Check a roofer
Certified vs registered roofing licenses
Updated 2026-09-16. Facts checked against official sources on that date.
Short answer
A certified roofer passed the state exam and can work anywhere in Florida. A registered roofer met local licensing rules and can work only in those local areas. General, building and residential contractors must hire a licensed roofer for your roof unless they also hold a roofing license.
Certified roofers: statewide
A certified contractor passed the state examination and holds a certificate of competency, which lets them contract in any Florida city or county without having to meet each area's own competency rules.[1][2]
There's still some local paperwork. In a new area, a certified contractor shows the certificate to the local building official and pays the local permit and occupational license fees.[2]
Registered roofers: local areas only
A registered contractor met the licensing requirements of a local area (a county, city or development district) and registered that with the state. The state registration has no state exam. The contractor can contract only in the areas where they met those local rules. And only for the type of work registered.[1][3]
Disciplining locally licensed contractors is the local area's job. After a declared natural emergency, a registered contractor may also work inside the declared area, for a limited time, on the work their registration covers.[3]
Hiring a registered roofer?
Ask where their license is registered, and check that it covers the city or county where your home is. A license that's valid next door may not be valid at your address.
Side by side
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Where can a certified roofer work? | Anywhere in Florida. |
| Where can a registered roofer work? | Only in the local areas where they met the licensing requirements. |
| Is there a state exam? | Yes, for certification. Registration has no state exam, and local exam rules vary. |
| What work is covered? | Both cover the roofing trade, which Florida law defines as unlimited within roofing. |
| How does the state label them? | In the state's license file, every certified roofing license number starts with CCC and every registered one starts with RC. |
What roofing work includes
Florida law gives roofing contractors the whole roofing trade: installing, maintaining and repairing roofs, waterproofing and roof coatings. It also covers skylights and required roof-deck attachments, along with replacing wood roof sheathing or fascia when that's needed during a roof repair or replacement.[1]
Can a general contractor do my roof?
General, building and residential contractors (CGC, CBC and CRC licenses) must subcontract roofing work unless they also hold a roofing certificate or registration. The one exception is wood, asphalt or fiberglass shingles on a new building they're constructing themselves.[2]
That exception doesn't cover a re-roof on your existing home. And a general, building or residential contractor certified after 1973 can't advertise as a roofing contractor unless they're licensed as one.[2]
The state also says roofing work can't be subcontracted to unlicensed roofers.[6]
How to check which license a roofer holds
Every certified or registered contractor must put the license number on permit applications, bids, contracts and ads. Search that number on the state's license search, and the result shows the license type and whether it's certified or registered.[6]
Every roofer in this directory shows its license
Each listing carries the license number, type and status from the state record, with the date we checked.
Find roofers by countyQuestions
Is a certified roofer better than a registered roofer?
Not necessarily. The difference is where they can work. Certified roofers passed the state exam and can work anywhere in Florida, while registered roofers met local licensing rules and can work only in those areas (s. 489.105, Florida Statutes).
Can a registered roofer work in my county?
In two cases. Either your county or city is one where the roofer met the local licensing requirements, or it's a limited period after a declared natural emergency and the work is covered by the registration (s. 489.117).
Can a general contractor replace my roof?
Not unless they also hold a roofing certificate or registration. General, building and residential contractors must subcontract roofing. The only exception is shingles on a new building they're constructing (s. 489.113).
What does a CCC license number mean?
It's the start of the license number the state gives a certified roofer. Search the full number on the state's license search to see the license type and status.
Sources
- [1] Florida Statutes s. 489.105: Definitions, checked 2026-09-16
- [2] Florida Statutes s. 489.113: Qualifications for practice; restrictions, checked 2026-09-16
- [3] Florida Statutes s. 489.117: Registration; specialty contractors, checked 2026-09-16
- [4] Florida DBPR: Construction Industry (license types), checked 2026-09-16
- [5] Florida DBPR: Construction licensee public records file, checked 2026-09-16
- [6] Florida DBPR: Construction Industry FAQs, checked 2026-09-16
General information, not legal advice. Laws and records change; confirm with the agency before you act.