Checking a roofing contractor’s license in Virginia
What the license classes mean, what the roofing specialty covers, and how to verify one before you hire anybody.
Why a license is required at all
Virginia law defines a "contractor" as anyone who, for a fixed price, commission, fee or percentage, bids on, accepts, or offers to accept orders or contracts for performing, managing or superintending construction, removal, repair or improvement work on a building. Taking roofing work on that basis without a license is not allowed.
What Class A, B and C mean
Virginia's Board for Contractors issues three license classes, based on the size of the work:
- Class A: a single contract or project of $150,000 or more, or $1 million or more in total work in any 12 month period.
- Class B: a single contract or project of $30,000 up to $150,000, or $250,000 up to $1 million in total work in any 12 month period.
- Class C: a single contract or project over $1,000 but under $30,000, or less than $250,000 in total work in any 12 month period.
A $15,000 roof replacement, for example, calls for at least a Class C license; a $40,000 metal roof falls in Class B territory. Ask which class the contractor holds and confirm it covers the size of your project.
The roofing specialty
A license class alone does not say what type of work a contractor may perform. The Board's own regulations list Roofing Contracting (ROC) as a specialty service available under both the Residential Building Contractor (RBC) and Commercial Building Contractor (CBC) classifications. Ask whether the contractor's license carries that specialty, not just a class letter.
How to check a license
Look the contractor up on the DPOR License Lookup, by name, business name or license number. Confirm the license is active, the business name matches who is signing your contract, and the specialty covers roofing. A sole proprietor's license does not automatically cover work performed under a different business or LLC name.
Before you sign
Get the contractor's license number on the written contract itself, confirm who is pulling the city permit, and get the scope of work, materials and payment schedule in writing. See roof replacement in Virginia Beach for how the permitted project itself runs.
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License questions
What license class does a roofing contractor need?
It depends on the size of the job: Class C for a single project over $1,000 but under $30,000, Class B from $30,000 up to $150,000, and Class A at $150,000 or more.
Is roofing its own license in Virginia?
No. Roofing Contracting (ROC) is a specialty added to a Class A, B or C license, listed under the Residential Building Contractor and Commercial Building Contractor classifications.
Where do I verify a Virginia contractor’s license?
The DPOR License Lookup, by name, business name or license number.
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