Roofing license
Roofing license requirements in Alaska
Yes — Alaska requires roofers to register as a Specialty Contractor with the Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing before contracting for compensation; there's no project-value exemption and no trade exam, but a bond and liability insurance are required.
The short answer
Yes — Alaska requires roofers to register as a Specialty Contractor with the Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing before contracting for compensation; there's no project-value exemption and no trade exam, but a bond and liability insurance are required.
Do you need a license to roof in Alaska?
Specialty Contractor registration — covers roofing and other single-trade specialties, alongside Alaska's separate General Contractor, Mechanical Contractor, and Handyman (contract price ≤ $10,000) registrations.
Who issues it: Alaska Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing — Construction Contractors.
Last verified: 2026-07-19
Alaska roofing license at a glance
Every figure here is a plain-English starting point read from the official state board — always confirm the current requirements at the source before you rely on them.
License type / class
Specialty Contractor registration — covers roofing and other single-trade specialties, alongside Alaska's separate General Contractor, Mechanical Contractor, and Handyman (contract price ≤ $10,000) registrations.
Issuing board
Alaska Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing — Construction Contractors — commerce.alaska.gov/web/cbpl/ProfessionalLicensing/ConstructionContractors
Exam required
No
Experience / qualification
Alaska does not require applicants to document a minimum number of years of roofing experience or pass a trade exam for Specialty Contractor registration; instead, the state requires a Social Security number (or an SSN exemption for foreign citizens), the bond and insurance below, and workers' compensation coverage if you use employee labor or are a corporation or LLC.
Bond
A $10,000 surety bond (or an equivalent cash deposit / certificate of deposit / negotiable security filed with the Department in lieu of a bond) is required to register as a Specialty Contractor, per Alaska Statutes 08.18.071. The bond must remain continuously in effect.
Insurance minimum
Public liability and property damage insurance of at least $20,000 for property damage, $50,000 for injury (including death) to any one person, and $100,000 for injury (including death) to more than one person, per AS 08.18.101 (confirmed on the Division's official Bond and Insurance Quick Facts and the Specialty Contractor application). Workers' compensation insurance is also required if you use employee labor or your business is a corporation or LLC.
Application fee
The Specialty Contractor Registration Application (form #08-4818) carries $350 in total fees — a $100 nonrefundable application fee plus a $250 registration fee — payable to the State of Alaska (confirmed on the current official application).
Renewal
Registrations run on a two-year cycle and expire December 31 of even-numbered years, regardless of the date of issuance (registrations issued within 90 days of the expiration date run to the next biennial expiration). Renew online through the state's MY LICENSE portal; confirm the current biennial renewal fee on the Division's fee schedule.
Reciprocity
Alaska has no reciprocity for Specialty Contractor (or general contractor) registration with other states — out-of-state roofers must complete Alaska's full registration process from scratch. The only trade with any reciprocity is electrical contracting, which doesn't apply to roofing.
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| License type / class | Specialty Contractor registration — covers roofing and other single-trade specialties, alongside Alaska's separate General Contractor, Mechanical Contractor, and Handyman (contract price ≤ $10,000) registrations. |
| Issuing board | Alaska Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing — Construction Contractors — commerce.alaska.gov/web/cbpl/ProfessionalLicensing/ConstructionContractors |
| Exam required | No |
| Experience / qualification | Alaska does not require applicants to document a minimum number of years of roofing experience or pass a trade exam for Specialty Contractor registration; instead, the state requires a Social Security number (or an SSN exemption for foreign citizens), the bond and insurance below, and workers' compensation coverage if you use employee labor or are a corporation or LLC. |
| Bond | A $10,000 surety bond (or an equivalent cash deposit / certificate of deposit / negotiable security filed with the Department in lieu of a bond) is required to register as a Specialty Contractor, per Alaska Statutes 08.18.071. The bond must remain continuously in effect. |
| Insurance minimum | Public liability and property damage insurance of at least $20,000 for property damage, $50,000 for injury (including death) to any one person, and $100,000 for injury (including death) to more than one person, per AS 08.18.101 (confirmed on the Division's official Bond and Insurance Quick Facts and the Specialty Contractor application). Workers' compensation insurance is also required if you use employee labor or your business is a corporation or LLC. |
| Application fee | The Specialty Contractor Registration Application (form #08-4818) carries $350 in total fees — a $100 nonrefundable application fee plus a $250 registration fee — payable to the State of Alaska (confirmed on the current official application). |
| Renewal | Registrations run on a two-year cycle and expire December 31 of even-numbered years, regardless of the date of issuance (registrations issued within 90 days of the expiration date run to the next biennial expiration). Renew online through the state's MY LICENSE portal; confirm the current biennial renewal fee on the Division's fee schedule. |
| Reciprocity | Alaska has no reciprocity for Specialty Contractor (or general contractor) registration with other states — out-of-state roofers must complete Alaska's full registration process from scratch. The only trade with any reciprocity is electrical contracting, which doesn't apply to roofing. |
How to get a roofing license in Alaska
- Confirm you need a Specialty Contractor registration (which covers roofing as a single-trade specialty) rather than a General Contractor registration.
- Obtain a $10,000 surety bond (or file a cash deposit/CD in lieu), plus public liability and property damage insurance meeting Alaska's minimums ($20,000 property damage / $50,000 one person / $100,000 more than one person).
- Get workers' compensation insurance if you use employee labor or your business is a corporation or LLC.
- File the Specialty Contractor Registration Application (form #08-4818) with the Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing and pay the $350 in fees.
- Renew online every two years by December 31 of even-numbered years through the MY LICENSE portal.
Working without a license in Alaska
Acting as a contractor without a valid registration is a misdemeanor, and the state can also impose an administrative fine under AS 08.18.125 of $1,000 for a first offense and $1,500 for later offenses — each day worked unregistered is treated as a separate violation.
Last verified: 2026-07-19
Roofing license rules change and often vary by city and county. This page is a plain-English starting point, not legal advice — always confirm the current requirements with the state board linked below before you rely on them.
Verify at the source: commerce.alaska.gov/web/cbpl/ProfessionalLicensing/ConstructionContractors
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