Your Louisiana roofing license: what Residential Roofing covers, whether gutters and siding are included, and your first 30 days

Published November 3, 2026 · Law, board memos and forms, parish and city permit pages, code and federal rules checked November 3, 2026, including Acts 239 and 422 of 2025 and Act 757 of 2026

• Free. The whole 30-day checklist is on this page. The printable version (PDF, Word or Google Docs) comes by email.
• Deepsel is our product: free estimate, invoice and scheduling software for contractors (scheduling, quotes, invoicing, card payments). The section before the FAQ says where it fits and where it doesn't.
• Not legal advice. Every rule here links to the statute, rule, board memo, parish or city page or federal page it comes from. Call the LSLBC (225-765-2301) before you bet a job on my reading.

Your Residential Roofing license lets your company sell and do roof work of $7,500 or more on a house, a duplex or a building of up to four units, re-decks and flat porch roofs included. Under $7,500 the state asks for no license at all. Siding isn't in your classification and gutters aren't named in it, so a stand-alone gutter or siding job from $7,500 to under $50,000 is home improvement work that may need its own registration.^1,2,6 And a reroof now needs a local permit and an inspection, usually by geotagged photos.²⁰

The money surprises people. Since August 1, 2026 your company must keep at least $500,000 of liability insurance (it was $100,000), with "no exclusions for the licensee's scopes of work," so a cheap policy that excludes roofing fails the board's test. It must also show workers' comp, and the board's FAQ says there are "absolutely no exceptions to the WC requirement," even for a one-man company. There's no license bond.^4,7,10

If you searched "louisiana roofing license" this fall, Google's summary told you the net worth was $10,000, the insurance $100,000, and workers' comp needed only "if you have employees." All three are out of date or wrong: the statute says $50,000 of net worth, $500,000 of liability since August 1, and the board takes no exceptions on comp.^7,10 ServiceTitan's Louisiana roofing guide, a few results down, still gives $75,000 as the residential line. This page covers what you hold, what it lets you take on, where it stops, and what to do in the next 30 days. The general rules for builders and remodelers are in Louisiana contractor license requirements, and what a written contract must say is in the Louisiana contract template.

Who must hold what: the company, its qualifying party, and the crew

The license belongs to the company. The board's rule says it "belongs to the licensee," whether that's an LLC, a corporation or one person, "regardless of the status of the qualifying party."⁹ Yours is a residential license carrying the Residential Roofing classification, which the law calls "a subclassification of residential construction."¹ An LLC or corporation must stay active and in good standing with the Louisiana Secretary of State, and the company must bid, contract and work "in the name as it appears on the current license." The board "does not recognize DBA's."^9,10

Some of you hold Residential Construction with Residential Foundations and Residential Roofing on the same license. Residential Construction alone already satisfies the roofing law, which asks for "Residential Roofing or Residential Construction," so for roofs the extra classification changes nothing.¹

The qualifying party is the person who tested. The company names one for each classification and one for the business and law requirement. That person passes the Residential Roofing trade exam and the board's Business and Law course. Holders of Residential Construction, Building Construction or the commercial Roofing and Sheet Metal, Siding classification were exempt from the roofing exam.^5,6,10 The law lets "Any principal or full-time employee" qualify, and the rule wants an employee "working at least 32 hours per week" who meets the IRS test. I found no ownership share in the law or rules.^7,9

If your qualifying party leaves, tell the board in writing within 30 days and qualify a replacement within 60. Meanwhile you "may continue existing work or bid on new work" but "may not begin such work until the qualifying party is replaced."^7,9 One person can also qualify "any subsidiary of a licensee." An employee can't realistically qualify two unrelated companies, because each wants 32 hours a week of full-time work.^7,9

Being someone else's qualifier. Salesmen starting a roofing company often look for a licensed roofer to put the license under them. "Permitting a license to be used for any purpose by any person other than the person to whom the license is issued" is a violation in itself, and the company using your license is working without one.¹¹ If you agree to qualify another company, be a real principal or a real full-time employee, see every contract that goes out, and put the deal in writing.

If your company holds only a home improvement registration (some "Exteriors" firms do), you can sell siding, gutters, windows and doors on houses from $7,500 to under $50,000, but not roofs. The registration's definition says a registrant "shall not perform any structural work," naming "roofing systems to any type," and roof jobs from $7,500 need the roofing classification.^1,2 Shreveport's 2026 permit guide says registrants "may still perform roofing work within the dollar limits." That conflicts with the statute, so don't rely on it.²⁵

What the Louisiana Residential Roofing license covers

The rule is R.S. 37:2156.4: from January 1, 2026, "any person who advertises, solicits, undertakes, attempts, offers, or submits a price, bid, quote or estimate to construct, supervise, direct, oversee, or perform any construction, modification, repair, or maintenance of any portion of a roofing system on a residential structure for which the project value is seven thousand five hundred dollars or more shall hold the classification of Residential Roofing or Residential Construction."¹ Three things in that sentence matter:

