Massachusetts roofing license: your HIC registration, the Roof Covering CSL, whether gutters and siding are covered, and your first 30 days

Published November 3, 2026 · Statutes, regulations and agency pages checked November 3, 2026

• Free. The full 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 home-service contractors (scheduling, quotes, invoicing, card payments). The section before the FAQ says where it fits and what it won't do for you.
• Not legal advice. Every rule here links to the statute, regulation or agency page I read on November 3, 2026. Your town's building official has the last word on permits, and a Massachusetts attorney on the rest.

Massachusetts doesn't issue a license called a roofing license. Your home improvement contractor (HIC) registration lets your company sell and do roofing on owner-occupied homes with one to four units, but the roofing itself needs a person with a Construction Supervisor License (CSL) in charge: the Roof Covering specialty at minimum, and a building permit for any new or replacement roof.¹²³ Gutters stay with your HIC registration unless the job pierces the building envelope.² Siding doesn't: it needs a second specialty, Window and Siding.³²

If this page reached you by email, it's because your company just showed up on the state's HIC register with a roofing name. The registration belongs to the company. The CSL belongs to a person, takes three years of experience and an exam, and the state says the two "are not interchangeable."¹ Most roofing license guides stop at how to pass the test. This one is about the weeks after: who in the company holds what, the 25% decking line, the asbestos survey before every tear-off, workers' comp at $31.21 per $100 of payroll, permits in Boston and Worcester, a table of common jobs, and a 30-day checklist you can print.

Massachusetts roofing license requirements: what each credential does

Two details people miss. A CSL holder who contracts with homeowners still needs the HIC registration: the exemption for licensed trades ends with the words "construction supervisors excepted."⁶ And the HIC alone doesn't cover roofing work. The state's current chart of who needs what lists a CSL for "Roofing, new or replacement" ("Roofing CSL minimum") and for "Roofing, minor repairs" too, with a permit for minor repairs "unless considered an ordinary repair by the building official."²

Who holds what: the company registers, a person supervises

The HIC registration can be in the name of an individual, a sole proprietorship, a partnership or a corporation.¹ A corporation or partnership names one person responsible for its work, and the company and that person are "jointly and severally liable" for violations, "including actions by the registrant's employees, subcontractors or salespersons."⁷ Crew leads can carry a supplemental card with the company's number for $10 each.¹

The CSL is never the company's. The code licenses "Individuals supervising persons engaged in construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, removal or demolition involving any activity regulated by" the building code, and the term "shall also apply to persons supervising themselves."³ So an owner who works alone on the roof needs the license as much as one who runs three crews.

Every building permit application names the CSL holder who will supervise, with their license number and category. If that person stops supervising, "the work shall immediately cease until a successor license holder is substituted on the records of the building department."³ There's no grace period. If your only CSL holder quits in July, every open permit job stops that day until another one signs on.

I found no ownership share for the CSL holder and no rule that stops one holder supervising for two companies.³ That's "none found," not "allowed," and the holder has to supervise for real. The CSL holder, or a "licensed designee" with a CSL in the right category, has to be on site "at some point to approve" the installation of "sheathing materials," which matters on any job with new decking.³ They carry the card at every site and show it when the building official asks.³

If someone asks you to be their CSL

Once you hold the license, someone will ask you to put it on their permits. The code makes you "fully and completely responsible for all work for which he or she is supervising," even when you're "only a subcontractor or contractor to the permit holder," and "failure to properly supervise a project or be present at a work site" is grounds to suspend or revoke your license.³ A commenter on a Massachusetts thread about a crew working under someone else's CSL put it this way: "Shady. You, as the permit holder will be left holding the bag if something goes wrong. That includes callbacks and warranties."⁸ My MA HIC license page covers the legal ways to run permit jobs before you hold a CSL yourself.

What the Roof Covering CSL covers, and whether gutters and siding are included

The code's license table gives the Roof Covering specialty this scope: "Construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, or removal of roof covering, including repair and replacement of 25% of sheathing and 25% of sistering roof rafters."³ It reaches buildings of any use under 35,000 cubic feet of enclosed space, one- and two-family homes of any size, and farm buildings.³⁹ The exam behind it tests low- and steep-slope roof coverings, metal flashing, metal panels, elastomeric and built-up roofs,⁴ so shingles, metal and flat membranes all sit inside it.

The 25% line: decking and rafters

Sheathing is the decking. Sistering means fastening a new rafter alongside a damaged one. The usual handful of rotten sheets fits easily under 25%. A full re-deck doesn't, and neither does rafter repair on more than a quarter of the rafters: that takes a CSL holder with the one- and two-family license or the full CSL.³⁹

One warning. The exam handbook the state published in February 2026 says the opposite of the code: a Roof Covering supervisor "is not authorized to work on or supervise work relating to the structural elements of a roof, including sheathing."⁴ The regulation and the state's own license page both include the 25%,³⁹ and the regulation is what binds, so that's what I'd go by. On a job where you expect real decking work, write the sheet count into the permit application and ask the building official before you start.

Gutters

Gutters need your HIC registration. The state's current chart marks them "maybe" for both a CSL and a permit, with one condition: "Building permit and CSL required if piercing the building envelope."² Its 2009 chart, still linked from the same page, listed gutters as HIC work with no CSL and no permit.¹⁰ No CSL category in the code names gutters. The Window and Siding exam lists them among its subjects,⁴ so if a town treats a gutter job as permit work, that's the license it will expect, or a broader one. Straight gutter and downspout replacement on the fascia is HIC work. Anything that cuts through the wall or roof, ask the building department first.

Siding, soffit and fascia

Siding is a separate license. The state's chart says "Window/Siding CSL minimum" with a permit,² and the code's Window and Siding scope covers "doors, windows and siding."³ Your Roof Covering license doesn't reach it. Soffit and fascia aren't named in either category, but the Window and Siding exam covers "vinyl or aluminum siding, soffit, fascia, gutters and all types of windows."⁴ When soffit and fascia come off as part of a siding job, that's Window and Siding work under that permit. On their own, the chart treats trim carpentry as HIC work with no permit, and a CSL only "if fire resistance rating required."²

If you sell both, take both exams and send both license applications together. The handbook lets a candidate "receive a single license card ... for a single fee for any combination of the Specialty License Categories" when they're on one application.⁴

Skylights, chimneys, vents, insulation and solar

• Chimney flashing is roof covering work; the exam has a section on metal flashing.⁴ Rebuilding the chimney is masonry, a Masonry specialty CSL or broader.³
• Skylights aren't named in any category. A same-size replacement sits between roofing and windows, so ask the building official which license they want on the permit. A new or bigger opening cuts rafters, which is structural work for the one- and two-family or full CSL.³
• Vents. Roof vents and the flashing around a plumbing vent are yours. The vent pipe itself is part of "the venting system" that plumbing law covers,¹¹ and a bathroom fan with its duct belongs to a licensed sheet metal worker.¹² My Massachusetts HVAC license page covers that license.
• Insulation has its own specialty.³ The state's code also says "In roofing and reroofing, the energy conservation requirements of Chapter 11 ... shall also be satisfied,"¹³ which bites mostly on low-slope roofs with insulation on top of the deck. Ask what R-value the new roof needs before you price it.
• Solar. The electricians' board says solar "frames, racks, rails and modules must be assembled and installed by a licensed electrician," and that "drilling holes in a roof and attaching footers to a building structure does not constitute electrical work."¹⁴ The panels come off and go back on with an electrician. You flash the mounts.
• Attic fans and roof heat cable need a licensed electrician for the wiring.¹⁵

