Hiring a roofing contractor is one of the most expensive decisions a Florida homeowner will make. A new roof costs $15,000 to $40,000 or more depending on size, material, and location. With that much money on the line, verifying that your contractor is properly licensed is not optional — it is essential. Florida has one of the strictest contractor licensing systems in the country, and for good reason. The state's extreme weather, hurricane exposure, and complex building codes demand that roofing work be performed by qualified, vetted professionals.
This guide walks you through exactly how to verify a Florida roofing contractor's license, what the different license types mean, what red flags to watch for, and what happens if you skip this step.
Why Florida Requires Licensing for All Roofing Work
Florida is one of the few states that requires a state-level license for all roofing contractors. This is not bureaucratic overhead — it exists because Florida's building environment is uniquely demanding. Roofs in Florida must withstand hurricane-force winds up to 180 mph in High Velocity Hurricane Zones, resist constant UV degradation from year-round sun exposure, handle 60 inches of annual rainfall, and comply with the Florida Building Code, which is among the most stringent in the nation.
An improperly installed roof in Ohio might leak. An improperly installed roof in Florida can peel off during a hurricane, exposing the entire home to catastrophic water damage and creating deadly flying debris. The licensing requirement ensures that every roofing contractor working in the state has demonstrated competency through examination, carries adequate insurance, and is subject to regulatory oversight by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, known as the DBPR.
The DBPR oversees all construction licensing in Florida through the Construction Industry Licensing Board, or CILB. This board administers licensing exams, investigates complaints, and takes disciplinary action against contractors who violate the law or perform substandard work.
Understanding CGC vs. CCC Licenses
Florida issues two types of contractor licenses that authorize roofing work. Understanding the difference is important when vetting your contractor.
CCC — Certified Roofing Contractor. This license authorizes the holder to perform roofing work exclusively. To obtain a CCC license, contractors must pass a rigorous two-part examination covering roofing-specific building codes, material specifications, installation methods, safety requirements, and business practices. They must also demonstrate a minimum of four years of roofing experience, carry general liability insurance of at least $300,000, maintain workers compensation insurance for all employees, and post a surety bond. A CCC license holder is a roofing specialist. Roofing is their core business, and they have demonstrated focused expertise in this trade.
CGC — Certified General Contractor. This license authorizes the holder to perform any type of construction work, including roofing, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and structural work. The CGC exam is broader and covers all aspects of construction. A CGC holder is legally authorized to perform roofing work in Florida, but roofing may not be their primary focus. Some general contractors subcontract roofing work to specialized crews, while others have dedicated roofing divisions.
For a roofing project, either license is legally valid. However, many homeowners prefer working with a CCC holder because roofing is their exclusive specialty. The best scenario is a company like Goliath Roofing that holds both license types, providing the specialization of a dedicated roofer with the broad construction knowledge of a general contractor.
**What about registered contractors?** Florida also has "registered" contractor licenses, which are issued at the county level rather than the state level. A registered roofing contractor can only work in the county or counties where they are registered. A certified contractor (CCC or CGC) can work anywhere in Florida. For maximum flexibility and credential verification, certified contractors are generally preferred.
Step-by-Step: How to Verify a License at myfloridalicense.com
The DBPR maintains an online license verification portal at myfloridalicense.com. Here is exactly how to use it.
Step 1: Go to myfloridalicense.com. Open your web browser and navigate to myfloridalicense.com. This is the official State of Florida license verification website operated by the DBPR. Do not use third-party websites that claim to verify licenses — some of these are scams designed to collect your personal information.
**Step 2: Click "Verify a License."** On the homepage, click the "Verify a License" link or button. This will take you to the license search portal.
Step 3: Select the license type. From the dropdown menu, select "Construction" as the license category. You can then narrow the search to "Certified Roofing Contractor" (CCC) or "Certified General Contractor" (CGC).
Step 4: Search by name or license number. Enter the contractor's name, business name, or license number. Searching by license number is the most accurate method. If a contractor gives you their license number, use it directly. If they refuse to provide a license number, that is a red flag.
Step 5: Review the license details. The search results will display the contractor's name, license number, license type, status, issue date, and expiration date. Look for the following.
