Roofing license
Roofing license requirements in Arkansas
Yes — Arkansas requires residential roofers to register with the Contractors Licensing Board once a roofing job (labor and materials combined) exceeds $2,000, and requires a full commercial contractor license for non-residential roofing work of $50,000 or more.
The short answer
Yes — Arkansas requires residential roofers to register with the Contractors Licensing Board once a roofing job (labor and materials combined) exceeds $2,000, and requires a full commercial contractor license for non-residential roofing work of $50,000 or more.
Do you need a license to roof in Arkansas?
Residential Roofer Registration (handled by the Board's Residential Committee) for roofing jobs over $2,000 — note a Residential Roofing Registrant is NOT a licensed contractor; and a Commercial Contractor License for commercial/non-residential work of $50,000 or more.
Who issues it: Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board.
Last verified: 2026-07-19
Arkansas 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
Residential Roofer Registration (handled by the Board's Residential Committee) for roofing jobs over $2,000 — note a Residential Roofing Registrant is NOT a licensed contractor; and a Commercial Contractor License for commercial/non-residential work of $50,000 or more.
Issuing board
Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board — labor.arkansas.gov/licensing/arkansas-contractors-licensing-board
Exam required
Varies by locality
Experience / qualification
No set minimum years of experience and no exam is required for the Residential Roofer Registration (a registration, not a license, effective since it replaced the old Home Improvement Roofing License on January 1, 2022). Commercial contractor applicants must instead demonstrate financial stability and pass the Business and Law exam.
Bond
A $15,000 surety bond (the Residential Roofing Registrant Surety Bond, required by A.C.A. 17-25-604(d)(1), continuous until cancelled) is required for the Residential Roofer Registration. Commercial contractors can post a $10,000 surety bond in lieu of submitting a financial statement.
Insurance minimum
Proof of workers' compensation coverage is required if the residential roofing registrant has one or more employees.
Application fee
$20 filing fee (check or money order only, non-refundable) for the Residential Roofer Registration. Commercial license applicants pay a filing fee plus an exam fee — confirm the current commercial amounts on the Board's commercial application before relying on a figure.
Renewal
The Residential Roofer Registration must be renewed yearly (per the Board's official application). See the Board's 'Renew a License' page for the current renewal fee and the commercial license cycle.
Reciprocity
Arkansas offers limited reciprocity for commercial/general contractors with a short list of other states that waives only the trade-skills portion of the exam, never the Business and Law exam. No reciprocity applies to the Residential Roofer Registration — out-of-state residential roofers register the same way as in-state ones.
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| License type / class | Residential Roofer Registration (handled by the Board's Residential Committee) for roofing jobs over $2,000 — note a Residential Roofing Registrant is NOT a licensed contractor; and a Commercial Contractor License for commercial/non-residential work of $50,000 or more. |
| Issuing board | Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board — labor.arkansas.gov/licensing/arkansas-contractors-licensing-board |
| Exam required | Varies by locality |
| Experience / qualification | No set minimum years of experience and no exam is required for the Residential Roofer Registration (a registration, not a license, effective since it replaced the old Home Improvement Roofing License on January 1, 2022). Commercial contractor applicants must instead demonstrate financial stability and pass the Business and Law exam. |
| Bond | A $15,000 surety bond (the Residential Roofing Registrant Surety Bond, required by A.C.A. 17-25-604(d)(1), continuous until cancelled) is required for the Residential Roofer Registration. Commercial contractors can post a $10,000 surety bond in lieu of submitting a financial statement. |
| Insurance minimum | Proof of workers' compensation coverage is required if the residential roofing registrant has one or more employees. |
| Application fee | $20 filing fee (check or money order only, non-refundable) for the Residential Roofer Registration. Commercial license applicants pay a filing fee plus an exam fee — confirm the current commercial amounts on the Board's commercial application before relying on a figure. |
| Renewal | The Residential Roofer Registration must be renewed yearly (per the Board's official application). See the Board's 'Renew a License' page for the current renewal fee and the commercial license cycle. |
| Reciprocity | Arkansas offers limited reciprocity for commercial/general contractors with a short list of other states that waives only the trade-skills portion of the exam, never the Business and Law exam. No reciprocity applies to the Residential Roofer Registration — out-of-state residential roofers register the same way as in-state ones. |
How to get a roofing license in Arkansas
- Determine your tier: Residential Roofer Registration for residential jobs over $2,000, or a full Commercial Contractor License for non-residential work of $50,000 or more.
- For residential: obtain a $15,000 Residential Roofing Registrant surety bond and, if you have one or more employees, workers' compensation coverage.
- For commercial: prepare financial statements (or post a $10,000 bond in lieu), and register for the Business and Law exam.
- Submit your application and fee to the Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board — $20 filing fee (check or money order) for the residential registration; the commercial application has its own filing and exam fees.
- Once approved, renew yearly for the residential registration (and per the Board's cycle for a commercial license) before it expires.
Working without a license in Arkansas
Contracting on a job of $50,000 or more without a commercial license is a Class A misdemeanor; the Board can also impose per-offense fines (each day worked in violation is a separate offense) plus interest, and can order the contractor to stop work. Unlicensed or unregistered contractors cannot sue to enforce their construction contracts.
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: labor.arkansas.gov/licensing/arkansas-contractors-licensing-board
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