Getting the Roof Covering CSL: the exam, the fee and how long it takes

• Experience: three years in the field within the last ten, counted as "36 months of full-time (40 hours per week) experience." A vocational program or degree can count for one or two years. Proof is W-2s, Schedule C or 1099 forms, or a letter of attestation from an employer, a licensed contractor or someone else who can vouch for you, plus a notarized signature.⁴
• Apply to PSI online. Review "can take up to 2 weeks." Fees: $23 to apply and $65 for a specialty exam ($75 for the one- and two-family or full CSL). Failed? "you may retest unlimited."⁴ The exams have used the 10th edition of the state building code since January 1, 2025.¹⁶
• The exam: 35 questions in 120 minutes, 25 right to pass. It's open book, and you bring your own copies of the 2021 building and residential codes with the Massachusetts amendments, the 2021 energy code and stretch code, and OSHA's construction rules. Steep-slope roofing is the biggest section with 10 questions, then 6 on metal flashing and 6 on metal panel, elastomeric and built-up roofing.⁴
• The license: send the application and fee within a year of passing; processing takes "approximately 30 days."⁴ The specialty license costs $150 and lasts three years.⁵

So about $238 and six to eight weeks if your paperwork is clean. Without three years of experience, you need a CSL holder on the payroll or as a partner to supervise your permit jobs.

Safety rules every Massachusetts roofer meets: falls, lead and asbestos

Fall protection

OSHA's rule for houses: "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."¹⁷ A written fall protection plan is the exception, allowed only when you can show those systems are infeasible or more dangerous, and OSHA presumes they're feasible. The plan has to be written for that site by a "qualified person," kept on the job, and has to name each worker allowed into the controlled access zones.¹⁷¹⁸ Budget for harnesses, anchors and training first. In Massachusetts an OSHA violation can also cost you the CSL,³ and Boston asks about five years of OSHA violations on every permit.¹⁹

Lead-safe rules for painted trim, soffit and fascia

Shingles aren't painted, so a plain reroof rarely triggers the lead rules. The trim around it often is. EPA's lead program doesn't run in Massachusetts; the state runs its own.²⁰ Paid work on a home built before 1978 that disturbs "greater than 20 square feet of painted surface on the exterior," or any window replacement, needs a Department of Labor Standards (DLS) Lead-Safe Renovation Contractor license ($375) and a certified renovator-supervisor "on site and in control of the work at all times."²¹ Twenty square feet is about 10 feet of fascia with its soffit.

Asbestos in old roofing

The federal asbestos rule barely touches house roofs. Its definition of a regulated facility excludes "residential buildings having four or fewer dwelling units."²² Massachusetts goes much further. MassDEP treats "asphaltic shingles, roofing felt and tar" and cement shingles as suspect material that "must be thoroughly inspected by a Department of Labor Standards (DLS)-licensed asbestos inspector before the project starts," on a building of any age.²³ The one exception is a homeowner doing the work on their own single-family home.²³

If the survey finds asbestos, or the inspector presumes it, file MassDEP's ANF-001 notice at least ten working days before removal, keep the shingles wet, and take them off intact where you can. Even waste under 1% asbestos needs a "disposal-only" notice ten working days before it's hauled.²³ Whether the job needs a DLS-certified asbestos contractor depends on the job, and MassDEP sends that question to DLS.²³ Book the survey when the customer signs, and put its price on the quote.

Crews, subs and workers' comp

Your employees don't need their own HIC registration: the law exempts anyone working "for wages or salary" who "does not act in the capacity of a contractor."⁶ They work under your CSL holder, and every one of them needs workers' comp.²⁴

A sub crew is different. It's a "subcontractor" doing home improvement work, so it needs its own HIC registration.⁷ Its work counts as yours if a homeowner claims against the Guaranty Fund,²⁵ and your CSL holder stays responsible for whatever goes on under the permit.³ The state's own guidance: "The contractor who signed the contract with the homeowner must have an HIC registration."²

Paying a crew on a 1099 doesn't make it a sub. Under the state's wage law a worker is your employee unless three tests pass, and one of them is that "the service is performed outside the usual course of the business of the employer."²⁶ A roofer laying shingles for a roofing company fails that one. An employer that knowingly misclassifies workers to cut premium is barred from public contracts for three years.²⁷

Uninsured subs and the audit

If a sub's comp lapses, your policy covers its injured workers.²⁸ Your insurer bills you for it at audit. The Massachusetts manual charges premium on the sub's payroll, and "If the contractor does not supply the payroll records of its subcontractor ... the full subcontract or independent contract price of the work performed ... shall be established as the payroll."²⁹ Pay an uninsured crew $20,000 over a season and the audit can add $6,242 at the roofing rate (my arithmetic). Get a comp certificate from every sub before its first job and check the dates. One roofer prices that risk straight into labor: "100/sq for an insured sub and 75-80 if I'm having to cover WC for them."³⁰

The Massachusetts roofing comp rate

Massachusetts has its own comp classes, set by its own rating bureau. Pitched roofing is class 5545 at $31.21 per $100 of payroll. Built-up flat roofing is 5547 at $6.56, but work on roofs steeper than 3 inches in 12 goes back to 5545.²⁹ Carpentry on houses is $4.60.³¹ The roofing rate fell from $38.36 on July 1, 2024.³¹ A 7.1% increase for July 2025 was turned down, so rates didn't change,³² and in July 2026 the state's highest court sent the 2024 cut back to the insurance commissioner for a better explanation, with no 2026 filing made yet.³³ The rate could move.

A Boston roofer gave his own number in 2025: "Dumpsters run me about $56 per square (min $700). So I'm at $350 cost before labor. My comp rate is 38%."³⁴ Your carrier's price and your experience rating move your real rate. As a rough guide, if you pay $98 a square in crew wages, the manual rate alone adds about $31 a square.

No employees yet

With no employees you don't need a policy. The state's permit affidavit has a box for a sole proprietor or partnership with "no employees working for me in any capacity," and its instructions say an LLC "with no employees other than the members" doesn't need one either.³⁵ Corporate officers who own at least 25% can waive coverage in writing.³⁶ If you buy coverage for yourself, from October 1, 2026 the premium is based on $73,100 of payroll,³² which at $31.21 comes to about $22,800 a year before credits (my arithmetic). The day your first employee climbs a ladder, you need a policy.²⁴

Where your work stops

With an HIC registration and a Roof Covering CSL holder, these go to someone else unless you or an employee hold the license:

• Decking beyond 25% of the sheathing, rafter work beyond 25% sistering, and new openings in the roof: a one- and two-family or full CSL.³
• Siding and windows: a Window and Siding CSL.²
• Insulation: the Insulation specialty. Chimney rebuilds: Masonry.³
• Solar panels and racks, attic fan circuits, heat cable: a licensed electrician.¹⁴¹⁵
• Plumbing vent pipes: a plumber. Bathroom fan ducts: a sheet metal worker.¹¹¹²
• Buildings of 35,000 cubic feet or more: outside every CSL. They fall under the code's construction control, run by an architect or engineer.³
• Asbestos roofing: ask DLS whether the job needs a certified asbestos contractor.²³

