Who needs a license
State registration required. The state keeps a list of registered contractors. The roofer pays a fee and shows proof of insurance, but takes no trade exam.
The Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) issues the Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) registration. Anyone who does more than $1,000 of home improvement work in 12 months on a home of six units or fewer must register; roofs are named in the law. There is no exam. The fee is $220 a year and the registrant must carry at least $20,000 of liability insurance. Registered contractors pay into the Home Improvement Guaranty Fund, which can repay a homeowner. Towns do not add a roofing license. Ask to see the HIC number; it must appear on contracts and advertising.
Bond and insurance
A license or registration is not insurance. Ask every roofer for a certificate of general liability and workers' compensation insurance. Then call the insurer to confirm the policy is active. If the state asks a roofer for a bond, the rules above say so.
Roof insurance rules in Connecticut
When a covered loss needs new material that does not match the next items in quality, color or size, the insurer must replace all those items with like kind and quality so they look reasonably uniform. This applies inside and outside the home, so it covers roofs.
Permits
Confirm roof permit requirements with the building department responsible for your address and scope of work. Agree with your contractor who will obtain any required permit and arrange inspections before work begins.
How to verify a roofer's license
Ask the roofer for the license or registration number. Then look it up yourself on the state's own site, the Connecticut DCP eLicense Lookup. Check that the name and the status match the company you talk to.
Sources
We read these official pages. Rules change, so check with the state or your building department before you sign. This page is general information. It is not legal advice.
The Roofing List does not check licenses or insurance. Our guide shows how to check a roofer's insurance and license, step by step.