• Advertising counts. A door hanger offering full replacements is advertising a roof job over $7,500.
• The value is the whole project. It includes "the entire cost of the labor, materials, rentals, and all direct and indirect project expenses ... regardless of who pays the costs." A $5,000 labor price on a roof whose shingles the owner bought for $4,000 is a $9,000 project. Splitting one roof into two contracts doesn't help: the board treats the parts "as one contract."^2,11
• "Residential structure" means single-family homes and duplexes up to three floors, plus "structures that are part of or adjacent to" them, so the detached garage counts. For roofing alone, Act 757 stretched it to buildings "containing no more than four separate dwelling units," from August 1, 2026.^1,2,4 The board's own November 1 memo summarizes that as "no more than two dwelling units in one building in most cases," which doesn't match the statute. Before you roof a triplex or fourplex, get the board's answer in writing.⁵

The board's one-line definition is "the construction, installation, or repair of roofs for residential structures," and the statute's is "any phase of roofing specific to a residential structure."^2,6 Neither lists components, so the table below combines them with the code's definition of a roof and my reading where the law is silent.

Sources for the table: the roofing law and definitions,^1,2 the board's classification pages,⁶ rules,⁹ the 2021 residential code,²¹ and East Baton Rouge's permit sheet.²⁴

Gutters and siding: the plain answer

Your classification doesn't name them. The commercial version of your trade, Roofing and Sheet Metal, Siding, "includes general sheet metal and all types of siding"; the residential one says only "roofs."⁶ So a stand-alone job of $7,500 to under $50,000 that's gutters, siding, soffit or fascia on a house is "home improvement," and the law wants a home improvement registration for it, unless you're one of the "Persons licensed as a residential contractor," whom the law exempts.^2,8 Nothing I found says whether a Residential Roofing-only license counts as that, and Act 757 changed this exemption list in August.⁴ If you sell stand-alone siding or gutter jobs of $7,500 or more, email the board, ask, and keep the reply. If it says you need the registration, it has no exam, needs $25,000 of net worth, and asks for the same $500,000 and comp you already carry.¹⁰

Bundled work is simpler. When a license is required, "the licensee shall hold the classification for the majority of work performed."¹¹ A $16,000 reroof with $2,500 of new gutters and fascia is mostly roofing, so your classification carries the contract. A $30,000 siding job with $4,000 of roof is mostly siding, and needs the registration (or Residential Construction once it reaches $50,000).

The $7,500, $50,000 and $75,000 confusion

You'll see all three figures. The statute sets $7,500 for any residential roof, $7,500 to under $50,000 for the home improvement registration, and $50,000 for a new house or for a residential license on house improvements.^2,3 The board's own rules still print $75,000 for the residential and home improvement classes, but its current Residential Construction page says $50,000, and the statute wins.^6,9 Older guides (ServiceTitan's included) still carry the $75,000. For roofs the only number is $7,500, with no upper limit: a $60,000 reroof is still Residential Roofing work.

Federal rules every roofing company meets

Fall protection. Louisiana has no OSHA state plan, so federal OSHA enforces.²⁷ "Each employee engaged in residential construction activities 6 feet (1.8 m) or more above lower levels shall be protected by guardrail systems, safety net system, or personal fall arrest system." The written fall protection plan is the exception, allowed only when "the employer can demonstrate that it is infeasible or creates a greater hazard," and OSHA presumes it isn't. That plan must be written by a qualified person for that specific site, kept on the job, and must name the controlled access zones and the workers allowed in them.²⁷ Each worker must be trained by a competent person, with a written certification record, and a ladder used to reach the roof must extend 3 feet above the landing.²⁷ Owners know how this goes: "I got a OSHA fine a couple years ago for being more than 12' off the ground in the basket of my genie lift, doing siding, but sans harness and arrestor" (Reddit, May 2025, now deleted).

Lead paint (EPA RRP). EPA runs the lead renovation rule itself in Louisiana, for "all firms, even sole proprietorships."²⁸ Shingles usually aren't painted, and EPA says: "Where there is no paint to disturb, the RRP Rule does not apply." The trigger on a roofing job is painted fascia, soffit, trim, siding or painted decking on a pre-1978 house. Disturbing more than 20 square feet of painted surface outside makes it a renovation, which needs a certified firm, a certified renovator and ground containment 10 feet out. Hanging gutters with a few screws through painted fascia stays under the line if the whole outside job doesn't disturb more than 20 square feet.²⁸

Asbestos. The federal asbestos NESHAP doesn't cover "residential buildings having four or fewer dwelling units," and Louisiana's DEQ rule carries the same exemption.²⁹ OSHA's construction asbestos standard still covers your crew, though. Removing asbestos "roofing and siding shingles" is Class II work: the shingles come off intact where possible, wet if they won't stay intact, a competent person inspects first, and the crew needs at least 8 hours of hands-on training.²⁹ The residential code also bars laying a new roof over asbestos-cement tile.²¹ The board's Asbestos Removal and Abatement classification, from $1, is written for "friable asbestos" and needs a DEQ certification.⁶