What stays yours: shingle, metal and flat roofs on houses and on other buildings under 35,000 cubic feet, tear-off, underlayment, flashing and vents, decking up to a quarter of the roof, gutters and repairs. Commercial roofs outside the home improvement law still need the permit and the CSL; they just don't need the HIC registration, which only covers owner-occupied homes with one to four units.³⁷

Massachusetts roofing permits: who pulls them, inspections and the homeowner exemption

The residential code makes it unlawful to "construct, reconstruct, alter, repair, remove or demolish a building or structure" without a permit, and its list of work exempt from permits has no roofing item.³⁸ It needs no permit for "ordinary repairs."³⁸ The state's chart puts new and replacement roofs under a permit every time, and minor repairs under a permit "unless considered an ordinary repair by the building official."² So a few shingles and a pipe boot usually go without one; a tear-off never does. After a storm, emergency repairs can start first, with the application filed "within the next working business day."³⁸

Who pulls it. You do, as the homeowner's agent. Your contract has to list the permits, say getting them is your job, and warn that "homeowners who secure their own permits will be excluded from the guaranty fund."³⁹ The application carries the CSL holder's name, number and category (RC for Roof Covering on the state's one- and two-family form), your HIC number, a workers' comp affidavit, and the licensed facility where the debris goes.^3403841

Inspections. The building official names the inspection points when the permit is issued, can ask for a business day's notice, and has two business days to come.³⁸ A permit lapses if work doesn't start within 180 days.³⁸

Layers. A roof replacement means removing "existing layers of roof coverings down to the roof deck," and you can't lay a new roof over one that has "two or more applications of any type of roof covering," is water-soaked, or is slate, clay or cement tile.⁴² Massachusetts uses the 2021 residential code, and its amendments to the roofing chapter leave those sections as written.¹³

The homeowner exemption

A homeowner can pull their own building permit without a CSL, but "if a homeowner engages a person(s) for hire to do such work, then such homeowner shall act as supervisor."³ So when a customer offers to pull the permit to save you the trouble, they become your crew's supervisor on paper and lose the Guaranty Fund,³⁹ and you still need the asbestos survey, because the homeowner isn't the one doing the work.²³ If you hold a CSL and contract for the job, the code holds you to it "whether or not the licensed contractor secured the permit."³ Boston gives homeowner permits only on one- and two-family owner-occupied homes, and on a three-family or bigger "You must hire a contractor."⁴³

Boston, Worcester and other cities

• Boston: a roof repair or replacement with no structural change is a Short-Form permit at "$20, plus $10 per $1,000 of estimated cost."⁴³⁴⁴ You file it yourself ("Applications submitted by office staff or third parties are not accepted") with a front-and-back copy of your license, a current certificate of liability insurance, the comp affidavit, the signed contract, a Site Safety Plan Affidavit and the Mattocks-Higgins Affidavit of Workplace Safety.⁴⁴ That affidavit lists your OSHA violations for five years and your experience rating, and "Companies in the SVEP are not eligible to receive a permit."¹⁹ Siding is a Short-Form permit too.⁴⁵
• Boston dumpsters: a dumpster on the street or sidewalk needs a Public Works street occupancy permit. Apply at least seven business days ahead, with "proof that you are bonded" ($5,000 for occupancy permits if your company isn't already on file) and a $50 base fee.⁴⁶ Construction dumpsters don't need the city's Site Cleanliness License.⁴⁷
• Worcester: building permits cost $12 per $1,000 of construction value, minimum $100. Working without a permit costs triple the fee, at least $500 on a house.⁴⁸
• Lowell names roofing and siding among the work that needs a permit.⁴⁹
• Local licenses: the code lets towns license supervisors only where the CSL doesn't reach.³ I found no separate roofing license on the Boston, Worcester, Lowell or Cambridge pages I read, and I didn't check all 351 cities and towns.

Can I take this job? A table for Massachusetts roofers

The middle column assumes your company holds the HIC registration and a Roof Covering CSL holder runs the job. "Yes with a permit" means you can do it once the permit is pulled. "Sub it out" means someone with the right license does it.

On insurance work: I found no Massachusetts law aimed at roofing claims (my contract template page covers what the contract needs). Claim rules for roofers in Iowa, Louisiana, Minnesota, Nebraska and Colorado get their own article.

What happens if you cross the line

Permit work without a CSL, or no permit at all

• Breaking the building code is punishable "by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars or by imprisonment for not more than one year, or both, for each such violation," and "Each day during which a violation exists shall constitute a separate offense."⁵¹
• For a CSL holder, "Any work requiring a building permit which is performed without such permit shall be considered cause for suspension or revocation."³
• Because you're HIC-registered, "violation of the building laws" is also a prohibited act under Chapter 142A,⁵² which lets OCABR fine you up to $2,000 per violation⁵³ and lets the homeowner sue under Chapter 93A for damages, doubled or tripled for a willful or knowing violation, plus their lawyer's fees.⁵⁴
• Worcester adds triple the permit fee, at least $500 on a house.⁴⁸

Working with a lapsed registration

A contractor who operates without a registration "knowingly, willfully, or negligently," or who "fails to renew," faces "a fine not exceeding five thousand dollars or imprisonment not exceeding two years, or both."⁵⁵ A missed renewal is enough.

No workers' comp

The state can stop "all business operations at the place of employment or job site" until you show a policy and pay $100 for each day you were uninsured, or $250 a day if you appeal and lose. On top of that comes a fine of up to $1,500 or a year in jail.²⁷

Can you still collect?

I found no Massachusetts statute that voids a roofing contract because the work was unlicensed or unpermitted. The risk is Chapter 93A. In Groleau v. Russo-Gabriele (Superior Court, 2014), an unregistered contractor got his contract enforced, and the homeowner still won her 93A counterclaim and her attorney's fees.⁵⁶ Expect to collect, and expect the homeowner's lawyer to bring up every permit and license you didn't have.

Insurance

I found no statute that voids a liability policy for unlicensed work. The danger sits in the policy itself. One roofer's warning: "Alot of roofers get a binder for a GL policy to show they have GL insurance but the policy EXCLUDES roofing."⁵⁷ Read the description of operations before you buy, and remember the comp audit charges you for uninsured subs.²⁹

Your first 30 days: the Massachusetts roofing checklist

This is the whole list. The printable version has the same items with blanks for your HIC, CSL, permit, policy and bond numbers and your renewal dates: make your own copy in Google Docs, download the Word version (.docx), or download the PDF. Pick a format, enter your email and I'll send the links.

