Oklahoma's Roofing Contractor Registration Act, Explained

Who must register — and who is exempt

The Act defines a roofing contractor broadly: anyone, including subcontractors and out-of-state contractors, doing or advertising roofing work — construction, installation, reroofing, repair, maintenance, or waterproofing. Registration is annual and nontransferable, and municipal building officials are required by the Act to refuse roofing permits to unregistered applicants. Notably, §1151.24 bars cities and counties from imposing any additional roofing registration of their own — which is why Oklahoma City's contractor-registration categories include no roofing category and Norman's FAQ simply points roofers to the CIB.

The exemption list is long but narrow: homeowners working on their own property, owners of small rentals (4 units or less), employees and day laborers under a registered contractor's direct supervision, volunteer church crews, material suppliers who don't install, and a tightly capped "handyman" carve-out — no more than two roofing jobs per calendar year, each under $10,000 and covering less than a quarter of the roof. A general contractor who subcontracts the roofing to a registered roofer is exempt; one who bids roofing alone is not.

Insurance minimums — and the bond that does not exist

Registration requires a certificate of general liability insurance naming the CIB as certificate holder: at least $500,000 for residential work and $1,000,000 for commercial work, plus proof of workers' compensation coverage or a statutory exemption affidavit (the affidavit route is limited to residential projects — commercial jobs require every worker covered). Insurers must notify the CIB if a policy lapses, which suspends the registration on the spot.

One persistent myth: third-party licensing sites widely claim Oklahoma roofers must post a "$5,000 surety bond." No bond requirement exists anywhere in the Act or its rules — the $5,000 figure belongs to the CIB's separate plumbing/electrical/mechanical contractor program (and, separately, $5,000 is the maximum administrative penalty for an unregistered business entity advertising roofing work).

The new residential endorsement (2027–2028 phase-in)

Since 2015, commercial roofing work has required passing a Commercial Roofing Examination. House Bill 1628 (2025), as amended in 2026, extends the idea to residential work: beginning January 1, 2027, residential roofing contractors need a Residential Roofing Endorsement (exam with a 70% minimum score; initial fee $230, renewal $100). Contractors registered and in good standing on that date get a 12-month grandfathering window to either pass the exam or complete 10 hours of CIB-approved continuing education; existing commercial-endorsement holders are exempt from both. By January 1, 2028, the endorsement is mandatory for all residential roofing work, and both endorsements carry 4 hours of continuing education per year. Labor-only crews working under an endorsed contractor are excepted.

Storm-claim protections written into the Act

Two provisions matter most after hail. First, the 72-hour cancellation right (§1151.21): when a residential roofing contract will be paid from insurance proceeds, the homeowner may cancel within 72 hours of learning the claim was denied — and the contractor must provide boldface notice of that right plus a detachable cancellation form up front, refunding payments within ten days of a cancellation. Second, the anti-deductible-waiver rule (§1151.30, tightened in 2025): contractors paid from insurance proceeds may not advertise or promise to absorb the deductible or otherwise compensate the insured as an inducement — and a violating contractor's estimate need not be honored by the insurer. Complaints under that section go to the Insurance Department and Attorney General.

Registration numbers must be displayed on job-site signs, vehicles (two-inch lettering), and every contract and bid — and anyone can check a contractor in seconds at the CIB's public registry, verifyroofing.cib.ok.gov. Unregistered roofing work is a misdemeanor with fines up to $500 per violation and escalating administrative penalties to revocation.

How OKC-metro cities layer permits on top

State registration does not replace local permits — and the OKC metro splits sharply on those. Oklahoma City adopted a roofing-permit ordinance effective August 1, 2025 ($94.50, same-day issuance, maintenance of 500 square feet or less exempt). But Edmond requires no permit and performs no inspection for residential re-roofs; Norman requires no roofing permit at all; and Mustang's roofing page states flatly that "no permit is necessary and no licenses are necessary for re-roofing and re-decking homes." Meanwhile Moore, Midwest City (which also runs its own $150 roofing trade license — permitted because it predates the preemption question for trade licensing generally), Yukon, and Owasso all require roofing permits. Check each city's sourced record before scheduling a tear-off.