Michigan Roofing License Requirements
Michigan regulates residential roofing through its Residential Builder and Maintenance & Alteration Contractor licensing system. For most paid residential roofing projects totaling $600 or more in labor and materials, the contractor should hold an appropriate Michigan license, and a specialty Maintenance & Alteration license must specifically include the roofing trade.
Quick answer: A Michigan roofer performing residential work that totals $600 or more in labor and materials generally must be licensed by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. The roofer may hold a full Residential Builder license or a Maintenance & Alteration Contractor license that specifically authorizes Roofing. If the contracting business is a corporation, LLC, partnership, or other licensed company entity, verify the company license and the active individual qualifying officer as well.
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Does a roofer need a license in Michigan?
For ordinary residential roof replacement and substantial residential roof repair, the answer is generally yes. Michigan licenses both broad residential builders and specialty maintenance-and-alteration contractors.
A broad residential construction license
A Michigan Residential Builder license authorizes a contractor to undertake residential construction and a broad range of repair, alteration, addition, improvement, and related work. A properly licensed residential builder can therefore contract for residential roofing without holding a separate roofing-only credential.
A specialty license must show roofing
A Maintenance & Alteration Contractor is licensed only for the crafts or trades shown on the license. Michigan specifically lists roofing as one of those trades, so homeowners should verify that a specialty roofer's active license actually includes the roofing classification.
The $600 rule is an exemption threshold, not a way to split a roofing job. Michigan law exempts an undertaking whose aggregate labor, materials, and other items total less than $600, but the exemption does not apply when a larger project is divided into smaller contracts to evade licensing.
Which Michigan roofing credential should you verify?
The correct credential depends on who signed the contract and the scope of the roofing work.
| Credential | What it means | What the homeowner should verify |
|---|---|---|
| Residential Builder | Broad state license for residential construction, repair, alteration, and improvement work. | Active status, exact individual or company name, license number, expiration date, and disciplinary history. |
| Maintenance & Alteration Contractor — Roofing | Specialty license limited to listed trade classifications. | Active status and that Roofing appears among the authorized trades. |
| Builder or M&A Company License | A corporation, LLC, partnership, or other business entity may hold its own contractor license. | Verify the company license and its active qualifying officer; both matter when the business entity is the contracting party. |
| Residential Builder / M&A Salesperson | Michigan licenses individuals who, for compensation, solicit or secure business for a residential builder or M&A contractor. | Ask who the salesperson is licensed to represent and make sure the contract identifies the properly licensed contractor. |
Match the contract to the license search. A license held by an owner, salesperson, affiliate, or similarly named company is not automatically the license of the business that signed your roofing contract.
How to verify a Michigan roofing contractor
Use the state license record, company identity, local permit authority, and insurance documents together rather than relying on advertising alone.
Search the Michigan contractor license
Use Michigan LARA's residential-builder license search. Confirm the exact contractor or company name, license number, current status, issue and expiration information, and any available disciplinary information.
Confirm the roofing scope
If the roofer uses a Maintenance & Alteration license, verify that roofing is specifically listed as an authorized trade. Do not assume every M&A license includes roofing.
Check the company and qualifying officer
If an LLC, corporation, partnership, or other company is named in the contract, verify the company contractor license as well as the individual qualifying officer who maintains the applicable builder or M&A credential.
Verify the salesperson when applicable
Michigan separately licenses compensated residential-builder and M&A salespersons. If a salesperson solicited the job, ask for the salesperson credential and the contractor to which it is assigned.
Identify the building-code enforcing agency
Michigan building-code enforcement may be handled by the state, county, township, city, or village. Confirm which authority serves the property address and whether the particular roof repair or replacement requires a building permit.
Confirm liability and workers' compensation protection
Ask for current certificates and verify them with the issuing insurance professional. Michigan LARA's homeowner guidance recommends that the written contract address liability insurance and workers' compensation coverage.
Keep a verification file: Save the state license search, company record, salesperson information when relevant, certificate of insurance, signed contract, permit, inspection records, sworn statements, lien waivers, photographs, change orders, and warranties.
Michigan roofing permits are handled by the enforcing agency
Michigan's building-permit system is statewide in code but decentralized in administration. The responsible enforcing agency can be a local government or the state Bureau of Construction Codes.
Do not assume every roof project has the same permit rule
Michigan states that building permits are generally required before construction, while ordinary repairs can be exempt. Whether a particular roof repair qualifies as an ordinary repair—and what documentation or inspection a full reroof requires—should be confirmed with the enforcing agency before work begins.
Mailing city and enforcing agency may differ
A property may have a city mailing address while building-code enforcement is performed by a township, county, or the State of Michigan. Use the project address, not just the postal city, to identify the correct office.
| Example jurisdiction | Current guidance | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit | Detroit states that residential contractors must have a Michigan Builder's License and city registration to apply as contractors for residential permits. | State credential, Detroit registration, permit record, and required inspections. |
| Ann Arbor | Ann Arbor's STREAM permitting process requires contractors to submit licensing information for permit types that require state licensing. | Current state license registration in STREAM, correct permit type, and inspection closeout. |
| State-administered areas | The Bureau of Construction Codes issues building permits where the state is the enforcing agency. | Use Michigan's jurisdiction list to determine whether the state or a local unit has authority. |
Permit and license are separate checks. A valid Michigan contractor license does not prove that the required permit was obtained, and a permit does not replace verification of the contractor's state license and roofing scope.
