Roofing license
Roofing license requirements in Hawaii
Yes — Hawaii requires a state contractor license for roofing work: the C-42 Roofing Contractor specialty classification (with sub-classes for metal, wood shingle/shake, tile, urethane foam, and roof coatings), issued by the Contractors License Board.
The short answer
Yes — Hawaii requires a state contractor license for roofing work: the C-42 Roofing Contractor specialty classification (with sub-classes for metal, wood shingle/shake, tile, urethane foam, and roof coatings), issued by the Contractors License Board.
Do you need a license to roof in Hawaii?
Specialty ("C") contractor license, classification C-42 Roofing Contractor — plus optional sub-classifications C-42a (aluminum and other metal shingles), C-42b (wood shingles and wood shakes), C-42c (concrete and clay tile), C-42e (urethane foam), and C-42g (roof coatings). A "B" General Building contractor license is also commonly held; confirm current sub-class scope with the Board.
Who issues it: Contractors License Board (CLB), part of the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA), Professional and Vocational Licensing Division.
Last verified: 2026-07-19
Hawaii 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 ("C") contractor license, classification C-42 Roofing Contractor — plus optional sub-classifications C-42a (aluminum and other metal shingles), C-42b (wood shingles and wood shakes), C-42c (concrete and clay tile), C-42e (urethane foam), and C-42g (roof coatings). A "B" General Building contractor license is also commonly held; confirm current sub-class scope with the Board.
Issuing board
Contractors License Board (CLB), part of the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA), Professional and Vocational Licensing Division — cca.hawaii.gov/pvl/boards/contractor
Exam required
Yes
Experience / qualification
A minimum of 4 years of supervisory (journeyman, foreman, supervisor, or contractor-level) experience within the past 10 years immediately preceding the application, documented with at least 3 notarized experience certificates and a chronological project list.
Bond
No standard fixed bond for most applicants — the Board relies on liability and workers' compensation insurance instead, though HAR §16-77-34 lets the Board require a bond from a specific licensee, applicant, or corporate contractor on a case-by-case basis.
Insurance minimum
Comprehensive bodily injury and property damage liability insurance with minimum limits of $100,000 per person / $300,000 per occurrence for bodily injury and $50,000 per occurrence for property damage, plus workers' compensation coverage (sole proprietors with no employees may file the Board's exemption form instead).
Application fee
$50 non-refundable application fee, plus a separate two-part Prometric exam fee (Prometric's official Hawaii bulletin lists $75 per part, $150 for both Business & Law and Trade). Additional license, Contractors Recovery Fund, education-fund, and compliance-fund fees (line items totaling a few hundred dollars, per the Board's current fee schedule) are billed after you pass the exam.
Renewal
Biennial — every license renews by September 30 of each even-numbered year regardless of issue date; not renewed by September 30 and the license is forfeited, with restoration allowed (for a penalty fee) only until November 30 of that even-numbered year, after which a new application is required.
Reciprocity
No formal reciprocity — out-of-state contractors still must pass Hawaii's exam, though documented out-of-state licensed experience can count toward the 4-year experience requirement and out-of-state contractors may use a non-admitted liability insurance carrier under an HRS §431:9A-104(b)(6) exemption.
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| License type / class | Specialty ("C") contractor license, classification C-42 Roofing Contractor — plus optional sub-classifications C-42a (aluminum and other metal shingles), C-42b (wood shingles and wood shakes), C-42c (concrete and clay tile), C-42e (urethane foam), and C-42g (roof coatings). A "B" General Building contractor license is also commonly held; confirm current sub-class scope with the Board. |
| Issuing board | Contractors License Board (CLB), part of the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA), Professional and Vocational Licensing Division — cca.hawaii.gov/pvl/boards/contractor |
| Exam required | Yes |
| Experience / qualification | A minimum of 4 years of supervisory (journeyman, foreman, supervisor, or contractor-level) experience within the past 10 years immediately preceding the application, documented with at least 3 notarized experience certificates and a chronological project list. |
| Bond | No standard fixed bond for most applicants — the Board relies on liability and workers' compensation insurance instead, though HAR §16-77-34 lets the Board require a bond from a specific licensee, applicant, or corporate contractor on a case-by-case basis. |
| Insurance minimum | Comprehensive bodily injury and property damage liability insurance with minimum limits of $100,000 per person / $300,000 per occurrence for bodily injury and $50,000 per occurrence for property damage, plus workers' compensation coverage (sole proprietors with no employees may file the Board's exemption form instead). |
| Application fee | $50 non-refundable application fee, plus a separate two-part Prometric exam fee (Prometric's official Hawaii bulletin lists $75 per part, $150 for both Business & Law and Trade). Additional license, Contractors Recovery Fund, education-fund, and compliance-fund fees (line items totaling a few hundred dollars, per the Board's current fee schedule) are billed after you pass the exam. |
| Renewal | Biennial — every license renews by September 30 of each even-numbered year regardless of issue date; not renewed by September 30 and the license is forfeited, with restoration allowed (for a penalty fee) only until November 30 of that even-numbered year, after which a new application is required. |
| Reciprocity | No formal reciprocity — out-of-state contractors still must pass Hawaii's exam, though documented out-of-state licensed experience can count toward the 4-year experience requirement and out-of-state contractors may use a non-admitted liability insurance carrier under an HRS §431:9A-104(b)(6) exemption. |
How to get a roofing license in Hawaii
- Confirm which classification you need — C-42 Roofing Contractor (or a sub-class like C-42a metal shingles or C-42c tile) — and gather 4 years of documented supervisory roofing experience from the past 10 years.
- File an Application for Contractor's License (form CT-36) with the $50 application fee, at least 3 notarized experience certificates, a chronological project list, a financial statement, a credit report, and a current Hawaii tax clearance, received on or before the first Tuesday of the month before the Board meets.
- After Board approval, register with Prometric and pass both the Part I (Business & Law) and Part II (Trade) exams.
- Submit proof of liability insurance ($100,000/$300,000/$50,000 minimums) and workers' compensation coverage (or an exemption form if you have no employees).
- Pay the remaining license and fund fees and receive your CT- license number from the Contractors License Board.
- Renew by September 30 of every even-numbered year and keep insurance certificates current — a continuous-coverage lapse forfeits the license after 60 days.
Working without a license in Hawaii
Unlicensed contracting is enforced under HRS Chapter 444: investigators can issue a citation with a cease-and-desist order and civil penalties, violating a cease-and-desist order carries a court fine of not less than $10,000 per offense, and each day a violation continues is a separate offense; serious or repeat cases may be referred for criminal prosecution.
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: cca.hawaii.gov/pvl/boards/contractor
More official sources: Description of Contractor License Classifications (C-42 Roofing scope) · Requirements for License — Contractor, Sole Proprietor (CT-00(B)) · HRS Chapter 444 — Contractors (penalties/enforcement)
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