Roofing license requirements in Ohio

Who needs a license

Licensed by city or county. The state does not license roofers. Your city or county may. Ask your building department what it asks of a roofer.

The Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board licenses only commercial electrical, HVAC, plumbing, hydronics and refrigeration contractors. The Ohio Department of Commerce states that residential contractors are not required to be licensed in Ohio, and that many building departments require contractors to be licensed or registered locally to pull permits. Ask the contractor for their local registration or license, and confirm it with the city or county building department.

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 Ohio

If your policy pays replacement cost and the new item does not match the old in quality, color or size, the insurer must replace enough of it to give a reasonably comparable look.

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

Ohio has no state license lookup for roofers. Ask the roofer for proof of insurance, and call the insurer to confirm it. If your city or county licenses roofers, ask its building department how to check a license.