Crews, sub crews and workers' comp

Crews on your payroll work under your license: the law exempts "Any employee of any licensee."⁸

Sub crews are the hard part. A subcontract's value includes "the entire cost of labor and materials of that part of the principal contract," so a crew that tears off and installs a $15,000 roof has a $15,000 subcontract even if you bought the shingles.² The roofing law covers anyone who will "perform any ... portion of a roofing system" at that value.¹ The general exemption for subs covers "Any person performing work as a subcontractor for a residential construction license holder," and since August 1 the sub "shall contract directly with the residential license holder."^8,4 Whether a crew working for a Residential Roofing-only company falls inside that exemption isn't written down, and the board's FAQ says labor-only subs "may be required to hold a contractor's license" depending on the project and its total value, and "MUST be in contract with a licensed contractor."¹⁰ Until the board answers you in writing, use sub crews that hold their own Residential Roofing classification, or put the crew on payroll. "Entering into a contract with an unlicensed contractor" is a violation for you, and the board fined a roofing company for exactly that in August 2025. A criminal court may also infer fraud when a contractor "Knowingly employs a subcontractor who does not possess the required license."^11,18,19

Comp for sub crews. Louisiana makes you the "statutory employer" of a sub's workers whenever their work is part of your contract with the homeowner, which means you can owe their comp if their employer doesn't pay it.³⁰ Your own comp carrier also charges for uninsured subs. LWCC, a Louisiana comp carrier, says a policyholder "will be charged premium based upon the contract price unless the policyholder obtains and keeps a certificate of insurance" for each sub. Its advice: get the certificate straight from the sub's agent, never from the sub, and check that the policy is still active.³¹ One owner learned it this way: "I got dinged last audit for a couple thousand dollars because one of my suns WC lapsed and i didnt catch it" (Reddit, June 2026).

Comp when it's just you. The board takes no exceptions. A Louisiana remodeler (not a roofer) put it this way: "in the state of louisiana you need workman's comp insurance even if your a solo contractor and have no employees. Every single quote i get is a ridiculously priced, like in the $700 a month area." The top reply: "You need to get a 'ghost policy'. It's a policy that excludes the owners of the business from coverage ... Should cost about $1k per year." Another Louisiana contractor added that the "LSLBC will not budge on WC policy requirements" (r/Contractor, December 2025 and January 2026).³⁴ The law behind the ghost policy: a sole proprietor, a partner, or an LLC member or officer owning at least 10% "may by written agreement with his insurer ... elect not to be covered."³⁰ The $1,000 is one commenter's figure. Get your agent's quote, and tell them it's for a roofing license.

Where your license stops

• Structure. Rafters, trusses, a new dormer or a raised roof take Residential Construction on a house job from $7,500. Under $7,500 no state license applies, but Baton Rouge wants a permit for "Any structural modification to the roof or ceiling."^2,24
• Electrical. Attic fans on a new circuit, solar panels and their wiring are electrical work: the Electrical classification from $10,000, and at any price Jefferson Parish wants a licensed electrician for "any electrical work" while Baton Rouge permits "Any new electrical circuits." More in the Louisiana electrical contractor license.^6,23,24
• Plumbing vents. A new pipe boot or vent flashing is roofing. Cutting, extending or rerouting the vent pipe is plumbing, and from January 1, 2027 Act 908 requires a plumbing contractor license for "any construction, modification, repair, or maintenance of any portion of a plumbing system," at any price. See the Louisiana plumbing license.³⁵
• Rooftop HVAC. Lifting and resetting a rooftop unit or condenser means disconnecting HVAC equipment, so line up an HVAC company for it. See the Louisiana HVAC license.
• Siding and stand-alone gutters from $7,500, as above.
• Commercial roofs. Anything that isn't a residential roofing project (a five-unit apartment building, a store, a church) is commercial. From $50,000 it takes the commercial Roofing and Sheet Metal, Siding classification or Building Construction; your residential license doesn't cover it. Under $50,000 the state requires no commercial license.^2,6,9

Reroof permits and inspections in Louisiana

Since August 1, 2025, Act 239 has required every parish and city that issues building permits to "Permit and inspect one- and two-family dwellings for roof construction and reroofing" under the residential code's chapters on roofs, and to do the same for every other building under the commercial code.²⁰ Inspectors "may accept photographs or videos that are location verified with geotagging" for roofing inspections, and New Orleans, Jefferson Parish and East Baton Rouge now work that way.²⁰ Act 422 made permits a licensing matter too: "Failure to obtain a permit to perform work or beginning work prior to the issuance of a permit ... or misrepresenting the value or scope of work" and "Failure to obtain inspections as required by law" are violations of the contractors law.^5,11 A building department "shall not issue a building permit to any person who does not hold an active license in the appropriate classification."¹⁴

The code is the 2021 International Residential Code. Louisiana made no changes to its roofing chapter that I could find. Two lines decide a lot of jobs: "Roof replacement shall include the removal of existing layers of roof coverings down to the roof deck," and a recover isn't allowed "Where the existing roof has two or more applications of any type of roof covering."²¹ The 2024 codes take over on January 1, 2027, and from the same day a $10 state fee applies to designated categories of local permits.^5,21

