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Florida Roofing Contractor Licensing Guide

A start-to-finish roadmap for earning a Florida Certified Roofing Contractor license, documenting qualifying experience, passing the state examinations, and legally qualifying a roofing business.

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This guide covers the statewide Certified Roofing Contractor license

Florida’s certified roofing license is issued through the Construction Industry Licensing Board and allows statewide roofing contracting within the statutory scope. A registered roofing contractor is generally limited to the local jurisdictions where the registration is recognized.

Florida Roofing Licensing at a Glance

Florida treats roofing as a separately licensed construction trade. A general, building, or residential contractor generally must subcontract roofing work unless that contractor also holds the proper roofing credential or a statutory exception applies.

Statewide

Certified Roofing Contractor

Pass the state examination and complete CILB licensing requirements for statewide authority.

Local

Registered Roofing Contractor

Generally tied to local competency and limited to jurisdictions that recognize the registration.

Individual

CILB 5-I

Used for initial Certified Roofing Contractor licensure as an individual.

Business

CILB 6-I

Used when the applicant will qualify a roofing company.

What the Florida Roofing License Covers

Florida law defines roofing contracting broadly within the roofing trade.

Core Roofing Scope

  • Install, maintain, repair, alter, extend, or design roofing systems when legally permitted
  • All kinds of roofing, waterproofing, and protective roof coatings
  • Skylights and related work
  • Required roof-deck attachments
  • Repair or replacement of wood roof sheathing or fascia when needed during roof repair or replacement

Scope Boundaries

  • Structural work beyond the statutory roofing scope may require another contractor classification
  • Electrical, plumbing, HVAC, mechanical, and other separately licensed work remains restricted
  • Permits, product approvals, manufacturer requirements, and local code rules still apply
  • Do not advertise services outside the licensed category

The Six-Stage Roofing Licensing Process

Complete the experience, examination, financial, background, insurance, and business-qualification requirements in the correct order.

1
Select the PathCertified, registered, individual, or business qualifier
2
Document ExperienceFour years or an approved education-and-experience combination
3
Pass the ExamsBusiness and Finance plus required roofing exam parts
4
Complete ScreeningCredit, fingerprints, disclosures, and financial responsibility
5
Submit CILB ApplicationCILB 5-I or CILB 6-I
6
Activate & RegisterInsurance, workers’ compensation, and local setup

Confirm the Certified Roofing Contractor category

Review the statutory scope and decide whether the license will be held individually or used to qualify a business.

Complete the Certified Roofing experience pages

Document dates, duties, project types, roofing systems, supervisory responsibility, and verifier information.

Apply for and pass the state examinations

Use the current CILB 1 examination process, Candidate Information Booklet, and roofing reference lists.

Complete credit, fingerprints, and disclosures

Order the required credit report, complete electronic fingerprints, and prepare supporting records for any disclosures.

Submit CILB 5-I or CILB 6-I

Use the individual application or qualifying-business application that matches the intended business structure.

Finish local contractor registration and permitting setup

Register the license and business records with local jurisdictions and create permitting and inspection accounts.

Experience and Eligibility Requirements

Applicants generally need four years of qualifying roofing experience or an approved combination of college and experience. The experience must match the roofing category and be documented on the current forms.

Qualifying Time

  • Four years of roofing experience or an approved equivalent combination
  • Worker and supervisory time clearly identified
  • Education or military substitution documented when used
  • Dates must be complete and consistent

Roofing Experience Scope

  • Roof installation, maintenance, repair, and replacement
  • Waterproofing and protective roof coatings
  • Roof-deck attachments, skylights, sheathing, and fascia when applicable
  • Residential and commercial project experience

Experience Verification

  • Verifier with direct knowledge of the work
  • License information when applicable
  • Project descriptions and responsibilities
  • Supporting payroll, tax, permit, employer, or contract records
Common delay: listing years in roofing without identifying the systems worked on, project duties, dates, level of responsibility, and qualifying verifier.

Florida Roofing Examination Requirements

Certified roofing applicants must pass the state certification examinations required for the roofing category.

Exam Area

Business and Finance

  • Business organization and accounting
  • Contracts, liens, payroll, insurance, and taxes
  • Financial management and contractor responsibility
  • Florida construction law
Exam Area

Contract Administration

  • Estimating and bidding
  • Contracts and project documents
  • Permits, codes, safety, and scheduling
  • Project administration and closeout
Exam Area

Project Management / Roofing Trade

  • Roof systems, materials, installation, and repair
  • Waterproofing, flashing, ventilation, and drainage
  • Codes, product approvals, safety, and calculations
  • Current approved roofing references
Use the current roofing reference list. DBPR separates construction references by specialty and exam format. Confirm the books allowed for the actual test date before buying or tabbing materials.

Application, Credit, Insurance, and Background Requirements

Passing the examinations does not issue the license automatically. The applicant must complete the full CILB licensing package.