The business

• ☐ Entity. An LLC or corporation with the Secretary of the Commonwealth, or as a sole proprietor, a business certificate with the town clerk if you trade under any name but your own.⁵⁸
• ☐ HIC registration. Check the name, address and number on your card. Order $10 supplemental cards for crew leads. Report any change of name or address within 30 days.¹⁵⁹

The CSL

• ☐ Decide who holds the Roof Covering CSL: you, a partner or an employee. Until then, no permit job runs without a CSL holder on the permit.³
• ☐ If you sell siding, add the Window and Siding exam, and apply for both licenses on one application.⁴
• ☐ Look up the CSL and HIC of every sub you'll use.⁶⁰

Insurance, bond and comp

• ☐ Bond: the state requires none for the HIC or the CSL that I found. Boston's street occupancy permit needs a $5,000 bond on file.⁴⁶
• ☐ General liability: no state dollar minimum, but OCABR wants "evidence that they maintain adequate contractor insurance," and Boston wants a current certificate with every Short-Form permit.⁶¹⁴⁴ Check that roofing isn't excluded.
• ☐ Workers' comp before the first employee starts, class 5545. A comp affidavit goes with every permit.²⁴²⁹³⁵
• ☐ A comp certificate and HIC number from every sub, before its first job.²⁹⁷

Permits and towns

• ☐ For each town you'll work in: the permit fee, how it treats roof repairs, the inspection points, and which licensed disposal facility your dumpster company uses.³⁸⁴¹
• ☐ Boston: an account on the Inspectional Services portal, the Site Safety Plan and Mattocks-Higgins affidavits, and a copy of the front and back of your license. A street occupancy permit seven business days before a dumpster goes on the street.⁴⁴⁴⁶
• ☐ A DLS-licensed asbestos inspector you can book within a week, and a MassDEP account for ANF-001 notices.²³

Safety

• ☐ Harnesses, anchors and training for everyone working at 6 feet or more. A written fall protection plan only where those can't be used.¹⁷¹⁸
• ☐ Homes built before 1978: the DLS lead-safe license ($375) and a certified renovator-supervisor, or keep painted trim work under 20 square feet a job.²¹

Paperwork, tax and your numbers

• ☐ Contract: in writing above $1,000, a deposit of no more than one-third (or the special-order cost if higher), the permits clause, and the three-day cancellation notice. My Massachusetts home improvement contract template has every clause.³⁹
• ☐ HIC number on every contract, permit and ad. The state's definition of an ad includes websites, listing sites and "any interior or exterior sign or display, including on a vehicle," so letter it on the truck too.⁵⁹⁶¹
• ☐ The CSL card in the holder's wallet at every site.³
• ☐ Sales tax: you're the consumer of the materials. Pay the 6.25% sales tax when you buy, pay use tax on anything bought without it, and don't add sales tax to the roof price.⁶²

Renewals

• ☐ HIC: every two years, $100, online through the MA Contractor Hub; start 30 to 60 days early.¹
• ☐ CSL: the first license lasts three years, then every two years for $100 with 6 hours of approved classes (code review, workplace safety, business practices and workers' comp, energy, and lead-safe practices in the first cycle), finished at least 60 days before it expires.⁵³⁶³ Miss it by more than a year and you pay a $100 late fee; by more than two, you take the exam again.⁶⁴
• ☐ Liability and comp policy dates on the calendar.

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 for this topic it handles the paperwork. Your shop-wide quote terms are copied onto every new quote and your invoice footer onto every invoice, so "MA HIC #" and "CSL #" with your numbers go in once and reach every customer. Customers approve and sign quotes on screen, and you can ask for a card deposit at approval, as a percent or a dollar amount, credited on the final invoice; set it at 33% or less, because Deepsel won't stop a deposit over the Massachusetts cap. Price book items have a free-text unit, so "square" works, quantities take decimals, and each line has a taxable switch you can turn off for roof jobs. It's free up to 30 estimates and 30 invoices a month, with scheduling and dispatch, quotes, invoicing, card payments and customer records; Pro is $29 a month with unlimited estimates and invoices (see pricing). Deepsel doesn't know Massachusetts law. It has no permit, license, bond or insurance tracking and no roof measurements, and it won't tell you a full re-deck needs a broader CSL.

Frequently asked questions

Do roofers need a license in Massachusetts?

Yes, two credentials. The company needs a home improvement contractor (HIC) registration to contract with homeowners on owner-occupied homes with one to four units, and the person supervising the roofing needs a Construction Supervisor License (CSL): the Roof Covering specialty at minimum. A new or replacement roof also needs a building permit with that license holder named on it. Massachusetts has no license called a roofing license.

Does an HIC registration cover roofing in Massachusetts?

Not on its own. The HIC lets your company sell and contract for the job. The state's chart of who needs what lists a CSL for new and replacement roofs and for minor roof repairs, with a building permit for anything beyond an ordinary repair. The state says the HIC registration and the CSL are not interchangeable.

What does the Massachusetts Roof Covering CSL cover?

Construction, alteration, repair or removal of roof coverings, including repair and replacement of up to 25% of the sheathing and sistering of up to 25% of the roof rafters, on buildings under 35,000 cubic feet, one- and two-family homes of any size and farm buildings. Shingles, metal and flat roofs are inside it. Siding, windows, structural work beyond the 25% and new roof openings are not.

What is the 25% rule for roofing in Massachusetts?

It's the limit on the Roof Covering specialty license: the holder may supervise repair and replacement of up to 25% of the roof sheathing and sistering of up to 25% of the rafters. A full re-deck or bigger structural repair needs a CSL holder with the one- and two-family license or the full CSL. The February 2026 exam handbook describes the specialty more narrowly, so on a deck-heavy job ask the building official first.

Do I need a separate license for gutters or siding in Massachusetts?

Gutters, no: they're HIC work, and the state's chart asks for a permit and a CSL only if the job pierces the building envelope. Siding, yes: it needs the Window and Siding specialty CSL, or a broader CSL, and a building permit. The Roof Covering license doesn't cover siding.

How long does it take to get a CSL in Massachusetts?

First you need three years of full-time experience in the field within the last ten. After that, PSI reviews the exam application in up to two weeks, you take the 35-question open-book exam, and the state processes the license in about 30 days. Plan on six to eight weeks from application to license if your paperwork is complete.

How much does the Roof Covering CSL cost?

$23 to apply to PSI, $65 for the specialty exam and $150 for the license, about $238 in all. The first license lasts three years. Renewals cost $100 every two years and need 6 hours of approved continuing education.

Do you need a permit to replace a roof in Massachusetts?

Yes. The state building code requires a permit to repair, alter or remove any part of a building, and its list of exempt work has no roofing item. Ordinary repairs need no permit, and the building official decides what counts as one. In Boston a roof repair or replacement with no structural change is a Short-Form permit, $20 plus $10 per $1,000 of estimated cost.

How many layers of shingles are allowed in Massachusetts?

Two. Massachusetts uses the 2021 residential code, which doesn't allow a new roof over one that already has two or more layers of any roof covering, or over a water-soaked or deteriorated roof. A replacement means tearing off down to the deck.

Can a homeowner pull the roofing permit in Massachusetts?

Yes, without a CSL, but a homeowner who hires people becomes their supervisor under the code, and a homeowner who pulls their own permit loses access to the state's Guaranty Fund. Boston allows homeowner permits only on one- and two-family owner-occupied homes. The asbestos survey still applies when a contractor does the tear-off.

What is the workers' comp rate for roofers in Massachusetts?

The manual rate for class 5545, pitched roofing, is $31.21 per $100 of payroll, in effect since July 1, 2024. Built-up flat roofing, class 5547, is $6.56. Your carrier and experience rating set your actual price. Owners with no employees, and LLCs whose only workers are members, don't need a policy.

Do I need an asbestos survey before a roof tear-off in Massachusetts?