• New Orleans. A residential reroofing permit "for any roof replacement work affecting 50 percent or more," on single- and two-family homes only; less is exempt "unless it meets other criteria." Apply on the One Stop App with a geotagged photo of the house and a contract signed by owner and contractor that lists "both labor and materials and the total cost combined." Base fee $60, plus $30 in the historic districts (which also need HDLC or VCC review). During the job you upload 16 geotagged photos: four sides at four stages (tear-off showing the deck, underlayment, drip edge and flashing, shingles or panels). The city treats three or more units as commercial, which needs a renovation permit instead.²²
• Jefferson Parish (unincorporated). A $50 reroofing permit on MGO Connect before replacing 50% or more of the roof covering on a one- or two-family home. "Contractor must possess a valid Louisiana Residential Contractor License with classification residential roofing or residential construction," and must upload the executed contract. Geotagged photos at each stage, then a final inspection by a parish inspector.²³ The parish's building page also says "A Jefferson Parish Home Builder's license is required to perform any work which value exceeds $7,500.00," and doesn't say how that applies to state-licensed roofers, so ask the permit desk.²³
• East Baton Rouge. Every roof replacement needs a permit on MGO Connect, plus the parish's roofing information form and geotagged photos: the existing roof, decking (if you replace any), underlayment (an extra photo per section under 4:12) and the finished roof with drip edge and starter strip.²⁴ Replacing more than 100 square feet of decking needs a permit on its own; siding replacement doesn't, as long as the wall sheathing stays.²⁴
• Shreveport. "Anyone desiring to engage in any residential or commercial construction ... must register with the permits and inspections division," renewed every year with current liability insurance.²⁵
• Lafayette. The LCG Permitting Division is the "one stop shop" for permits and licenses in the city and unincorporated parish. Call before your first job there.²⁶

Who pulls it. You do, as the licensed contractor. A homeowner can pull a permit for their own house with an affidavit claiming the owner exemption. That exemption covers the owner, never the contractor the owner pays.^8,24 Repairs under half the roof are exempt in New Orleans and Jefferson Parish; elsewhere, ask the permit office before you skip one. In May 2026 the board settled a case against a Port Allen roofing company that "did not obtain a permit to perform a re-roofing job."¹⁹

Can I take this job? A table for a Louisiana Residential Roofing licensee

The verdicts assume your company holds Residential Roofing with a qualifying party on file, $500,000 of liability and a comp policy, and that "permit" means the local one.

Sources for the table: the roofing law, definitions and memos,^1,2,4,5 classifications,⁶ exemptions and the majority rule,^8,11 claim rules,¹³ the code,²¹ the parish and city pages,^22,23,24,25 EPA,²⁸ and Fortify Homes.³³

One line on claims, because it's a trap for new companies: Act 144 of 2025 made "Advertising or soliciting as insurance claims specialists" a prohibited act, and the board fined a roofing company in June 2026 for an agreement "without a good faith estimate of the itemized and detailed costs."^13,19

What happens if you cross the line

• Board fine. Up to "ten percent of the total contract or the value of the work bid or being performed," plus administrative costs and attorney fees, and up to $10,000 where no value applies.¹⁶ On a $14,000 roof, that's up to $1,400 before costs.
• Criminal. Contracting without a license is a misdemeanor: up to "five hundred dollars per day of violation, or three months in prison, or both." Causing more than $300 of harm while unlicensed raises it to $500 to $5,000 and six months to five years.¹⁵ Separately, the residential contractor fraud law lets a court infer misappropriation when a contractor "Fails to possess the required license," with penalties that reach 20 years and $50,000 when $25,000 or more is involved.¹⁸
• Getting paid. An unlicensed contractor can't file a statement of claim or a lien. Louisiana's First Circuit held that "Any contract made in violation of the Contractors Licensing Law is null and void" and limited the contractor to "the actual costs of their materials, services, and labor ... with no allowance for profit or overhead."^12,17
• Permits. No permit, work before the permit, a misstated value or scope, or skipped inspections are each violations, and a "material misrepresentation of fact" on a permit application has been one since August 1, 2026.^4,11
• Insurance lapse. "In the event of a lapse of insurance coverage, a cease-and-desist order may be issued," and it's grounds for suspension or revocation.⁹ Whether your insurer pays on work outside your classification is in the policy, not the law: ask your agent in writing.
• The board is busy with roofers. Between January and June 2026, 11 companies with roofing names appear on its published case list for "Bidding or conducting work without the proper license," one of them on five cases at a single January meeting. Others were fined for not handing over records within five business days. The list prints every company's name and town.¹⁹

Your first 30 days: the checklist

Everything is here. The printable version has the same items with blanks for your license, permit, policy and registration numbers and your renewal dates. Get it three ways: make your own copy in Google Docs (lands in your Drive), download the Word version (.docx), or download the PDF. Pick a format, enter your email and I'll send the links. Copies don't update, so its footer gives the date I checked the rules.

