West Virginia · Roofing licensing · official-source guide
West Virginia licenses contractors, including roofers, through the West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board, with the Division of Labor handling administration and enforcement. A license is required for residential work of $5,000 or more and commercial work of $25,000 or more. No stand-alone roofing classification appears in the statute or exam rule. Applicants must pass exams at 70 percent.
Issued by
West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board (administered with the West Virginia Division of Labor)State-level license
Yes
Public lookup
Verify a licenseVerified against agency sources on 2026-09-28. Rules and fees change; confirm with the named authority before relying on this guide.
West Virginia does license contractors at the state level, and roofing work falls inside that system. The issuing body is the West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board. The Legislature created it in 1991 under Chapter 21, Article 11 of the State Code, and House Bill 2006 moved it into Chapter 30, Article 42, effective June 15, 2021. The Board has eight licensed contractors and two code officials as members. The West Virginia Division of Labor still performs administrative and enforcement work for the Board, which is why the Division's licensing page says its Licensing Section handles duties under the Contractor Licensing Act. That split matters when you search for the license. The state Division of Labor website points contractors to the Board's own site for applications, renewals and the public license search. A roofer who goes looking for a Division of Labor page titled roofing license will not find one. Roofing is handled as a contractor license issued by the Board, with the Division's inspectors investigating unlicensed activity. The license is a state license, not a city or county license. Cities still add their own business licenses and building permits on top of it, and those are covered later in this page. A contractor who holds the state license can bid and work in every county without a second state credential. Contractors who lack it face cease and desist orders, fines and possible misdemeanor charges. The rest of this page covers what the license is called, who needs it, how to get it, and how to use it in your marketing.
The record does not show a stand-alone roofing classification, and roofers should know that before they call the Board. West Virginia Code section 30-42-5 lists the classes the Board must set rules for: electrical, general building, general engineering, heating ventilating and cooling, multifamily, piping, plumbing, residential and specialty. The Board's rule 28CSR2, section 6.2, lists the classifications it examines. Those are concrete, electrical, excavation, general building, general engineering, heating ventilating and cooling, manufactured home installation, masonry, multifamily, piping, plumbing, remodeling and repair, residential, sprinkler and fire protection, structural steel erection and utilities, plus any other specialty classifications the Board decides warrant an exam. Roofing does not appear by name in either list. That means a roofing company reaches the license through one of the listed routes. The Board's application guide tells applicants to email their scope of work to CLBoard@wv.gov so staff can confirm which classification and which exams apply. Do not assume your classification from a competitor's license or from another state. Ask in writing, keep the reply, and put the classification the Board assigns on your contracts, because the written contract rule requires the license number and classifications to appear there. If the Board tells you a specialty classification exists for your scope, that classification is the one to advertise. If it tells you the residential route applies, advertise that instead. The two routes are compared in the next section.
Sourceswvclboard.wv.gov 1wvclboard.wv.gov 2wvclboard.wv.gov 3
The most important line for a roofer is in the Board's rule 28CSR2. A residential contractor is a contractor whose principal business is the construction, repair or improvement of real property used or intended for residential occupancy. The rule says a residential contractor is considered licensed for all classifications required in the construction, repair or improvement of a residential structure. The statute defines a residential structure as a building used for residential occupancy that has not more than three distinct floors above grade, together with related facilities on the premises. A roofing company whose work is mostly houses can therefore look at the residential classification as the natural fit, subject to the Board's answer on your scope. Commercial work is different. The general building contractor definition covers a person whose principal business involves structures that need more than two contractor classifications, and the rule excludes electrical, plumbing, heating, piping and general engineering work from that scope except on residential structures. A roofer who does re-roofs on apartment complexes, schools or warehouses should ask the Board how a commercial roofing scope is classified. The remodeling and repair classification covers general remodeling and repairs on existing structures using two or more classifications where the cost does not exceed $40,000, which may fit small mixed jobs but not large roofing contracts. Mixed residential and commercial companies should confirm whether one license covers both. The Board makes the call, and the answer belongs in your file.