Credit and Financial Responsibility

  • Board-compliant credit report
  • FICO-derived score
  • Required public-record search
  • Liens, judgments, bankruptcy, or collection records addressed
  • Course, bond, or other remedy when required

Insurance and Workers’ Compensation

  • Required public-liability insurance
  • Required property-damage insurance
  • Workers’ compensation coverage or valid exemption
  • Correct business and qualifier names on all records

Fingerprints and Disclosures

  • Electronic fingerprinting
  • Criminal-history disclosure
  • Prior license discipline or denial disclosure
  • Supporting court or agency records when required

Individual License vs. Qualifying a Roofing Business

Forming an LLC or corporation does not authorize roofing contracting. The business must be properly qualified by a licensed individual.

SituationTypical FormPurpose
Initial Certified Roofing Contractor license as an individualCILB 5-IInitial roofing license held in an individual capacity.
Initial roofing license while qualifying a businessCILB 6-ILicenses the individual and qualifies the roofing company.
Current roofing contractor qualifying an additional businessCurrent additional-business applicationAdds another qualified entity, subject to Board requirements.
Out-of-state license or equivalent examinationEndorsement reviewUsed when seeking certification through Florida’s current endorsement criteria.
Business registration is not roofing licensure. A Sunbiz filing, EIN, business tax receipt, or insurance certificate does not authorize regulated roofing work by itself.

Southwest Florida Local Setup

A certified roofing contractor can work statewide, but local jurisdictions may still require contractor registration and administrative setup.

Contractor Registration

Submit the state license, business records, insurance, workers’ compensation information, and contact details requested by the building department.

Permitting Account

Create online credentials and confirm reroof, repair, inspection, notice-of-commencement, product-approval, and closeout procedures.

Local Business Compliance

Confirm business tax receipts, zoning, vehicle and equipment storage, signage, debris disposal, and hurricane-related emergency procedures.

Complete Roofing Licensing Checklist

License Path

  • Certified or registered route selected
  • Individual or business qualifier path selected
  • Roofing scope reviewed
  • Business structure identified

Experience

  • Four years or approved equivalent
  • Worker and supervisory time documented
  • Roofing systems and project types identified
  • Verifier information complete
  • Supporting records retained

Examinations

  • Current CILB 1 process used
  • Candidate booklet reviewed
  • Current roofing reference list obtained
  • Required exam parts passed
  • Score notices retained

Financial & Background

  • Credit report ordered
  • Public-record search included
  • Fingerprints completed
  • Disclosures prepared
  • Liens or judgments addressed

Insurance & Business

  • Liability coverage
  • Property-damage coverage
  • Workers’ compensation policy or exemption
  • Sunbiz and FEIN records
  • Ownership information complete

Final Submission

  • Correct CILB form selected
  • All signatures and dates complete
  • Current fee verified
  • Complete copy retained
  • Application status monitored

Official Florida Roofing Licensing Resources

Use official state sources for current applications, experience forms, examination information, reference lists, statutes, and license verification.

Construction Industry Licensing BoardMain CILB page with roofing applications, board information, and updates.
CILB 5-I — Certified Roofing Contractor as an IndividualOfficial individual-license checklist and application path.
CILB 5-I Printable ApplicationOfficial printable individual roofing application.
CILB 6-I — Roofing Contractor Qualifying a BusinessOfficial qualifying-business checklist and application route.
CILB 6-I Printable ApplicationOfficial printable application for qualifying a roofing business.
CILB 1 — Initial and Retake Examination ApplicationOfficial examination application route for certified construction contractors.
Construction Examination InformationRegistration, scheduling, notices, and current examination guidance.
Construction Examination Reference ListsApproved roofing references by specialty and exam format.
Florida Statute 489.105Official definition and statutory scope of a roofing contractor.
Florida Statute 489.113Certification, registration, subcontracting, and specialty-trade requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a Florida general contractor license include roofing?
Not automatically. Florida generally requires general, building, and residential contractors to subcontract roofing work unless they also hold the proper roofing license or a statutory exception applies.
How much experience is required for a Florida roofing license?
Applicants generally need four years of qualifying experience or an approved combination of college and experience, documented on the current roofing experience forms.
Can an LLC perform roofing work before it is qualified?
No. Forming the company does not authorize roofing contracting. The business must be properly qualified by a licensed roofing contractor.
Does the roofing license include waterproofing and coatings?
Florida’s statutory roofing scope includes waterproofing and coatings when they are represented to protect, repair, waterproof, stop leaks, or extend roof life.
Can a roofing contractor replace damaged sheathing or fascia?
Florida’s statutory roofing scope includes repair or replacement of wood roof sheathing or fascia as needed during roof repair or replacement and related work.
Does a certified roofing license eliminate local requirements?
No. Local jurisdictions may still require administrative contractor registration, insurance records, business tax receipts, permitting accounts, product approvals, and inspection procedures.

Next Step: Launch the Roofing Business

After confirming the licensing path, continue to the Roofing Business Launch System for startup costs, equipment, estimating, contracts, insurance, customer communication, marketing, financial controls, hiring, and growth.

Continue to the Roofing Business Launch System
Last reviewed: July 10, 2026. This guide is educational and is not legal advice. Licensing forms, fees, exam procedures, experience requirements, insurance rules, statutes, and local processes can change. Verify current requirements with DBPR, CILB, the examination administrator, insurers, and the applicable local government.