Roofing license
Roofing license requirements in New Hampshire
No — New Hampshire does not license or register roofing contractors, or general contractors, at the state level. The state's own consumer-protection guidance is blunt about it: contractors here aren't required to hold any professional license, so the burden is on the homeowner to vet who they hire, and building-permit oversight happens at the local level.
The short answer
No — New Hampshire does not license or register roofing contractors, or general contractors, at the state level. The state's own consumer-protection guidance is blunt about it: contractors here aren't required to hold any professional license, so the burden is on the homeowner to vet who they hire, and building-permit oversight happens at the local level.
Do you need a license to roof in New Hampshire?
None — no state roofing or general-contractor license or registration exists.
Who issues it: New Hampshire has no state licensing board for general or roofing contractors — the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) licenses individual trades (electricians, plumbers, gas fitters) but not general or roofing contracting itself..
Last verified: 2026-07-19
New Hampshire 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
None — no state roofing or general-contractor license or registration exists.
Issuing board
New Hampshire has no state licensing board for general or roofing contractors — the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) licenses individual trades (electricians, plumbers, gas fitters) but not general or roofing contracting itself. — oplc.nh.gov
Exam required
No
Experience / qualification
None — there is no state licensing exam or experience requirement for roofers in New Hampshire.
Bond
No state-required bond for roofing contractors.
Insurance minimum
No state-mandated liability insurance specific to roofing. If you have employees, New Hampshire's workers' compensation law (RSA 281-A) requires coverage; sole proprietors, partners, and self-employed people are not required to cover themselves.
Application fee
None — there is no state license or registration to apply for.
Renewal
Not applicable — there is nothing to renew at the state level.
Reciprocity
Not applicable — with no state license, there is nothing to hold reciprocal with other states.
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| License type / class | None — no state roofing or general-contractor license or registration exists. |
| Issuing board | New Hampshire has no state licensing board for general or roofing contractors — the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) licenses individual trades (electricians, plumbers, gas fitters) but not general or roofing contracting itself. — oplc.nh.gov |
| Exam required | No |
| Experience / qualification | None — there is no state licensing exam or experience requirement for roofers in New Hampshire. |
| Bond | No state-required bond for roofing contractors. |
| Insurance minimum | No state-mandated liability insurance specific to roofing. If you have employees, New Hampshire's workers' compensation law (RSA 281-A) requires coverage; sole proprietors, partners, and self-employed people are not required to cover themselves. |
| Application fee | None — there is no state license or registration to apply for. |
| Renewal | Not applicable — there is nothing to renew at the state level. |
| Reciprocity | Not applicable — with no state license, there is nothing to hold reciprocal with other states. |
How to get a roofing license in New Hampshire
- Register your business name with the NH Secretary of State if you're operating under anything other than your own legal name (a $50 trade-name filing, good for five years).
- Get New Hampshire workers' compensation coverage if you have any employees, under RSA 281-A.
- Check the building department in the specific city or town where you're roofing — most NH municipalities require a permit for a full roof replacement or structural repair, and permit rules vary by whether the town has adopted the state building code.
- If any electrical, plumbing, or gas work is part of the roofing job (for example, relocating a vent or a solar tie-in), have that portion done by an OPLC-licensed electrician, plumber, or gas fitter — those are the trades New Hampshire does license.
- Consider a voluntary manufacturer or industry certification (e.g., GAF, CertainTeed) since it's the closest thing New Hampshire homeowners have to a state-vetted credential.
Working without a license in New Hampshire
There is no state licensing penalty because there is no state license requirement to violate. Consumer protection instead runs through New Hampshire's Consumer Protection Act (RSA 358-A); unfair or deceptive contracting practices can be pursued by the Attorney General's Consumer Protection and Antitrust Bureau or by the homeowner directly.
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: oplc.nh.gov
More official sources: NH Department of Labor — workers' compensation employer info · NH Secretary of State — trade names (Form TN-1)
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