West Virginia does not require a license for every roof job. The statute defines a contractor as a person who, for compensation and other than as an employee, undertakes, offers to undertake, purports to have the capacity to undertake or bids to construct, alter, repair, add to or improve a building or structure where the cost of the undertaking is $5,000 or more for residential work or $25,000 or more for commercial work. The cost counts materials and labor together. The statute reaches offers and bids, not just completed work, and it says no person may submit a bid as a contractor without holding the license. So a roofer who sends an estimate for a $12,000 residential re-roof without a license has already crossed the line before touching a shingle. The City of Huntington's handyman page repeats the thresholds and adds that the licensing test looks at the total project contract, not only the portion you perform. It lists roof repair as an example of handyman work that stays under the thresholds. Splitting a large job into several invoices to stay under $5,000 is a risk, since the Board's complaint form asks for contracts and invoices. Exemptions in the statute include work done by an owner on property the owner owns or leases, work by government employees, material suppliers who only advise on products sold, and painting and landscaping services. None of those describe a roofing contractor doing paid work for a customer. Under the thresholds, no state contractor license applies, but local business licenses and taxes still can.
Sourceswvclboard.wv.gov 1cityofhuntington.com 2wvclboard.wv.gov 3
The Board licenses businesses, not just people, and it ties each license to a qualifier. The rule defines a qualifier as the individual who earns the passing score on required exams. That person must belong to the entity's responsible management, meaning an officer, partner, manager or sole proprietor, or be a full-time employee. The application guide says a full-time employee must prove that status with payroll records. Applicants must pass a written exam in each classification they seek and a West Virginia business and law exam. The passing score is at least 70 percent on each exam, and an applicant who misses it may sit for re-examination at the next regular session. The Board does not run the exams itself. The guide directs applicants to Pro V, Inc., an approved private testing agent, and the rule says exam fees are paid directly to that agent and are the applicant's responsibility. The application guide also describes a policy under which the Board reviews exam score reports from other states and accredited national testing organizations, including business and law exams, for a full-time employee or member of responsible management. The Commissioner decides whether they meet or exceed West Virginia requirements, and staff send a written decision by email. The record I fetched does not state a years-of-experience requirement, an education requirement or the exam fee amount, and those are listed as gaps below. One qualifier can use a passing score to qualify more than one entity in which that person is in responsible management, within the rule's limits.
The Board's step-by-step guide says steps one through six must be complete before the application goes in. First, email the Board your scope of work so it can confirm the classification and exams. Second, schedule the exams with Pro V, Inc. Third, hold a West Virginia business registration tax number from the State Tax Department. Fourth, register with the Secretary of State if the entity type requires it. Fifth, carry proof of workers' compensation and unemployment compensation for all employees working in West Virginia. Sixth, the guide lists general liability insurance as an item to address, and it says an out-of-state entity that is exempt from West Virginia coverage must submit proof of coverage from its own state. A wage bond status affidavit must accompany the application. If the entity performs commercial construction with employees, the guide tells the applicant to contact the Division of Labor Wage and Hour Section to verify wage bond status. The statute adds an affidavit requirement after the exam and before issuance: the applicant certifies compliance with the business franchise tax provisions, registration with the workers' compensation and employment security funds, and the applicable wage bond requirements. Applicants can complete the form online or download a fillable PDF and mail it. A roofer who expects to hire crews should sort out workers' compensation before anything else, since the affidavit depends on it. Expect the paperwork from three other state offices to take longer than the Board's own review.
The statute sets a ceiling on the license fee. Section 30-42-7 says the applicant pays a license fee not to exceed $150, and section 30-42-8 says the annual license fee may not exceed $150 either. The Board's rule 28CSR2, section 5.4, sets the annual fee at $90, with a reduced $20 fee only for sole proprietors doing electrical work who hold a separate electrician's license. The rule copy I fetched is the version posted on the Board's own resources page, and the Board can change fees by rule, so confirm the current amount with the Board before you budget. A license expires one year from the date it is issued. Renewal is filed on Board forms with the fee, and the Board verifies compliance with the affidavit items before renewing. Section 30-42-5 requires the Board to notify licensees of renewal dates at least 30 days before expiration. A license not renewed by its renewal date lapses. Under the rule, a renewal received or postmarked more than 15 calendar days after expiration triggers a delayed fee, and the statute says a license that has lapsed for 90 days or more may not be renewed. Roofers who let a license lapse in the winter slow season and then bid spring work are working unlicensed if the lapse runs past the renewal date, which exposes them to the penalties described later. Put the expiration date on a calendar. The public search shows each license's expiration date, so customers can see a lapse.
