Who needs a license
State license required. The state issues a license for roofing work. The roofer meets the state’s rules to get it, and you can look the license up.
Two credentials apply. The Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation registers Home Improvement Contractors (HIC); under M.G.L. c.142A s.9 no contractor may offer residential contracting work on an existing one- to four-unit owner-occupied home without it. The Office of Public Safety and Inspections issues the Construction Supervisor License (CSL) under 780 CMR 110.R5; a person who supervises roof work needs one, and there is a specialty CSL for Roof Covering. The two are not interchangeable. Ask to see both the HIC registration number and the CSL.
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.
We found no Massachusetts rule on roof insurance claims that we could confirm on the state's own pages.
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 MA Contractor Hub contractor search. 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.