How to Check a Roofing License in Florida (CCC vs. RC)

In Florida, anyone in the business of roofing needs a state license, either a CCC (Certified Roofing Contractor) or an RC (Registered Roofing Contractor). You can check it for free on the state's license search at MyFloridaLicense.com in about two minutes.

Florida law says "a person must be certified or registered in order to engage in the business of contracting in this state" (Fla. Stat. 489.113 ↗). Roofing licenses are issued through the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). The Florida Department of Financial Services gives homeowners the same advice: go to MyFloridaLicense.com and verify the license with DBPR (Florida DFS ↗).

How to look up a Florida roofing license

1. Go to the DBPR License Search ↗.
2. Pick a search type. You can search by name, license number, city or county, or license type (DBPR ↗).
3. Enter the roofer's business name or the license number from their bid or card. If nothing comes up, try the owner's name or a shorter version of the business name.
4. Open the record and check the license type, the status, the expiration date and the address.

If you'd rather talk to someone, the DBPR Customer Contact Center number listed on the search page is 850.487.1395 (DBPR ↗).

CCC vs. RC: which license is which?

DBPR uses a short code in front of each license number (DBPR codes ↗):

A certified contractor can work in any area of the state. To do so, it only has to show local officials proof of a current certificate and pay the local fees for the occupational license and building permit that everyone else pays (Fla. Stat. 489.113 ↗).

A registered contractor is limited. The law says registration allows contracting "only in the counties, municipalities, or development districts where he or she has complied with all local licensing requirements," and only for the type of work the registration covers (Fla. Stat. 489.117 ↗). So if a roofer has an RC license, ask where it's valid and make sure your city or county is one of them.

What a Florida roofing license covers

A roofing contractor's work is "unlimited in the roofing trade." It covers installing, maintaining, repairing, altering, extending or designing all kinds of roofing, waterproofing and coating. It also covers skylights, required roof-deck attachments, and repair or replacement of wood roof sheathing or fascia as needed during a roof repair or replacement (Fla. Stat. 489.105 ↗).

Can a general contractor do my roof in Florida?

Usually not on its own. Florida law says a contractor "shall subcontract all electrical, mechanical, plumbing, roofing, sheet metal, swimming pool, and air-conditioning work" unless it holds a state certificate or registration in that trade (Fla. Stat. 489.113 ↗).

There is one narrow exception. A general, building or residential contractor doesn't have to subcontract wood shingle, wood shake, or asphalt or fiberglass shingle roofing on a new building of its own construction (Fla. Stat. 489.113 ↗).

The same statute says no general, building or residential contractor certified after 1973 may act as, hold themselves out as, or advertise as a roofing contractor unless also certified or registered as one (Fla. Stat. 489.113 ↗).

What this means for you: if your reroof bid comes from a company with a CGC, CBC or CRC license (general, building or residential), ask who will do the roofing and check that company's CCC or RC license too.

The $2,500 exemption for small jobs

Florida exempts work "of a casual, minor, or inconsequential nature" when the total price for labor, materials and everything else is less than $2,500 (Fla. Stat. 489.103 ↗). The exemption does not apply:

• if the job is part of a larger project, or a bigger job is split into contracts under $2,500 to avoid the law; or
• to a person who advertises as a contractor or says they are qualified to do contracting.

So a handyman can't take a $9,000 reroof and write it up as four small invoices. And a business that advertises roofing services doesn't fit the exemption at all.

How to read the status on the record

DBPR shows two status codes (DBPR codes ↗):

• Primary status: C = Current, P = Probation, S = Suspended.
• Secondary status: A = Active, I = Inactive.

What you want to see is Current and Active, with an expiration date in the future. If you see Suspended, Inactive or Probation, call DBPR and ask what it means before you sign.

Also check that the business name and address on the record match the contract. The FTC says a contract should include the contractor's name, address, phone number and license number (FTC ↗).

Why it matters if the roofer isn't licensed

Florida law says contracts entered into by an unlicensed contractor "shall be unenforceable in law or in equity by the unlicensed contractor." If a contract is unenforceable for that reason, the unlicensed contractor also has no lien or bond claim for the labor, services or materials (Fla. Stat. 489.128 ↗). That rule protects you, but it doesn't fix a bad roof or get a deposit back. Checking first is far easier.

Your roofer should not handle your insurance claim

If your roof work involves an insurance claim, keep the roofer's job and the claim separate. In Florida, a licensed contractor or its subcontractor may not "advertise, solicit, offer to handle, handle, or perform public adjuster services" unless licensed as a public adjuster (Fla. Stat. 626.854 ↗). Florida DFS adds that contractors are prohibited from submitting a claim directly to your insurance company on your behalf (Florida DFS ↗).

Several other states have similar rules; see the license guide for all states. If you want help with the claim itself, here is how to verify a public adjuster's license ↗.

After a storm

After a hurricane or tropical storm, crews from other states may knock on doors. A license from another state is not a Florida license. Before you sign, read out-of-town roofers after a storm, which covers Florida's deposit and cancellation rules. You can also see our Florida page.

This guide is general information, not legal advice. For a dispute, contact DBPR or talk to a Florida attorney.

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Frequently asked questions

Does a roofer need a license in Florida?

Yes, for nearly all paid roofing work. The only general exemption is for casual or minor jobs under $2,500, and it doesn't apply to anyone who advertises as a contractor (Fla. Stat. 489.103 ↗).

What's the difference between a CCC and an RC license?

A CCC (Certified Roofing Contractor) is valid statewide. An RC (Registered Roofing Contractor) is valid only in the local areas where the contractor met local licensing requirements (Fla. Stat. 489.117 ↗).

Where do I look up a Florida roofing license?

On the DBPR License Search ↗ at MyFloridaLicense.com. You can search by name, license number, city or county, or license type.

Can my general contractor replace my roof?

Generally only if it also holds a roofing license or subcontracts the roofing to a licensed roofer. The exception is shingle or shake roofing on a new building it is constructing itself (Fla. Stat. 489.113 ↗).

Can a Florida roofer deal with my insurance company for me?

Not as your adjuster. Florida bars contractors from performing public adjuster services unless they're licensed as public adjusters (Fla. Stat. 626.854 ↗). For claim help, look for a public adjuster licensed in Florida or talk to an attorney.

What does "Current, Active" mean on DBPR?

"C" means the license is current (not suspended or on probation), and "A" means it's active rather than inactive (DBPR codes ↗).