1. Look yourself up. On the LSLBC contractor search, save the license number, classifications, qualifying party and expiration date, and check the name matches your Secretary of State record letter for letter.¹⁰
2. Use only the licensed name on trucks, ads, quotes and invoices, and keep the entity in good standing. No DBAs.^9,10
3. Insurance on file with the board. General liability of at least $500,000 with no roofing exclusion, and a workers' comp policy (with you excluded if you have no employees). Your agent emails the certificates to insurance@lslbc.gov with the LSLBC as certificate holder, covering at least six months. There's no license bond.^4,7,10
4. Plan for your qualifying party leaving. Board told in 30 days, replacement in 60, no new work started until then. Report changes to owners, officers, address or email within 30 days, and watch that inbox: since August 1, board email counts as received once it's delivered.^4,7,9
5. Decide on gutters and siding. If you'll sell them alone at $7,500 or more, ask the board in writing whether your license covers them, or add a home improvement registration.^2,8
6. Set up your crews. Payroll, or sub crews with their own Residential Roofing classification under a written subcontract directly with you. Get each sub's comp and liability certificates from their agent, check them before each job, and keep them for the audit.^8,31
7. Local licenses. An occupational license where you're based: New Orleans through One Stop, Jefferson Parish through the Sheriff's Office after a zoning clearance, East Baton Rouge a month before you open. Shreveport's yearly registration if you'll work there; ask Jefferson Parish about its Home Builder's license.^22,23,24,25
8. Permit accounts. One Stop (New Orleans) and MGO Connect (Jefferson Parish, East Baton Rouge). Install a geotag camera app and save the photo list for each stage: tear-off with the deck showing, underlayment, drip edge and flashing, the finished roof. Read New Orleans, Jefferson Parish and East Baton Rouge before your first job (the EBR form).^22,23,24
9. Sales tax on materials. The Department of Revenue presumes a contractor working on real property is the consumer of its materials, so you pay state and local sales tax at the supply house (or use tax on materials you bring in from out of state) and don't add sales tax to a lump-sum roof. A rule change proposed in July 2026 would presume that any tax you do collect from a customer means you sold them the materials, so don't mix the two.³²
10. License number on every contract. A contract for licensed work must include "The full names, addresses, and the license number of the contractor," a description of the work, the total price, everyone's signatures and your insurance certificates, and "No work shall begin prior to the signing." Never claim a license or classification you don't hold, online included. I found no state rule on truck lettering.^11,12 The Louisiana contract template has the rest, and the construction estimate template covers itemized quotes.
11. Claim jobs. The deductible notice in 12-point bold on any contract of $1,000 or more paid from insurance, an itemized estimate before signing, no "claims specialist" ads, no assignment of benefits.^4,13
12. Fall protection. Harnesses, anchors or guardrails for work at 6 feet, a trained-by and date record for each worker, and a written site-specific plan only where you can show conventional protection won't work.²⁷
13. Old houses. EPA firm certification and a certified renovator before you disturb more than 20 square feet of old paint outside a pre-1978 house; Class II practices and trained crews before tearing off asbestos shingles.^28,29
14. Records and calendar. Keep contracts, subcontracts and your subs' licenses five years; the board can ask for them on five business days' notice. Your first renewal is one year after issue (then one-, two- or three-year terms, 15 days' grace), with new insurance certificates each time. The rule's six hours a year of continuing education names "residential construction" contractors; ask whether it reaches a Roofing-only license, and take the hours if in doubt. January 1, 2027: 2024 codes and the $10 permit fee.^5,7,9,10

More for new roofing companies

• Roofing price per square: what to charge, crew pay and your real margin, with a free rate sheet.
• Roofing estimate template and checklist: every line from tear-off to dump fee, with a free spreadsheet and roof sheet.
• Roofing contract template: the decking and extra-layer clauses that stop you eating the cost.
• Roofing insurance and workers comp: what it costs in your state, the official comp rates and what can sink you, with a free checklist.
• Insurance claims, what a roofer may and may not say, and the notice your contract needs: Colorado, Iowa, Louisiana, Minnesota, Nebraska.

Where Deepsel fits

Deepsel is the field service software I build, and it doesn't know Louisiana licensing law. It won't track your qualifying party, insurance certificates, permits or sub crews' paperwork, and it has no roof measurements, aerial reports or insurance claim tools. What it does: price book items take any unit you type, so a shingle line can be priced per square, and quote quantities take decimals (28.5 squares). Optional lines show the customer a checkbox, which suits a per-sheet decking price or a per-square charge for an extra layer, and options let you quote shingles against metal on one quote. The customer approves and signs on screen, an optional card deposit is credited on the final invoice, and the shop-wide terms text you set once is copied onto every quote, so your licensed name and LSLBC number go out every time. Files and photos attached to a quote stay internal and carry over to the job. Free covers 30 estimates and 30 invoices a month for your whole team; Pro is $29 a month with unlimited estimates and invoices (pricing). Margin against markup is covered in contractor markup vs margin.