Sourceswvclboard.wv.gov 1wvclboard.wv.gov 2wvclboard.wv.gov 3
West Virginia's contractor statute does not set a general liability dollar minimum, and the sources I fetched name no contractor license bond amount. What the state does require is proof of coverage and honesty about it. The application guide requires proof of workers' compensation and unemployment compensation for employees, and the Board's written contract rule requires two things in the contract itself. The first is a statement in which the licensee and owner confirm the licensee's disclosure about whether the licensee has a valid and current general liability insurance policy. The second is the licensee's workers' compensation policy number and unemployment insurance account number. So a roofing company can legally sign a contract without a general liability policy, but it must disclose that fact, and a customer who reads the disclosure will see it. Subcontractors follow the same disclosure pattern, since the contract must state that the licensee will use written subcontracts that carry the same insurance disclosure. The statute also allows the Board to require financial assurance in discipline cases, and the wage bond rules apply to commercial work with employees, as described in the application section. Roofers should not advertise a bond or an insurance amount unless the policy exists. If you carry general liability, say so in the contract disclosure and on your website, and keep the certificate current. Many commercial property owners and general contractors demand higher coverage than the state does, and that requirement comes from the customer, not from the Board.
Sourceswvclboard.wv.gov 1wvclboard.wv.gov 2wvclboard.wv.gov 3
West Virginia has a reciprocity statute, and it also has a bid-only route for contractors from elsewhere. Section 30-42-18 lets the Board grant a license of the same or equivalent classification to a contractor licensed by another state without a written exam, on two conditions. The other state must license contractors and provide for similar action, and the applicant must give the Board satisfactory proof that the qualifications are equal to those of West Virginia licensees. The applicant also pays the required fee. The Board decides case by case, so hold your home license paperwork ready. Separately, the rule creates a conditional license for out-of-state contractors who want to bid. An out-of-state contractor seeking that license for bidding purposes only must pass the West Virginia business and law exam with a score of at least 70 percent, submit the application and pay the fee. Before starting a project it won, the entity must upgrade the conditional license to the applicable classifications, and it must do so before hiring any subcontractors. This route matters for storm work. After a hail event, out-of-state crews arrive quickly, and a crew that bids without the conditional license, or starts work without the upgrade, is unlicensed under the statute. West Virginia roofers who compete with those crews can point customers to the public license search. Out-of-state roofers should treat the license number as the first item of a bid package, before any marketing material.
The penalties in section 30-42-14 escalate. When the Board determines a person is contracting without a valid license, it must issue a cease and desist order requiring the person to stop all operations in the state. The order is withdrawn once the person gets a license. After a hearing opportunity, the Board may impose a penalty of not less than $200 nor more than $1,000, and it may accept payment in lieu of a hearing. A person who keeps contracting after service of a cease and desist order commits a misdemeanor. For a first offense the fine is not less than $200 nor more than $1,000. A second offense carries a fine of $500 to $5,000, jail of up to six months, or both. A third or later offense carries a fine of $1,000 to $5,000 and jail of not less than 30 days nor more than one year. The Board can also seek an injunction in circuit court. Where the undertaking is $25,000 or more, the statute adds an administrative penalty of up to $200 per day for each day of violation, and it warns that discipline also reaches licensees who let an unlicensed person use their license. Section 30-42-9 bars assigning or lending a license. Another consequence sits outside the Board. The construction defect notice and cure statute does not apply to actions against a contractor who is not licensed, which removes a protection roofers rely on. Licensed roofers also lose nothing by reporting an unlicensed competitor through the complaint process.
This section covers the rule that shapes roofing marketing. Section 30-42-6(b) says a licensee must keep the license or a copy posted in a conspicuous position at every construction site where the contractor is working. It also says the contractor's license number shall be included in all contracting advertisements and all fully executed and binding contracts. A roofer's advertising channels include yard signs, truck lettering, direct mail, flyers, paid search, social posts and the website, and the statute does not list channels or make exceptions, so the safe reading is to include the number in each one. A violator can face, after a hearing, a warning, a reprimand or a fine of not more than $200. That is a low ceiling next to the unlicensed penalties, but a public reprimand on a license record carries reputational cost. The written contract rule adds that the contract must state the license number and classifications. In practice, the license format begins with WV, since the Board's search requires at least a partial number starting with those letters. Put the number in the footer of every page of your website, in the header of every estimate template, on the tailgate of each truck and on the site copy you post at jobs. Do not advertise a classification the Board has not issued. On a Google Business Profile, list the number in the description, keeping the wording consistent with the Board's record. A customer who checks the number and finds a different name or an expired date will move on to the next bid.