Yes, on almost every job. MassDEP treats asphalt shingles, felt and tar as suspect asbestos and requires a survey by a DLS-licensed asbestos inspector before removal, on a building of any age. If asbestos is found or presumed, file the ANF-001 notice ten working days before removal. Only a homeowner doing the work on their own single-family home is exempt.

Sources

1. Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation, "Home Improvement Contractor Registration and Renewal" - registration for anyone who solicits, bids on or performs contracting work "on an existing, owner-occupied residential property with one to four units"; "An HIC Registration is different from a Construction Supervisor License (CSL) and they are not interchangeable"; register as an individual, proprietorship, partnership or corporation; $150 plus a Guaranty Fund payment of $100 (zero to three employees), $200 (four to ten), $300 (11 to 30) or $500 (more than 30); "renewed every two years," $100, starting "30-60 days before your registration expiration date"; online only through the MA Contractor Hub ("Paper applications and paper certified checks are no longer accepted"); supplemental cards $10 each; account changes within 30 days. mass.gov, read November 3, 2026.
2. Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation, "HIC Contractor Resources" - chart "for general guidance only": "Roofing, minor repairs | yes | yes | maybe | Building permit needed unless considered an ordinary repair by the building official"; "Roofing, new or replacement | yes | yes | yes | Roofing CSL minimum"; "Gutters | maybe | yes | maybe | Building permit and CSL required if piercing the building envelope"; "Siding | yes | yes | yes | Window/Siding CSL minimum"; "Window, install/replace ... Window/Siding CSL minimum"; "Carpentry, trim | maybe | yes | no | CSL if fire resistance rating required"; "Painting, exterior | no | yes | no"; "Solar Panels | yes | yes | yes | By licensed trades as required by law"; "Sheet Metal/Exhaust Venting | maybe | no | yes | By licensed trades" (columns: CSL, HIC, building permit); "The contractor who signed the contract with the homeowner must have an HIC registration"; "A registered contractor could subcontract larger projects to another individual and/or company that has both a license and registration." mass.gov, read November 3, 2026.
3. 780 CMR 110.R5, "Licensing of Construction Supervisors," Massachusetts State Building Code, 10th edition (unofficial copy dated April 28, 2025) - 110.R5.1.2: a construction supervisor directly supervises "persons engaged in the scope of work shown in Table 110.R5.1. Such term shall also apply to persons supervising themselves"; a "licensed designee" holds a CSL "in the appropriate category (or better)"; 110.R5.1.3.1: "Individuals supervising persons engaged in construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, removal or demolition involving any activity regulated by any provision of 780 CMR, shall be licensed," with the homeowner exception ("if a homeowner engages a person(s) for hire to do such work, then such homeowner shall act as supervisor") and the note that a licensed supervisor who contracts with a homeowner is responsible "whether or not the licensed contractor secured the permit"; 110.R5.1.3.2 item 2, projects under construction control need no CSL; 110.R5.1.3.3, towns may license supervisors only where 110.R5 "does not require a license"; 110.R5.2.4, three years, then two-year renewals; 110.R5.2.8 grounds for discipline, including "4. work was performed without a building permit," "8. failure to properly supervise a project or be present at a work site," and "11. violations of state or federal law relevant to CSL work, including violations of ... Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations"; 110.R5.2.9.1.1: "Any work requiring a building permit which is performed without such permit shall be considered cause for suspension or revocation"; 110.R5.2.12, the supervisor or designee on site "at some point to approve" the installation of "joists, trusses and other structural members and sheathing materials," and chimneys; 110.R5.2.13 and 110.R5.2.14, keep the license at every site and produce it on request; 110.R5.2.15.1 and 110.R5.2.15.2, "fully and completely responsible for all work for which he or she is supervising," even as "only a subcontractor or contractor to the permit holder"; 110.R5.2.16, permit applications carry the supervisor's "name, signature and license number and the category of license," and if that person stops supervising, "the work shall immediately cease until a successor license holder is substituted"; 110.R5.4.2 and 110.R5.4.3, six hours of continuing education per two-year cycle for a specialty license (code review two hours focused on roof covering for roofers, workplace safety one, business practices and workers' compensation one, energy one, lead-safe practices one in the first cycle). Table 110.R5.1: Roof Covering, "Construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, or removal of roof covering, including repair and replacement of 25% of sheathing and 25% of sistering roof rafters," building types a, b and c; Window and Siding, "doors, windows and siding including repair and replacement of damaged window or door framing"; Masonry and Insulation specialties; type a, "Buildings of any use group which contain less than 35,000 cubic feet ... of enclosed space," type b, "One- and two-family dwellings or any accessory building thereto, irrespective of size," type c, agricultural buildings. mass.gov; Table 110.R5.1 as reproduced by Cornell LII. Both read November 3, 2026.
4. Division of Occupational Licensure, "Candidate Handbook: Examination Eligibility Requirements" for construction supervisor licenses (February 2026; posted April 15, 2026) - eligibility: 18, three years "in the field in which you wish to be licensed," "a total of 36 months of full-time (40 hours per week) experience within the past ten years," education worth up to two years, proof by "W-2, or IRS Schedule C or 1099 forms" or a "Letter of Attestation," a notarized signature; PSI review "can take up to 2 weeks"; "Application Fee $23," "Examination Fee for Restricted Construction Supervisor Exam and Unrestricted Construction Supervisor Exam $75," "Examination Fee for all other examinations $65," "you may retest unlimited"; Roof Covering exam: 35 items, cutscore 25 (70%), 120 minutes, open book, content: administration 4, "Roofing - Substrate" 4, "Roofing - Steep" 10, "Roofing - Metal Flashing" 6, "Roofing - General (metal panel, elastomeric, built-up)" 6, OSHA 5; references: 2021 IBC and IRC with Massachusetts amendments, 2021 IECC and stretch code, 29 CFR 1926; its description: "A Roof Covering Construction Supervisor is not authorized to work on or supervise work relating to the structural elements of a roof, including sheathing"; the Window and Siding exam covers "vinyl or aluminum siding, soffit, fascia, gutters and all types of windows"; license application and fee "within one year from the date you passed," processed "in approximately 30 days"; a candidate "may apply for and receive a single license card ... for a single fee for any combination of the Specialty License Categories" if all are on one application. mass.gov, read November 3, 2026.
5. 801 CMR 4.02(39), "Construction Supervisor License (CSL)" (801 CMR 4.00, Mass. Register #1579, July 31, 2026) - "(c) Specialty License (masonry, roofing, window & siding, demolition, solid fuel burning appliances, and insulation) Initial license 150 three years Renewal 100 two years"; restricted and unrestricted the same; a $100 late fee more than a year past expiration; more than two years, retake the exam. mass.gov, read November 3, 2026.
6. M.G.L. c. 142A, section 14 - exempt: licensed trades "acting exclusively within the scope of the profession for which they are currently licensed ..., construction supervisors excepted"; "any individual who performs labor or services for a contractor or subcontractor, for wages or salary and who does not act in the capacity of a contractor." Roofing, siding and gutters are not on the list of exempt trades. malegislature.gov, read November 3, 2026.