Frequently asked questions

Do you need a license to do roofing in Louisiana?

For any roof work on a house, duplex or building of up to four units worth $7,500 or more, counting labor and all materials no matter who buys them, the company needs the Residential Roofing or Residential Construction classification from the State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC). That rule took effect January 1, 2026 under R.S. 37:2156.4, and it also covers advertising, bidding and supervising the work. Under $7,500 the state requires no license for roofing, but the local permit rules still apply. Commercial roofing needs a commercial license from $50,000.

Does the Louisiana Residential Roofing license cover gutters and siding?

Not by name. The board defines Residential Roofing as 'the construction, installation, or repair of roofs for residential structures.' Siding is named only in the commercial classification, Roofing and Sheet Metal, Siding. A stand-alone gutter, siding, soffit or fascia job on a house from $7,500 to under $50,000 is home improvement work, which takes a home improvement registration unless you're 'licensed as a residential contractor.' Whether a Residential Roofing license counts as that isn't written anywhere, so ask the board in writing. Gutters and fascia sold as a small part of a reroof fall under the majority-of-work rule, so your roofing classification carries the contract (my reading).

What insurance does a Louisiana roofing contractor need?

Since August 1, 2026, at least $500,000 of general liability (it was $100,000) plus workers' compensation, for as long as the license is active. Your agent sends the certificates to insurance@lslbc.gov with the LSLBC as certificate holder, and the proof must cover at least six months and 'all licensed scopes, with no exclusions for those scopes,' so a policy that excludes roofing doesn't count. There is no license bond. A lapse can bring a cease-and-desist order and suspension.

Do I need workers' comp in Louisiana if I have no employees?

For a residential license, yes. The board's FAQ says 'absolutely no exceptions to the WC requirement.' Louisiana law lets a sole proprietor, a partner, or an LLC member or corporate officer owning at least 10% elect out of coverage for themselves 'by written agreement with his insurer' (R.S. 23:1035), which is how owners end up with a policy that covers nobody. Ask your agent for that policy and its price.

Do I need a permit to replace a roof in Louisiana?

Yes. Act 239 of 2025 requires every parish and city that issues building permits to permit and inspect roof construction and reroofing, for houses under the International Residential Code chapters 8 and 9, for projects starting on or after August 1, 2025. Inspectors may accept geotagged photos. New Orleans and Jefferson Parish require the reroofing permit when you replace 50% or more of the roof covering on a one- or two-family home; East Baton Rouge permits every roof replacement. Starting work without the permit is a violation of the contractors law on top of the local penalty.

Can a home improvement registrant do roofing in Louisiana?

Only under $7,500. The home improvement definition says a registrant 'shall not perform any structural work,' naming 'roofing systems to any type,' and from January 1, 2026 roof work of $7,500 or more needs the Residential Roofing or Residential Construction classification. Registrants who held a roofing job above that line need to add the classification.

Do you have to have a contractor's license in Louisiana?

It depends on the job. Commercial work needs a license from $50,000; electrical, mechanical and plumbing from $10,000 (plumbing at any value from January 1, 2027); repairs and improvements to an existing house from $7,500 (a home improvement registration up to $50,000, a residential license above that or for structural work); new houses from $50,000; any residential roof from $7,500; and asbestos and hazardous materials from $1. The general rules are on our Louisiana contractor license requirements page.

How long does a Louisiana roofing license last?

The first license certificate is valid for one year from issue. After that you renew for one, two or three years, on the anniversary of the original issue date, with 15 days' grace and a delinquent fee after that. The board emails a notice about 60 days and again 15 days before expiry, and your agent must send new insurance certificates at each renewal.