Sourceswvclboard.wv.gov 1wvclboard.wv.gov 2wvclboard.wv.gov 3
The statute does not publish a list of approved titles for roofers, but it and the Board's rules give clear limits. A roofer may say it is a licensed West Virginia contractor once the Board has issued the license, and the license number should follow. The claim should track the classification the Board assigned, which the contract rule requires anyway. Avoid wording that suggests a license the company lacks. The statute's definition of contractor reaches any person who purports to have the capacity to undertake contracting work, so holding yourself out as a contractor above the thresholds without a license is itself covered activity. Avoid claiming the Board endorses you. The Board's site says it provides its information as a public service and makes no warranty about accuracy, so language like Board approved or state certified craftsmanship is not something the Board grants. Also keep insurance and bond claims tied to real policies, as the insurance section explains. A separate limit applies to insurance claim work. The insurance adjuster statute bars a person from acting or holding out as a public adjuster without a license. Advertising that says you handle your customer's insurance claim, negotiate with the carrier or get the claim paid can read as holding out as a public adjuster. Describe what a roofer does, which is inspecting, documenting the roof, providing an estimate and repairing it, and leave claim negotiation to the homeowner, the insurer or a licensed adjuster. The next sections give the statutory wording.
Sourceswvclboard.wv.gov 1wvclboard.wv.gov 2code.wvlegislature.gov 3
The sources I fetched contain no West Virginia statute written for hail or storm restoration roofing. No sourced door-to-door solicitation rule, cooling-off period, deductible waiver ban or storm chaser registration turned up in the state's contractor statutes, so this page does not describe one. What does apply comes from the general contractor rules. The license thresholds apply at the same $5,000 residential mark whether the roof was damaged by hail or by age, so nearly every hail re-roof needs a licensed contractor. The written contract requirement applies at $10,000 or more in aggregate project value, and most full residential re-roofs will reach it. The contract must include the description and cost of the work, the payment schedule, the start and completion dates, a written change order process, the license number and classifications, and the insurance disclosure. Section 21-11A-5 requires a contractor entering a residential improvement contract to give the owner conspicuous written notice of the right to offer to cure construction defects before a lawsuit. The statute supplies the form of that notice. A roofer whose storm-season contract template lacks the notice is exposed, so add it before the first hail event, not after. Out-of-state crews must follow the conditional license route discussed earlier. Local building departments must ask for proof of license or an affidavit before issuing a permit, so a re-roof that needs a permit will surface an unlicensed contractor quickly. Check local permit rules city by city.
Sourceswvclboard.wv.gov 1wvclboard.wv.gov 2wvclboard.wv.gov 3
West Virginia licenses adjusters through the Offices of the Insurance Commissioner under Chapter 33, Article 12B. Section 33-12B-2 says no person may act or hold himself, herself or itself out as a company adjuster, an independent adjuster or a public adjuster in this state unless licensed or exempt. The definition in section 33-12B-1 is broad. A public adjuster is a person who, for compensation or any other thing of value on behalf of the insured, acts or aids in negotiating or settling a first-party claim for loss or damage under a property insurance contract, or who advertises or solicits business as a public adjuster, or who directly or indirectly solicits business, investigates or adjusts losses, or advises an insured about first-party property claims. The phrase for compensation or any other thing of value can reach a free inspection offered to win the roofing contract. I did not confirm from the statute whether any exemption covers a roofing contractor discussing a claim with the customer, and this page does not claim one exists. The conservative practice is to document damage, give a repair estimate and hand the estimate to the homeowner, who submits the claim. Do not tell a customer what the policy covers, do not argue coverage with the adjuster on the homeowner's behalf and do not sign anything as the insured's representative on the claim. Section 33-12B-2 also bars a licensed public adjuster from misrepresenting itself as an insurer's adjuster. Ask the Insurance Commissioner's office for a written answer before running claim assistance advertising.
State licensing does not replace city rules. The City of Huntington says everyone who wants to perform contracting work within city limits must be licensed with the city, and it points to Article 752 of its ordinances for contractor licensing and Article 1711 for the building code. Section 1711.05, quoted on the city's page, requires an owner or authorized agent who intends to construct, alter, repair or replace a building or structure to apply to the building official for a permit first. The city's policy from January 2, 2016 requires a copy of the contract between the general contractor and the project owner, plus the contracts with subcontractors, when applying for a building permit. Those contracts must show the total amount, including labor and materials, and the party names, phone numbers and mailing addresses. State law reinforces this. Section 30-42-10 requires building officials in cities and counties to obtain proof of license or an affidavit that the person is not subject to licensure before issuing a permit. Huntington's handyman page shows the money side for small jobs: a business license at $20 per fiscal year running July 1 to June 30, a Business and Occupation tax return, a City Service Fee of $5.00 per week per employee for weeks worked inside city limits, and a WV Business Registration Certificate from the State Tax Department. It lists the B&O rate for contractor classification as 2 percent of gross receipts on labor and materials when a permit is issued. I did not fetch Charleston, Morgantown, Wheeling or county rules, so check each place you work.