7. M.G.L. c. 142A, section 9 - "(a) No contractor or subcontractor shall undertake, offer to undertake, or agree to perform residential contracting services unless registered"; "(c) In the case of registration by a corporation or partnership, an individual shall be designated to be responsible," and the company and designee are "jointly and severally liable" for fees and violations, "including actions by the registrant's employees, subcontractors or salespersons." malegislature.gov, read November 3, 2026.
8. Reddit, r/Carpentry (March 2, 2026), a Massachusetts thread about a crew without a CSL - "Shady. You, as the permit holder will be left holding the bag if something goes wrong. That includes callbacks and warranties." reddit.com.
9. Division of Occupational Licensure, "Learn about different Construction Supervisor Licenses" - Specialty CSL roof covering: "Construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, removal of roof covering, including repair / Replacement of 25% sheathing and 25% of sistering roof rafters," for buildings of any use under 35,000 cubic feet, one- and two-family dwellings and agricultural buildings; windows and siding: "Includes repair and replacement of damaged window or door framing <4' wide and up to 25% of sheathing." mass.gov, read November 3, 2026.
10. Board of Building Regulations and Standards, "Work Requiring a Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) Registration or Construction Supervisor License (CSL) for Existing Owner Occupied 1- to 4-Family Dwellings" ("Revised 9/5/09"; "This list is incomplete and unofficial") - "Gutters" HIC only, no CSL, no permit; "Roofing, minor repairs," HIC, permit "maybe," "Dependent on repair size." Still linked from the HIC Contractor Resources page. mass.gov, read November 3, 2026.
11. M.G.L. c. 142, section 1 - "Plumbing," piping "in connection with any of the following: sanitary drainage, storm drainage facilities, special wastes, the venting system and the public or private water-supply systems." malegislature.gov, read November 3, 2026 for my Massachusetts HVAC license article.
12. Board of Examiners of Sheet Metal Workers, "Board Policies and Guidelines" - "All residential fans and associated ductwork shall be installed by a licensed sheet metal worker." mass.gov, read November 3, 2026 for my Massachusetts HVAC license article.
13. 780 CMR 51.00, 10th edition, "Chapter R9: Roof Assemblies" amendments (posted April 29, 2025) - R901.1: "In roofing and reroofing, the energy conservation requirements of Chapter 11 of 780 CMR 51.00 Massachusetts Residential Code shall also be satisfied"; R907.1, rooftop photovoltaic systems per Section R324 and 527 CMR 12.00, the electrical code. No amendment to Section R908 (reroofing). mass.gov, read November 3, 2026.
14. Board of State Examiners of Electricians, Guidance Memo 13-01, "Massachusetts Electricians Licensing requirements relating to the installation of P.V. (photovoltaic) systems" (October 26, 2012), on its policies page - "a solar photovoltaic system ... and associated apparatus such as, but not limited to, frames, racks, rails and modules must be assembled and installed by a licensed electrician. Some types of work such as drilling holes in a roof and attaching footers to a building structure does not constitute electrical work." mass.gov, read November 3, 2026.
15. M.G.L. c. 141, section 1A - no one may engage in "installing wires, conduits, apparatus, devices, fixtures, or other appliances for carrying or using electricity for light, heat, power" without an electrician's license. malegislature.gov, read November 3, 2026 for my Massachusetts HVAC license article.
16. Office of Public Safety and Inspections, "Apply for a Construction Supervisor License" - testing on the 10th edition of the building code since January 1, 2025, registration with PSI; "Verify 3 years of experience in building construction or design"; mail the score report to the Board of Building Regulations and Standards. mass.gov, read November 3, 2026.
17. 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(13), "Residential construction" (eCFR, as of October 1, 2026) - "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"; a fall protection plan under 1926.502(k) only where the employer "can demonstrate that it is infeasible or creates a greater hazard"; "There is a presumption that it is feasible." ecfr.gov (read through the eCFR API), read November 3, 2026.
18. 29 CFR 1926.502(k), "Fall protection plan" (eCFR, as of October 1, 2026) - "prepared by a qualified person and developed specifically for the site"; a copy "maintained at the job site"; it must document why conventional systems are infeasible, identify each location where they can't be used as a controlled access zone, and name each employee "designated to work in controlled access zones." ecfr.gov (read through the eCFR API), read November 3, 2026.
19. City of Boston, "Mattocks-Higgins Affidavit of Workplace Safety" (January 2022) - discloses OSHA notices or violations "in the last five (5) years" and the company's experience modification rating; "Companies in the SVEP are not eligible to receive a permit from the City of Boston"; the contractor "must disclose any subcontractor's OSHA violation history." boston.gov, read November 3, 2026.
20. U.S. EPA, "Apply For or Update Your Renovation Firm's Lead-Safe Certification" - "EPA certification does not apply in ... Massachusetts ... If you work in one of these areas you must apply directly to that program." epa.gov, read November 3, 2026.
21. Massachusetts Department of Labor Standards, "Lead-Safe Renovation Regulations in Massachusetts: Information for Contractors" (work in pre-1978 housing that disturbs "greater than 20 square feet of painted surface on the exterior of a building or involves window replacement"; contractors "must be licensed as 'Lead-Safe Renovation Contractors' by DLS"; a certified renovator-supervisor "must be on site and in control of the work at all times") and "Apply for a lead-safe renovation or deleading license" (Lead-Safe Renovator Contractor License, $375). information sheet, fees, mass.gov, read November 3, 2026.
22. 40 CFR 61.141, asbestos NESHAP definitions (eCFR, as of October 1, 2026) - "Facility" covers residential buildings "but excluding residential buildings having four or fewer dwelling units"; "Category I nonfriable asbestos-containing material" includes "asphalt roofing products containing more than 1 percent asbestos." ecfr.gov (read through the eCFR API), read November 3, 2026.
23. MassDEP, "Frequently Asked Questions About the MassDEP Asbestos Regulation (310 CMR 7.15)" (June 2026) - "asphaltic shingles, roofing felt and tar; and cement/transite shingles, siding and panels" are suspect material that "must be thoroughly inspected by a Department of Labor Standards (DLS)-licensed asbestos inspector before the project starts," or presumed to be asbestos; ANF-001 notice "at least ten (10) working days prior to starting any removal" of asbestos roofing or siding; for waste with less than 1% asbestos, a "disposal-only" notification 10 working days before transport; materials "kept wet with amended water at all times" and removed intact where feasible; whether a DLS-certified asbestos contractor is required: "please reach out to the DLS"; "The only time an asbestos survey prior to demolition or renovation is not required is when homeowners are doing the work themselves, and only on non-friable ACM, at their single-family, owner-occupied home." mass.gov, read November 3, 2026.
24. M.G.L. c. 152, section 25A - "every employer shall provide for the payment to his employees of the compensation provided for by this chapter." malegislature.gov, read November 3, 2026.
25. M.G.L. c. 142A, section 5 - the Residential Contractor's Guaranty Fund compensates owners for losses from "registered contractor or subcontractor conduct" when "the contractor has failed to pay the judgment or award"; that conduct "shall be deemed to include the conduct of his employees, salespersons and subcontractors." malegislature.gov, read November 3, 2026.