Sources

1. La. R.S. 37:2156.4, "Residential roofing" ((A) the $7,500 rule, quoted; (B) trade exam and "all other licensure requirements of a residential contractor"; (C) "a subclassification of residential construction"), legis.la.gov; (D), added by Act 757 of 2026, "no more than four separate dwelling units within a single structure," LSLBC law book updated 8/1/2026, p. 17, lslbc.gov. Read November 3, 2026.
2. La. R.S. 37:2150.1, definitions: (4) project value ("regardless of who pays the costs"), (5) contractor ($50,000 commercial and new residential; $7,500 for improvements or repairs to an existing residential structure), (12) and (13) home improvement and home improvement contractor ($7,500 to under $50,000; no structural work, "roofing systems to any type"), (24) residential contractor ($50,000), (25) and (26) residential roofing, (27) residential structure, (28) subcontract ("including the entire cost of labor and materials of that part"). LSLBC law book updated 8/1/2026, pp. 3-6, lslbc.gov. Read November 3, 2026.
3. Act 422 of 2025 (SB 122), enrolled, read with its struck and underlined coding ("project value" and "$7,500 or more" replacing "exceeds"; residential roofing definitions), legis.la.gov; Résumé Digest, legis.la.gov. Read November 3, 2026.
4. Act 757 of 2026 (SB 326), enrolled, read with its coding: 2150.1(25) and 2156.4(D) (four units for roofing); 2156.1(F) ($500,000; proof with "no exclusions for the licensee's scopes of work"; six months; board as certificate holder); 2157(A)(15)(b) (home improvement exemption now "Persons licensed as a ... residential contractor"), (17) (sub "shall contract directly with the residential license holder"); 2158(A)(25)-(27); 2159.1 (assignment of benefits prohibited); board email counts as received on delivery. legis.la.gov; Résumé Digest ("Effective August 1, 2026"), legis.la.gov. Read November 3, 2026.
5. LSLBC memos: "Licensure Requirements/Permits/Inspections," August 12, 2025 (Acts 239 and 422), lslbc.gov; "Residential Roofing License," August 18, 2025 (exam; Residential Construction, Building Construction and Roofing, Sheet Metal and Siding holders exempt), copy at plaqueminesparish.gov; "Residential Roof Work," December 8, 2025, lslbc.gov; "Changes to Contractor Licensing Laws," July 13, 2026 (revised), lslbc.gov; "Changes to Contractor Licensing Laws," November 1, 2026 ("no more than two dwelling units in one building in most cases"; Act 881's $10 permit fee from January 1, 2027), lslbc.gov. Read November 3, 2026.
6. LSLBC classification pages: "Residential Roofing," lslbc.gov; "Roofing and Sheet Metal, Siding," lslbc.gov; "Residential Construction" ($50,000), lslbc.gov; "Solar Energy Equipment," lslbc.gov; "Asbestos Removal and Abatement," lslbc.gov; "PSI Testing Notice," lslbc.gov. Read November 3, 2026.
7. La. R.S. 37:2156 ((F) work only within the classification and in the licensed name; (H) expiration on the anniversary of issue, one- to three-year terms, 15 days' grace; (N) no other license or fee except occupational license taxes, permit fees and local competency licenses for mechanical, electrical and plumbing contractors), 37:2156.1 ((B)(2) $50,000 net worth; (E) qualifying party, 30 and 60 days, "Any principal or full-time employee," subsidiaries; (F) workers' comp and $500,000 liability for "Residential construction and its subclassifications"), 37:2156.2 (records, five business days). LSLBC law book updated 8/1/2026, pp. 11-16, lslbc.gov. Read November 3, 2026.
8. La. R.S. 37:2157(A): (12) "Any employee of any licensee," (13) owners of their personal residences, with an affidavit, (15) home improvement exemptions, (17) subcontractors of a residential construction license holder. LSLBC law book updated 8/1/2026, pp. 18-19, lslbc.gov, read with Act 757's amendments (source 4). Read November 3, 2026.
9. LSLBC rules, LAC 46:XXIX: §105(B) (insurance for residential licensees; "In the event of a lapse of insurance coverage, a cease-and-desist order may be issued"), §107, §109 (32 hours a week; work "may not begin ... until the qualifying party is replaced"), §125 (ownership), §127 (name), §129 (records), §301 (classifications; (26) and (50) still print $75,000; (53) Roofing and Sheet Metal, Siding; (54) Solar Energy Equipment), §309 (majority of work), §505 (six hours of continuing education for a "residential construction contractor"), §705 (bonds only where a bid requires them). LSLBC law book updated 8/1/2026, pp. 28-43, lslbc.gov. Read November 3, 2026.
10. LSLBC, "Checklist of Items Required for Initial License and to Maintain License" (Secretary of State good standing; Business and Law course; $500,000 general liability and workers' comp for residential licensees; certificates from the agent), lslbc.gov; FAQ ("absolutely no exceptions to the WC requirement"; labor-only subcontractors; renewal notices; continuing education; no DBAs), lslbc.gov; Financial Statement form ($50,000 residential, $25,000 home improvement), lslbc.gov; "Licensing Application Questions," lslbc.gov. Read November 3, 2026.
11. La. R.S. 37:2158(A): (1) work without the proper classification, (2) false license claims "in any medium," (4) majority of work, (7) "Entering into a contract with an unlicensed contractor," (8)(a) license lending, (18) permits, (19) inspections, (20) written contract, (21) licensed name, (22) records; (B)(1) divided contracts treated as one. LSLBC law book updated 8/1/2026, pp. 19-21, lslbc.gov. Read November 3, 2026.