Sourcescityofhuntington.com 1cityofhuntington.com 2wvclboard.wv.gov 3
The Board runs a public contractor search at wvclboard.wv.gov/verify, and the Division of Labor's database search page links to it under the name Contractor License Search. The Board says the site is updated in real time with its licensure database. A customer can search by license number, but must enter at least a partial number that begins with the letters WV. Or the customer can search by classification, company name, doing-business-as name, city or county, and must choose at least one dropdown or type more than two characters. Results show the license number, company, DBA, address, county, phone, classification and expiration date. That gives your customers four things to check against your advertising: the name on the license, the DBA you use, the classification and the expiration date. Make them match. If your marketing uses a trade name that is not registered as a DBA on your license record, a homeowner who searches it may not find you. Update contact information through the Board's account tools when your address or phone changes. Customers who suspect an unlicensed roofer can file a request for investigation with the Board. The Board accepts those complaints against unlicensed contractors and licensed contractors working outside their classification on residential projects of $5,000 or more and commercial projects of $25,000 or more. It does not handle building code, contract, misappropriation or workmanship disputes. Anonymous complaints are not accepted, and photographs are not wanted. Adding a verify link to your website turns the public search into a sales tool.
Sourceswvclboard.wv.gov 1labor.wv.gov 2wvclboard.wv.gov 3wvclboard.wv.gov 4
These are common details other guides publish about West Virginia, but we could not verify them from the agency source. Confirm them directly before relying on them.
Yes, when the job reaches the statutory thresholds. The West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board licenses contractors under Chapter 30, Article 42. A license is required for residential work costing $5,000 or more and commercial work costing $25,000 or more, counting materials and labor together.
Not by name in the sources I fetched. The statute lists residential and specialty classes, and the Board's exam list has no roofing entry. Email your scope of work to CLBoard@wv.gov so the Board can confirm which classification and exams apply to your roofing company.
The West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board. Its application guide tells you to email your scope of work to CLBoard@wv.gov, schedule exams with Pro V, Inc., and then submit the online or paper application with your business registration, insurance proof and wage bond affidavit.
The rule requires at least 70 percent on each exam. You take the trade exam for your classification and a West Virginia business and law exam through the private testing agent. If you miss the score, you may apply to re-test at the next regular session.
The statute caps the fee at $150. The Board rule I fetched sets the annual fee at $90, and the Board can change it by rule, so confirm the current amount. A license lasts one year from issue, and renewal is filed before expiration.
The sources I fetched set no general liability dollar minimum. The written contract must include a statement confirming your disclosure about whether you carry a valid general liability policy. You must also show workers' compensation and unemployment coverage for employees.
Yes. Section 30-42-6 says the license number shall be included in all contracting advertisements and all fully executed contracts. A copy of the license must also be posted at each construction site. Omitting it can bring a warning, reprimand or fine of up to $200.
When the aggregate project value is $10,000 or more, including materials and labor. The contract must describe the work, price, payment schedule, dates, license number and classifications, insurance disclosure, and your workers' compensation policy number and unemployment account number.
The Board must issue a cease and desist order and may fine $200 to $1,000. Continuing after service is a misdemeanor with fines up to $5,000 for repeat offenses, and later offenses can carry jail time. Work of $25,000 or more can add up to $200 per day.
Be careful. State law bars anyone from acting or holding out as a public adjuster without an Insurance Commissioner license, and the definition covers compensated negotiation or advice on first-party property claims. A roofer can document damage and give an estimate, but should ask the Commissioner about claim help.
Only with the right license. The Board can grant reciprocity without an exam if the home state's qualifications are equal, or issue a conditional bid-only license after the business and law exam at 70 percent. The entity must upgrade to full classifications before starting work.
Use the Board's public Contractor License Search at wvclboard.wv.gov/verify. Search by license number starting with WV, or by classification, company name, DBA, city or county. Results show the classification and expiration date, and you can file a complaint about unlicensed work.
We can review the local market, your current search visibility, and paid-search fit before recommending any marketing work.