26. M.G.L. c. 149, section 148B - an individual performing a service "shall be considered to be an employee" unless free from control, "(2) the service is performed outside the usual course of the business of the employer," and the individual is "customarily engaged in an independently established trade." malegislature.gov, read November 3, 2026.
27. M.G.L. c. 152, section 25C - a stop work order "requiring the cessation of all business operations at the place of employment or job site," lifted on proof of insurance and "a civil penalty ... in the amount of one hundred dollars per day," or "two hundred and fifty dollars per day" after an unsuccessful appeal hearing; "a fine of not more than one thousand five hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than one year, or both"; (6) no license or building permit without proof of coverage; (10) an employer who "knowingly misclassifies employees, to avoid higher premium rates, will be immediately debarred" from public contracts for three years. malegislature.gov, read November 3, 2026.
28. M.G.L. c. 152, section 18 - when a contractor's sub is uninsured, the contractor's insurer "shall pay to such employees any compensation which would be payable to them under this chapter if the independent or sub-contractors were insured persons," and may recover from the uninsured sub. malegislature.gov, read November 3, 2026.
29. Workers' Compensation Rating and Inspection Bureau of Massachusetts (WCRIBMA), Massachusetts Workers Compensation and Employers Liability Insurance Manual (current version, posted October 7, 2026) - classifications: "ROOFING NOC & YARD EMPLOYEES, DRIVERS ... 5545"; "ROOFING - BUILT UP - YARD EMPLOYEES & DRIVERS ... 5547," where "Work on sloping roofs having a pitch greater than three inches to the foot" is rated as 5545; uninsured subcontractors: "The contractor shall furnish satisfactory evidence that the subcontractor ... had workers compensation insurance in force," otherwise premium on the sub's payroll, and "If the contractor does not supply the payroll records of its subcontractor ... the full subcontract or independent contract price of the work performed ... shall be established as the payroll"; rate pages effective July 1, 2024: 5545, $31.21; 5547, $6.56. wcribma.org, read November 3, 2026.
30. Reddit, r/Roofing (July 12, 2025) - "100/sq for an insured sub and 75-80 if I'm having to cover WC for them." reddit.com.
31. WCRIBMA, Circular Letter 2431, "Changes in Manual Rates by Class" (July 1, 2024) - "5545 ROOFING NOC & YARD EMP, DRIVERS 38.36 31.21 (18.6%)"; "5547 ROOFING-BUILT UP ... 8.56 6.56"; "5645 CARPENTRY - RES DWELLINGS NOT EXCEEDING 3 STORIES IN HEIGHT 5.37 4.60." wcribma.org; manual rates effective July 1, 2024. Both read November 3, 2026.
32. WCRIBMA home page and "Rate Filing" page - "The Commissioner of Insurance has disapproved the WCRIBMA's rate filing for July 1, 2025 effective rates. There will be no change in rates and rating values effective July 1, 2025"; "Effective October 1, 2026 the basis of premium for sole proprietors, partners of a legal partnership, and members of an LLC who elect to become employees and obtain workers compensation insurance is $73,100." wcribma.org, rate filing history, read November 3, 2026.
33. Insurance Journal, "Massachusetts High Court: Regulator Must Explain 14.6% Workers' Comp Rate Cut" (July 7, 2026) - the court sent the 2024 decision back to the commissioner; "According to its website, WCRIB has not made a rate filing for 2026." insurancejournal.com, read November 3, 2026.
34. Reddit, r/Roofing (March 23, 2025), a Boston-area roofer: "in the Boston area a roof of Cteed Landmark, GAF Timbers, or OC Durations will run about $300 to purchase the materials. Dumpsters run me about $56 per square (min $700). So I'm at $350 cost before labor. My comp rate is 38%." reddit.com.
35. Department of Industrial Accidents, "Workers' Compensation Insurance Affidavit: Builders/Contractors/Electricians/Plumbers" - boxes for an employer with a policy, "a sole proprietor or partner-ship and have no employees," a general contractor listing subcontractors and their policy numbers, and a corporation whose officers "have exercised their right of exemption"; "Limited Liability Companies (LLC) or Limited Liability Partnerships (LLP) with no employees other than the members or partners, are not required to carry workers' compensation insurance"; filed with the town that issues the permit. mass.gov, read November 3, 2026.
36. M.G.L. c. 152, section 1(4) - coverage "shall be elective for an officer or director of a corporation who owns at least 25 per cent of the issued and outstanding stock," with a written waiver; "a sole proprietor at his option or a partnership at its option shall be an employee." malegislature.gov, read November 3, 2026.
37. M.G.L. c. 142A, section 1 - "Residential contracting," work on "any pre-existing owner occupied building containing at least one but not more than four dwelling units"; "Contractor," anyone who "undertakes, offers to undertake, purports to have the capacity to undertake, or submits a bid for, residential contracting work." malegislature.gov, read November 3, 2026.
38. 780 CMR 51.00, Massachusetts Residential Code, 10th edition, Chapter 1 (unofficial copy dated April 29, 2025) - R105.1: "It shall be unlawful to construct, reconstruct, alter, repair, remove or demolish a building or structure ... without first filing an application with the building official and obtaining the required permit"; R105.2, work exempt from permit (sheds, fences, retaining walls, finish work, small decks and the like; no roofing item); R105.2.1, emergency repairs, application "within the next working business day"; R105.2.2: "Application or notice to the building official is not required for ordinary repairs to structures"; R105.3 item 8, the HIC registration number; R105.3.1, before a permit issues: "4. Debris Removal: in accordance with M.G.L. c. 40, § 54" and "5. Workers Compensation Insurance: in accordance with M.G.L. c. 152, § 25C(6)"; R105.5, a permit lapses unless work "commences within 180 days after its issuance"; R110.3, the building official names the inspection points at issuance, may require "one business day notice," and inspects "within two business days after notification." mass.gov, read November 3, 2026.
39. M.G.L. c. 142A, section 2 - "Every agreement to perform residential contracting services in an amount in excess of one thousand dollars shall be in writing"; deposit "shall not exceed the greater of one-third of the total contract price or the actual cost of any materials or equipment of a special order or custom made nature"; the contract must tell the homeowner of "(i) any and all necessary permits, (ii) that it shall be the obligation of the contractor to obtain said permits, and (iii) that homeowners who secure their own permits will be excluded from the guaranty fund provisions of this chapter." malegislature.gov, read November 3, 2026.
40. Board of Building Regulations and Standards, "Building Permit Application To Construct, Repair, Renovate Or Demolish a One- or Two-Family Dwelling" (revised March 2011; City of Springfield copy) - Section 5.1, the CSL holder's name, license number, expiration and type ("RC Roofing Covering," "WS Window and Siding"); 5.2, the HIC registrant and number; Section 6, the workers' compensation affidavit, without which the permit is denied. springfield-ma.gov, read November 3, 2026.
41. M.G.L. c. 40, section 54 - every city or town "shall require, as a condition of issuing a building permit ... for the demolition, renovation, rehabilitation or other alteration of a building," that the debris "be disposed of in a properly licensed solid waste disposal facility," named on the permit. malegislature.gov, read November 3, 2026.
42. 2021 International Residential Code, Section R908 (adopted by 780 CMR 51.00) - R908.3: "Roof replacement shall include the removal of existing layers of roof coverings down to the roof deck"; R908.3.1.1: "A roof recover shall not be permitted" where the roof is "water soaked or has deteriorated," where it is "slate, clay, cement or asbestos-cement tile," or "Where the existing roof has two or more applications of any type of roof covering"; R908.3.1 item 2, separate systems such as standing-seam metal "designed to transmit the roof loads directly to the building's structural system" need no tear-off. codes.iccsafe.org, read November 3, 2026.