12. La. R.S. 37:2159 ((A) contract contents including "The full names, addresses, and the license number of the contractor" and insurance certificates; (B) "No work shall begin prior to the signing"; (D) no claim or lien for an unlicensed contractor), legis.la.gov. Read November 3, 2026.
13. La. R.S. 37:2159.1 ((3) good-faith itemized estimate; (7) "Advertising or soliciting as insurance claims specialists"), legis.la.gov; Act 144 of 2025 (HB 121), enrolled, legis.la.gov; La. R.S. 51:452 (deductible notice in twelve-point bold, contracts of $1,000 or more), legis.la.gov. Read November 3, 2026.
14. La. R.S. 37:2160(B). LSLBC law book updated 8/1/2026, p. 24, lslbc.gov. Read November 3, 2026.
15. La. R.S. 37:2163(C), legis.la.gov. Read November 3, 2026.
16. La. R.S. 37:2164(A). LSLBC law book updated 8/1/2026, p. 25, lslbc.gov. Read November 3, 2026.
17. Quaternary Resource Investigations, LLC v. Phillips, 2018 CA 1543 (La. App. 1 Cir. 11/19/20), law.justia.com. Read November 3, 2026.
18. La. R.S. 14:202.1, residential contractor fraud ((A)(6) and (7); penalties in (C)), legis.la.gov. Read November 3, 2026.
19. LSLBC, "Contractor Violations" (2025 and 2026 roofing cases, including a Port Allen re-roofing permit case on May 20, 2026, a Gretna good-faith estimate case on June 17, 2026, and an August 21, 2025 case for contracting with an unlicensed contractor), lslbc.gov. Read November 3, 2026.
20. Act 239 of 2025 (HB 85), enrolled, enacting R.S. 40:1730.23(K), legis.la.gov; Résumé Digest ("Effective August 1, 2025"), legis.la.gov; R.S. 40:1730.23(J) and (K), 2025 Louisiana Laws, justia.com. Read November 3, 2026.
21. International Code Council, 2021 International Residential Code, Chapter 9 (R908.3 roof replacement; R908.3.1.1 recover not allowed; chapter scope: a roof assembly includes the roof deck), codes.iccsafe.org; Louisiana Uniform Construction Code law and rules, May 20, 2026 (LAC 17:I.107, no amendments to Chapter 9 found), lsuccc.la; LUCCC code information sheet, revised 08/06/2026 ("ICC code editions will become effective January 1, 2027"), lsuccc.la. Read November 3, 2026.
22. City of New Orleans: "Re-Roofing Permit," nola.gov; Residential Re-Roofing Guide (last edited 2/26/2026), nola.gov; "Occupational License," nola.gov. Read November 3, 2026.
23. Jefferson Parish: "Residential Re-Roofing Permits," jeffparish.gov; Building Regulatory Division, jeffparish.gov; FAQ (work exempt from building permits; zoning clearance before an occupational license with JPSO), jeffparish.gov. Read November 3, 2026.
24. City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge: "Roof Permit East Baton Rouge," brla.gov; "Roofing Information Form Instructions - Reroofs," brla.gov; "Understanding Permit Requirements," brla.gov; "Residential" (homeowner affidavit), brla.gov; "Occupational License Tax," brla.gov. Read November 3, 2026.
25. City of Shreveport, "Your Guide to Building Permits & Inspections" (MPC, 2026: city registration; state license types), shreveportla.gov. Read November 3, 2026.
26. Lafayette Consolidated Government, "Business Permits and Licenses," lafayettela.gov. Read November 3, 2026.
27. 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(13), law.cornell.edu; 1926.502(k), law.cornell.edu; 1926.503 (training and written certification), law.cornell.edu; 1926.1053(b)(1) (3 feet above the landing), law.cornell.edu; OSHA, "State Plans" (Louisiana not listed with a plan), osha.gov. Read November 3, 2026.
28. EPA, "Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Program," epa.gov; 40 CFR 745.83 (renovation; minor repair, 20 square feet outside), law.cornell.edu; "Frequent Questions About Renovations Covered by the RRP Rule" (roofs; gutters), epa.gov; "Frequent Questions About Work Practice Standards" (painted lumber under a roof; ground cover 10 feet), epa.gov. Read November 3, 2026.
29. 40 CFR 61.141 ("Facility" excludes "residential buildings having four or fewer dwelling units"), law.cornell.edu; LAC 33:III.5151, law.cornell.edu; LDEQ, residential exemption, deq.louisiana.gov; 29 CFR 1926.1101 (Class II work; (g)(8)(ii) roofing material; (k)(9) training), law.cornell.edu. Read November 3, 2026.
30. La. R.S. 23:1035(A) (owners' election out of coverage), legis.la.gov; 23:1061(A) (statutory employer), legis.la.gov; 23:1168(A), legis.la.gov. Read November 3, 2026.
31. LWCC, "Certificates of Insurance," lwcc.com; "Premium Audit," lwcc.com. Read November 3, 2026.
32. Louisiana Department of Revenue, LAC 61:I.4372, "Payment of Sales and Use Taxes by Persons Constructing, Renovating, or Altering Immovable Property" ((C) contractors "presumed" consumers), ldr.la.gov; Notice of Intent to amend it (proposed new (D); comments closed August 10, 2026), ldr.la.gov. Read November 3, 2026.
33. Louisiana Department of Insurance, "Fortify Homes," ldi.la.gov; "Fortify Homes Service Providers," ldi.la.gov. Read November 3, 2026.
34. r/Contractor, "How to not get a $700 dollar a month workman's comp quote" (December 30, 2025) and replies, reddit.com. Read November 3, 2026.
35. Act 908 of 2026 (HB 953), enrolled (plumbing contractor license for "any construction, modification, repair, or maintenance of any portion of a plumbing system"; effective January 1, 2027), legis.la.gov. Read November 3, 2026.