The license status must show "Current, Active." Any other status — including "Delinquent," "Suspended," "Revoked," or "Inactive" — means the contractor is not currently authorized to perform work. A delinquent status means the contractor has not renewed their license or has outstanding fees. A suspended or revoked status means the DBPR has taken disciplinary action.
Check the expiration date. Florida contractor licenses must be renewed every two years. If the license is expired, the contractor cannot legally pull permits or perform work.
Look for disciplinary actions. Click on the license number to see detailed information, including any complaints, investigations, or disciplinary actions. A single resolved complaint may not be concerning, but multiple complaints, fines, or license suspensions are serious warning signs.
Step 6: Verify the business name matches. The license should be associated with the business name on the contract and the business name on the truck that shows up at your house. If the contractor tells you their name is "ABC Roofing" but the license is under "XYZ Construction," ask why. Some companies operate multiple DBAs, but this discrepancy should be explained clearly.
How to Verify Insurance Certificates
A valid license is necessary but not sufficient. You also need to verify that the contractor carries adequate insurance. Florida law requires licensed contractors to maintain general liability insurance and workers compensation insurance if they have employees. Here is how to verify both.
Request a Certificate of Insurance. Ask your contractor for a current Certificate of Insurance, commonly called a COI. This is a standard insurance industry document that lists the contractor's insurance carrier, policy numbers, coverage amounts, and expiration dates. Any legitimate contractor will provide this immediately — they produce COIs for every job.
Verify the COI is current. Check that the policy expiration dates have not passed. Insurance certificates are snapshots in time — a contractor could have been insured when the COI was issued but let the policy lapse since then. For maximum protection, call the insurance carrier directly using the phone number on the COI and confirm that the policy is still active.
Check coverage amounts. At minimum, look for general liability coverage of $1 million per occurrence and workers compensation coverage. Some projects, especially large residential or commercial jobs, may warrant higher coverage limits.
Confirm workers compensation. If the contractor has any employees — and virtually all roofing companies do — Florida law requires workers compensation insurance. If a roofing worker is injured on your property and the contractor does not carry workers comp, you could be held personally liable. Verify workers comp coverage on the COI or ask the contractor for their workers compensation exemption certificate if they claim to be exempt as a sole proprietor.
Red Flags That Should Stop You Cold
During the license and insurance verification process, certain red flags should immediately disqualify a contractor from consideration.
No license number provided. Any licensed contractor will readily share their license number. It is printed on their business cards, trucks, contracts, and marketing materials. If a contractor cannot or will not provide a license number, walk away.
License under a different name. If the license is registered to a completely different company or individual than the one you are dealing with, the contractor may be "borrowing" someone else's license. This is illegal in Florida and creates serious liability issues for you.
Expired or delinquent status. An expired license means the contractor is not legally authorized to work. A delinquent status means they have outstanding issues with the DBPR. Either status should disqualify them.
Multiple disciplinary actions. One resolved complaint over a 20-year career may be acceptable. Multiple complaints, fines, or suspensions indicate a pattern of problems.
No insurance or expired insurance. Operating without insurance is both illegal and dangerous for the homeowner. Refuse to hire any contractor who cannot produce a current Certificate of Insurance.
Pressure to skip the permit. A licensed contractor pulls permits as a matter of course. If a contractor suggests skipping the permit to save time or money, they are either unlicensed, trying to avoid inspection of substandard work, or both.
Out-of-state license only. A contractor license from Georgia or Alabama does not authorize work in Florida. Florida requires a Florida-specific license. Out-of-state contractors who appear after storms — commonly called storm chasers — often lack Florida licenses.
What Happens If You Hire an Unlicensed Contractor
The consequences of hiring an unlicensed roofing contractor in Florida are severe and far-reaching. Understanding these consequences makes it clear why license verification is worth the five minutes it takes.
Permits cannot be pulled. Only licensed contractors can pull building permits in Florida. Without a permit, your roof replacement will not be inspected by the building department, which means there is no independent verification that the work meets the Florida Building Code. When you sell your home, the lack of a permit will surface during the title search, and the buyer's insurance company may require the roof to be brought up to code — at your expense.
Insurance coverage voided. Most homeowners insurance policies exclude coverage for work performed by unlicensed contractors. If the unlicensed work fails — and improperly installed roofs frequently do — your insurer can deny the resulting damage claim. You will be responsible for the full cost of repairs plus any interior water damage.
