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Do Roofers Need a License in Texas? How to Verify a Roofer
Plumbers, electricians, and air conditioning contractors all carry state licenses in Texas. Roofers don't, because the state has never created one. Here's why, which credentials do exist, and how to check a roofer before you sign.
By Austin Roofing Company • Updated October 2026
Austin's Most Trusted Roofing Company
5-star rated service since 2008
The short answer
No. Texas does not license roofing contractors, and no state agency issues a roofing license number. At least five bills to license or register roofers have failed since 2013, the latest in 2025. So verify what can be checked: a general liability insurance certificate confirmed with the insurer, a business registered with the Texas Comptroller, a listing in the manufacturer's contractor directory, and a written contract that follows Texas law. Treat a "Texas roofing license" as a warning sign, not a credential.
Why Texas Has No Roofing License
The Texas Legislature has to create a license before any agency can issue one. Lawmakers have tried to create one for roofers, in some form, in at least five sessions since 2013. Every bill died before a final vote.
| Session | Bill | What it proposed | What happened |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 (83rd) | SB 311 | Licensing and regulation of roofing contractors | Left pending in committee |
| 2019 (86th) | HB 2101 | Registration of reroofing contractors | Failed to pass the House |
| 2021 (87th) | SB 1481 | Registration of reroofing contractors | Referred to committee, no further action |
| 2023 (88th) | HB 3890 | Voluntary licensing of reroofing contractors | Referred to committee, no further action |
| 2025 (89th) | HB 3344 | Licensing of reroofing contractors by TDLR | Cleared committee, sent to Calendars May 8, 2025, never voted on |
2013 (83rd)
SB 311: Licensing and regulation of roofing contractors
What happened: Left pending in committee
2021 (87th)
SB 1481: Registration of reroofing contractors
What happened: Referred to committee, no further action
2023 (88th)
HB 3890: Voluntary licensing of reroofing contractors
What happened: Referred to committee, no further action
2025 (89th)
HB 3344: Licensing of reroofing contractors by TDLR
What happened: Cleared committee, sent to Calendars May 8, 2025, never voted on
Some websites say HB 3344 passed and that roofing licenses start in 2026. The Legislature's own bill history says otherwise: its last action was being sent to the House Calendars Committee on May 8, 2025, and the regular session ended without a vote. Until a new bill passes, "licensed" in a Texas roofer's ad has no state meaning. Source: HB 3344 bill history, Texas Legislature.
Licenses and Credentials That Do Exist Around a Roof Job
"No roofing license" doesn't mean nothing on the job is checkable. Here is what is real, and who issues it.
- Electrical work is state licensed. If your project includes wiring, such as an attic fan or solar, the person doing it must hold a license from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR).
- Air conditioning work is state licensed. TDLR also licenses air conditioning and heating contractors, which matters if ductwork or a unit in the attic has to be moved.
- Plumbing is state licensed by the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners, separate from TDLR.
- RCAT's license is voluntary and private. The Roofing Contractors Association of Texas runs its own licensing program with exams, a general liability insurance minimum, and yearly continuing education. RCAT itself notes that TDLR does not license roofers. An RCAT credential shows a roofer chose extra scrutiny. It is not a state license, and a roofer without one is not breaking any law.
- Manufacturer certification is earned and listed. Shingle makers certify contractors and list them in public directories. Certification is what unlocks a manufacturer's enhanced warranty tiers.
- City contractor registration is local. Austin requires contractors, and homeowners acting as their own contractor, to register with the city before pulling a permit. Registration is not a skills test. The city's own page notes that a state license is not required to be a general contractor in Texas.
How to Verify a Roofer in Texas
Without a state license to look up, you verify the pieces one at a time. These six checks focus on paperwork you can confirm with the agency or company that issued it.
- 1 Get the certificate of insurance, then call the insurer. Ask for a certificate of insurance showing general liability coverage. The certificate is a summary, not proof, so call the insurance company named on it and confirm the policy is active and in the company's name. Texas Department of Insurance guidance
- 2 Confirm the business is registered in Texas. Search the company's legal name on the Texas Comptroller's account status search, which shows an entity's right to transact business in Texas. Make sure the name matches the one on the contract and the insurance certificate. Texas Comptroller account status search
- 3 Verify manufacturer certification on the manufacturer's site. GAF, Owens Corning, IKO, and Malarkey each list their certified contractors in an online directory. If the roofer is not in the directory, the certification is not real, and neither are the enhanced warranties that come with it.
- 4 Check any license number they give you. If a roofer quotes a license number, ask who issued it. An RCAT number can be checked with RCAT. Electricians and air conditioning contractors are licensed by TDLR and show up in its public license search. A "Texas roofing license" number has no state agency behind it. TDLR license search
- 5 Ask who pulls the permit, if one is needed. Austin requires anyone who pulls a permit as a contractor to register with the city first, and other Central Texas cities run their own registrations. Ask whether your job needs a permit and whose name will be on it. City of Austin contractor registration
- 6 Read the contract before you sign it. If insurance is paying, the contract must carry the deductible notice in 12-point bold type. Look for a street address, a named shingle, a per-sheet decking price, and both warranties in writing. Texas Business and Commerce Code, Chapter 27
Paperwork is half of it. Reviews, a real street address, a Better Business Bureau profile, and your neighbors cover the other half, and our guide on how to spot a bad roofing company walks through those checks plus the eight things bad roofers say most often. Once the roofer checks out, have the roof itself checked: our free roof inspection comes with a written report and photos you keep.
What Texas Law Does Cover
No license doesn't mean no rules. These protections apply to every roofer in Texas, whatever credentials they claim.
- You pay your own deductible. A roofer who waives, absorbs, or rebates your insurance deductible commits a Class B misdemeanor, and any insurance-funded roofing contract of $1,000 or more must say so in bold type. Business and Commerce Code §27.02; Insurance Code Chapter 707.
- Door-to-door sales can be canceled. If you signed at your home for more than $25, you have until midnight of the third business day to cancel. Business and Commerce Code Chapter 601.
- The state's storm advice still applies. The Texas Department of Insurance tells homeowners to get at least three written bids, avoid door-to-door solicitors, and hold final payment until all the work is done. TDI: Repairing my roof after a storm.
If your roof is part of an insurance claim, our Texas roof insurance claim guide covers what your insurer owes you and how to push back on a low estimate.
What You'll Find When You Check Us
Run every check above on Austin Roofing Company. We'd rather you verify than take our word for it.
- General liability insurance, with a certificate on request, and no claim to a roofing license that Texas doesn't issue.
- Certified by four shingle manufacturers: GAF (Certified Plus), Owens Corning (Preferred), IKO, and Malarkey, so we can offer each one's enhanced warranties without steering you to a single brand. See our GAF directory listing.
- Local since 2008, headquartered at 807 Brazos St #403 in downtown Austin. Meet the family behind the company on our about page.
- A 5.0-star Google rating and an A+ with the Better Business Bureau.
Texas Roofing License Questions, Answered
Do roofers need a license in Texas?
Is an RCAT license a real Texas license?
What insurance should a roofer have in Texas?
Do I need a permit to replace my roof in Austin?
Who regulates roofers in Texas if there is no license?
What should a Texas roofing contract include?
Check Us, Then Let Us Check Your Roof
Our inspection is free. We photograph what we find, put it in writing, and tell you plainly whether you need a repair, a replacement, or nothing at all.
See what a real inspection covers on our free roof inspection page.