Trade exam. Residential registration: no exam. Commercial: the Roofing technical exam through PSI.
Business and law exam. Commercial: S.C. Business Management and Law for Commercial Contractors exam.
What it costs in South Carolina
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 |
|---|---|
| Residential registration (more than 12 months before renewal) | $100 |
| Commercial initial license | $350 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Bond. Residential registrants: $5,000 surety bond for jobs over $5,000.
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Commercial General Contractor licenses expire October 31 of even years.
Reciprocity. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Good to know in South Carolina
- A residential registrant can hold up to three trades. More than three needs a residential builder license.
- Roof mounting of solar panels is limited to licensed builders, registered roofers or licensed roofing contractors.
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 South Carolina LLR Residential Builders Commission and Contractor's Licensing 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.