Manufacturer warranties void. Roofing material manufacturers require licensed contractor installation as a condition of their product warranties. A 50-year shingle warranty is worthless if the shingles were installed by an unlicensed contractor.
Personal liability for injuries. Unlicensed contractors typically lack workers compensation insurance. If a worker falls off your roof and is injured or killed, you can be held personally liable for medical expenses, lost wages, disability payments, and wrongful death claims. These claims can reach hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Legal penalties. Florida statute 489.127 makes it a first-degree misdemeanor for a homeowner to knowingly contract with an unlicensed person for work that requires a license. While enforcement against homeowners is rare, the legal exposure exists.
No recourse for poor work. If an unlicensed contractor does poor work and disappears — which is common — your legal recourse is limited. You cannot file a complaint with the DBPR because they were never licensed. You can file a civil lawsuit, but unlicensed contractors often operate without business assets, making judgments uncollectible.
Why Goliath Roofing Makes Verification Easy
At Goliath Roofing, we believe that license and insurance verification should be effortless for homeowners. Our license numbers are displayed on our website, trucks, business cards, and every contract we issue. We provide current Certificates of Insurance to every customer before work begins. We encourage homeowners to verify our credentials independently at myfloridalicense.com.
We are fully licensed as both a Certified Roofing Contractor and Certified General Contractor in the State of Florida. We carry general liability insurance and workers compensation coverage that exceed state minimums. We maintain manufacturer certifications from GAF, Owens Corning, and CertainTeed, which require ongoing training and quality verification. We pull permits for every job and schedule all required inspections.
Visit our certifications page to see our full credentials, or call us at (330) 518-9552 and we will provide our license numbers and insurance certificates immediately.
The Bottom Line
Verifying a Florida roofing contractor's license takes five minutes at myfloridalicense.com. That five minutes can save you from voided insurance coverage, worthless warranties, permit violations, personal injury liability, and tens of thousands of dollars in unnecessary costs.
Every legitimate roofing contractor in Florida will welcome your verification. They know that homeowners who verify licenses are informed, serious buyers — exactly the customers that reputable contractors want to work with. If a contractor discourages you from checking their license, that tells you everything you need to know.
Before you sign any roofing contract, verify the license, confirm the insurance, check for disciplinary actions, and make sure the business name on the license matches the business name on the contract. These simple steps separate the professionals from the pretenders.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I verify a roofing contractor's license in Florida?
Visit myfloridalicense.com and click on Verify a License. You can search by the contractor's name, business name, or license number. Look for a license type of CCC (Certified Roofing Contractor) or CGC (Certified General Contractor). The status should show Active and Current. Check that the license has not expired and that there are no disciplinary actions listed. You can also call the DBPR directly at 850-487-1395 to verify license status over the phone. Always verify the license belongs to the actual company doing the work — some subcontractors operate under another company's license, which can create liability gaps if something goes wrong.
What is the difference between a CGC and CCC license in Florida?
A CCC license is a Certified Roofing Contractor license, which authorizes the holder to perform roofing work exclusively. A CGC license is a Certified General Contractor license, which authorizes the holder to perform any type of construction work, including roofing. Both are valid for roofing projects in Florida. The key difference is scope — a CCC holder specializes in roofing and may have deeper expertise in roofing-specific issues, while a CGC holder has broader construction authority. For roofing work specifically, either license is legally sufficient, but you may prefer a CCC holder because roofing is their core focus. Goliath Roofing holds both license types, ensuring maximum flexibility and expertise for every project.
What happens if I hire an unlicensed roofer in Florida?
Hiring an unlicensed roofer in Florida creates serious legal, financial, and insurance consequences. First, any work performed without proper licensing cannot be permitted, which means it will not pass final inspection and may need to be torn off and redone by a licensed contractor. Second, your homeowners insurance policy likely excludes coverage for work performed by unlicensed contractors — meaning if the unlicensed work causes a leak or structural damage, your insurer can deny the claim entirely. Third, manufacturer warranties on roofing materials are void if the materials are installed by an unlicensed contractor. Fourth, if the unlicensed roofer or their workers are injured on your property, you could be personally liable for medical expenses and lost wages because unlicensed contractors typically do not carry workers compensation insurance. Florida statute 489.127 makes it a first-degree misdemeanor to contract with an unlicensed person for work that requires a license.