43. City of Boston, "Repair A Roof" - "If you are repairing a roof, you'll need to apply for a Short-Form permit"; homeowners may do it on "a 1-2 unit owner-occupied home"; "You must hire a contractor to perform the work if it's being done on a three-family or bigger dwelling." boston.gov, read November 3, 2026.
44. City of Boston, "Short-Form Permit" - for "minor alterations, repairs, or replacements that do not change the structure or use"; fee "$20, plus $10 per $1,000 of estimated cost"; homeowners "completing the work on their own in a 1-2 family, owner-occupied home"; contractors upload a "Front and back copy of your valid, non-expired trade license," "Certificate of Liability Insurance (must be current)," the state workers' compensation affidavit, a "Signed contract agreement between you and the homeowner," a "Site Safety Plan Affidavit" and the "Mattocks-Higgins Affidavit of Workplace Safety"; "Applications submitted by office staff or third parties are not accepted." boston.gov, read November 3, 2026.
45. City of Boston, "Install or Replace Siding" - a Short-Form permit "For replacing siding when no other structural changes need to be made." boston.gov, read November 3, 2026.
46. City of Boston Public Works, "How To Get A Street Occupancy, Excavation, or Driveway Permit" - "apply for the permit at least seven business days before you need the public space"; the number and size of dumpsters and chutes; "proof that you are bonded," a "Surety Bond amount of $5,000 for occupancy permits" for companies not already listed; "The base fee is $50." boston.gov, read November 3, 2026.
47. City of Boston, "Site Cleanliness License" - "Contractors and developers do not need a Site Cleanliness License for construction dumpsters"; "If your dumpster sits on a public way ... you also need a Street Occupancy Permit from Public Works." boston.gov, read November 3, 2026.
48. City of Worcester, Department of Inspectional Services, "Schedule of Fees" (effective February 1, 2024) - building permits "$12.00 per $1,000.00 or fraction thereof of construction value ... Minimum $100.00"; "Any person or contractor working without proper permits or licenses shall be subject to a penalty triple the original permit fee. A minimum penalty will be assessed at $500.00 for residential properties." worcesterma.gov, read November 3, 2026.
49. City of Lowell, "Apply for a Building Permit" - a permit is required "To construct, reconstruct, alter, repair, remove or demolish a structure," including "Roofing" and "Siding." lowellma.gov, read November 3, 2026.
50. M.G.L. c. 175, section 162 (whoever "for compensation ... performs services pursuant to an agreement ... to represent the insured in connection with the assessment of damages, negotiation, settlement, appraisal or reference of a loss under a ... homeowners insurance policy ... shall be a public insurance adjuster") and section 172 (acting as one without a license: "a fine of not more than $10,000 or by imprisonment for not more than 6 months"). Section 162, Section 172, malegislature.gov, read November 3, 2026.
51. M.G.L. c. 143, section 94(a) - "Whoever violates any provision of the state building code ... shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars or by imprisonment for not more than one year, or both, for each such violation. Each day during which a violation exists shall constitute a separate offense." malegislature.gov, read November 3, 2026.
52. M.G.L. c. 142A, section 17 - prohibited acts include "(1) operating without a certificate of registration" and "(10) violation of the building laws of the commonwealth or of any political subdivision thereof"; "Violations of any of the provisions of this chapter shall constitute an unfair or deceptive act under the provisions of chapter ninety-three A." malegislature.gov, read November 3, 2026.
53. M.G.L. c. 142A, section 18 - suspension, revocation or reprimand, and "an administrative penalty not to exceed two thousand dollars ... for each violation." malegislature.gov, read November 3, 2026.
54. M.G.L. c. 93A, section 9 - actual damages, or "up to three but not less than two times such amount" for a willful or knowing violation, plus reasonable attorney's fees. malegislature.gov, read November 3, 2026 for my Massachusetts contract template article.
55. M.G.L. c. 142A, section 19 - a contractor who "shall knowingly, willfully, or negligently operate without obtaining a certificate of registration," or "who fails to renew his certificate of registration, shall be punished by a fine not exceeding five thousand dollars or imprisonment not exceeding two years, or both." malegislature.gov, read November 3, 2026.
56. Groleau v. Russo-Gabriele, Civil No. 2012-1818 (Mass. Super. Ct. Nov. 26, 2014) - an unregistered home improvement contractor's contract was enforced ("it does not follow that the contract is automatically unenforceable"), but the homeowner won her Chapter 93A counterclaim and her attorney's fees. courtlistener.com, read November 3, 2026 for my MA HIC license article.
57. Reddit (May 4, 2025) - "Alot of roofers get a binder for a GL policy to show they have GL insurance but the policy EXCLUDES roofing." reddit.com.
58. M.G.L. c. 110, section 5 - "Any person conducting business in the commonwealth under any title other than the real name of the person conducting the business ... shall file in the office of the clerk of every city or town where an office of any such person or partnership may be situated a certificate." malegislature.gov, read November 3, 2026 for my Massachusetts HVAC license article.
59. M.G.L. c. 142A, section 13 - "(b) All building permits shall clearly state that persons contracting with unregistered contractors do not have access to the guaranty fund"; "(c) Every contract, building permit and advertisement shall display the contractor's or subcontractor's certificate of registration number"; (d) changes of trade name or address within thirty days. malegislature.gov, read November 3, 2026.
60. Division of Occupational Licensure, "Construction Supervisor Licensing" - links to "Check a Construction Supervisor License" and renewals. mass.gov, read November 3, 2026.
61. 201 CMR 18.00, "Registration and Enforcement of Home Improvement Contractor Program" (version dated June 6, 2025) - 18.01(2): "Advertisement. Any commercial message ... including but not limited to, web pages from websites, web ads, mobile applications, listing sites ... or any interior or exterior sign or display, including on a vehicle"; 18.02(1)(b)5: applicants give "evidence that they maintain adequate contractor insurance"; 18.02(9)(a): the HIC fee equals "the fee then being charged for the construction supervisor's license." mass.gov, read November 3, 2026.
62. Massachusetts Department of Revenue: Directive 01-2 ("Under the contractor rule, building contractors are the consumers of tangible personal property they purchase for the performance of their contracts ... building contractors pay sales tax on their purchases, or use tax on their use"); "Sales Tax Guide for Plumbers" (contractors doing "Repair of real property ... are required to pay sales or use tax as consumers on the total price of the material purchased at the time of purchase"); "Sales and Use Tax" guide (updated May 7, 2026: "The Massachusetts sales tax is 6.25%"; use tax at 6.25% on items bought without Massachusetts tax). Directive 01-2, guide, sales and use tax, mass.gov, read November 3, 2026.
63. Office of Public Safety and Inspections, "Continuing education for construction supervisors" - "Specialty construction supervisor (masonry, roofing, insulation, etc.): 6 hours"; at least one hour of each topic; "You should complete your courses at least 60 days before your license expires"; up to six hours online. mass.gov, read November 3, 2026.
64. Office of Public Safety and Inspections, "Renew your Construction Supervisor License (CSL)" - complete continuing education first; notices 60 days before expiration; renewal $100; "There is a 1 year grace period to renew licenses after expiration"; up to two years with an extra $100; after that, a new exam. mass.gov, read November 3, 2026.