Roofing license
Roofing license requirements in New Mexico
Yes — New Mexico requires a state contractor license for roofing work: a GS-21 Roofing specialty license (or a GB-2/GB-98 general building license, which also covers roofing) issued by the Construction Industries Division.
The short answer
Yes — New Mexico requires a state contractor license for roofing work: a GS-21 Roofing specialty license (or a GB-2/GB-98 general building license, which also covers roofing) issued by the Construction Industries Division.
Do you need a license to roof in New Mexico?
GS-21 Roofing specialty contractor license — covers installing, altering, or repairing roof systems. A GB-2 (residential) or GB-98 (general building) license also authorizes roofing work when it's part of a broader construction project.
Who issues it: New Mexico Regulation & Licensing Department — Construction Industries Division (CID).
Last verified: 2026-07-19
New Mexico 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
GS-21 Roofing specialty contractor license — covers installing, altering, or repairing roof systems. A GB-2 (residential) or GB-98 (general building) license also authorizes roofing work when it's part of a broader construction project.
Issuing board
New Mexico Regulation & Licensing Department — Construction Industries Division (CID) — rld.nm.gov/construction-industries
Exam required
Yes
Experience / qualification
Two years of foreman-level practical (or equivalent related-trade) experience for the GS-21 classification, drawn from the 10 years before applying; approved trade-school training can substitute for part of that experience.
Bond
A $10,000 surety bond, underwritten by a corporate surety licensed in New Mexico, required at initial licensure and as a condition of each renewal (typically issued for the three-year licensure period).
Insurance minimum
General liability insurance and workers' compensation coverage are required as part of licensure and renewal.
Application fee
A non-refundable application fee (about $36 paid to the state's testing vendor, PSI, for the qualifying-party review) plus separate license and per-classification fees — confirm current amounts on CID's fee schedule before applying, since an official published dollar figure for the GS-21 classification fee could not be pinned down.
Renewal
Every three years, alongside renewal of the $10,000 bond for the next licensure period.
Reciprocity
No blanket reciprocity for the GS-21 roofing classification. CID does let the NASCLA commercial exam substitute for the GB-98 general-building trade exam and has limited bilateral reciprocity for some specialty classifications with a few neighboring states, but out-of-state roofing contractors should expect to meet New Mexico's own experience, exam, bond, and insurance requirements.
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| License type / class | GS-21 Roofing specialty contractor license — covers installing, altering, or repairing roof systems. A GB-2 (residential) or GB-98 (general building) license also authorizes roofing work when it's part of a broader construction project. |
| Issuing board | New Mexico Regulation & Licensing Department — Construction Industries Division (CID) — rld.nm.gov/construction-industries |
| Exam required | Yes |
| Experience / qualification | Two years of foreman-level practical (or equivalent related-trade) experience for the GS-21 classification, drawn from the 10 years before applying; approved trade-school training can substitute for part of that experience. |
| Bond | A $10,000 surety bond, underwritten by a corporate surety licensed in New Mexico, required at initial licensure and as a condition of each renewal (typically issued for the three-year licensure period). |
| Insurance minimum | General liability insurance and workers' compensation coverage are required as part of licensure and renewal. |
| Application fee | A non-refundable application fee (about $36 paid to the state's testing vendor, PSI, for the qualifying-party review) plus separate license and per-classification fees — confirm current amounts on CID's fee schedule before applying, since an official published dollar figure for the GS-21 classification fee could not be pinned down. |
| Renewal | Every three years, alongside renewal of the $10,000 bond for the next licensure period. |
| Reciprocity | No blanket reciprocity for the GS-21 roofing classification. CID does let the NASCLA commercial exam substitute for the GB-98 general-building trade exam and has limited bilateral reciprocity for some specialty classifications with a few neighboring states, but out-of-state roofing contractors should expect to meet New Mexico's own experience, exam, bond, and insurance requirements. |
How to get a roofing license in New Mexico
- Confirm the GS-21 Roofing classification fits your work (or GB-2/GB-98 if you'll also do general residential/commercial construction).
- Document at least two years of foreman-level roofing experience from the past 10 years.
- Pass the GS-21 trade exam and the New Mexico Business and Law exam through PSI, CID's testing vendor.
- Secure a $10,000 corporate surety bond and your general liability/workers' comp insurance.
- Submit your license application with the required fees, bond, and insurance proof to CID.
- Renew your license and bond every three years.
Working without a license in New Mexico
Contracting without a required license is a misdemeanor: up to 90 days in jail and a $300–$500 fine for jobs of $5,000 or less, or up to 6 months in jail and a fine of 10% of the job's dollar value for jobs over $5,000.
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: rld.nm.gov/construction-industries
More official sources: 14.6.6 NMAC — Classifications and Scopes (GS-21 Roofing) · Apply for a Construction Industries License
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