Michigan roofing contracts and payment protection
Michigan LARA recommends putting the entire agreement in writing. For roofing, the contract should be detailed enough that a homeowner can compare the completed work with what was actually promised.
Identify the contractor and roofing system
Include the company name, address, phone number, contractor and salesperson license information when applicable, roofing manufacturer and product, underlayment, flashing, ventilation, decking allowance, tear-off scope, cleanup, permits, start and completion dates, warranties, and total price.
Connect payments to work and documentation
Michigan's homeowner guidance says never to pay for the entire job in advance and recommends scheduled payments as work progresses. Keep receipts, avoid cash when possible, and do not make final payment until required inspections and agreed work are complete.
- Put hidden-decking prices and other unit prices in writing before tear-off.
- Require written, signed change orders before additional work or price changes.
- State who obtains permits and who schedules required inspections.
- Include workmanship and manufacturer-warranty terms separately.
- Keep all estimates, invoices, payment records, photographs, texts, emails, and permit documents.
Cancellation rights for some Michigan roofing contracts
Michigan does not give consumers a universal right to cancel every roofing contract. Cancellation rights depend on how the sale occurred and how the project is financed.
Three business days may apply
Michigan's Home Solicitation Sales Act generally gives a consumer three business days to cancel qualifying sales worth more than $25 when the consumer was solicited and agreed to purchase while the salesperson was at the home. The seller must provide required cancellation instructions.
A separate one-business-day rule may apply
Michigan's Attorney General explains that the Home Improvement Finance Act can provide until 5 p.m. on the next business day to cancel certain home-improvement contracts when the homeowner agrees to make payments to the contractor over time.
Follow the contract's cancellation instructions exactly. Deadlines and delivery methods matter. When a large roofing contract, financing agreement, assignment, or insurance-related document is involved, get legal advice promptly if the right to cancel is unclear.
Insurance and workers' compensation checks
A state contractor license is not a substitute for project-specific insurance verification. Michigan LARA advises homeowners to address liability and workers' compensation protection in the contract.
- Ask for a current general liability certificate naming the same business that signed the contract.
- Contact the listed insurance agent or carrier and confirm policy dates and that roofing operations are covered.
- Ask whether employees, temporary labor, or subcontractors will be on the roof.
- Request appropriate workers' compensation documentation and verify it when applicable.
- Ask subcontractors to provide their own insurance documentation when they are separate businesses.
- Do not treat a certificate of insurance as proof that every loss, exclusion, or subcontractor is covered.
Match every document. The insured name, licensed name, company on the contract, company pulling the permit, and company receiving payment should make sense together. Resolve unexplained mismatches before work starts.
Michigan construction liens: sworn statements and lien waivers matter
Michigan's Construction Lien Act gives contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, and laborers potential lien rights. Homeowners should manage payment paperwork carefully so money reaches the people who provided labor and materials.
Ask who is still owed money
Michigan law requires a contractor to provide a sworn statement when payment is due or requested and when the homeowner demands one. The statement identifies subcontractors, suppliers, and certain unpaid labor amounts connected with the improvement.
Collect waivers as payments are made
Use properly completed conditional and unconditional lien waivers as appropriate. Do not sign blank forms, and verify suspicious waivers directly with the subcontractor or supplier before relying on them.
Before final payment: Request the contractor's final sworn statement, resolve any unpaid parties shown on it, obtain appropriate final lien waivers, confirm permit and inspection closeout, and keep all documents with the roofing warranty.
Storm-damage roofing in Michigan
Michigan specifically warns residents to verify contractors after storms and disasters. High-pressure sales do not change the state licensing threshold.
$600+ repairs still require the appropriate license
Michigan emergency-management guidance reminds storm victims that repair work totaling $600 or more must be performed by an appropriately licensed residential builder or maintenance-and-alteration contractor, subject to statutory exemptions.
Keep insurance proceeds under homeowner control
The Michigan Attorney General advises homeowners dealing with insured damage to keep control of insurance payments and to arrange contractor payments as work is completed rather than turning over the entire project amount in advance.
- Verify the state license before signing a storm-repair agreement.
- Do not sign blank contracts, completion certificates, financing documents, or insurance-related forms.
- Photograph damage before temporary repairs, tear-off, decking replacement, and final installation.
- Confirm cancellation rights when the sale was solicited at the home.
- Require the same license, permit, insurance, lien, and warranty documentation you would require for a planned reroof.
Questions to ask a Michigan roofer
Use these questions before signing a roofing contract or authorizing insurance-funded work.
- Are you licensed as a Residential Builder or an M&A Contractor?
- If M&A, does your license specifically include roofing?
- Is the company itself licensed, and who is the qualifying officer?
- Is the salesperson who contacted me licensed to this contractor?
- Which agency issues the building permit for this address?
- Can your insurance agent confirm roofing liability coverage?
- Will employees or subcontractors perform the work?
- What is the written unit price for damaged decking?
- When will I receive sworn statements and lien waivers?
- What must happen before final payment is due?
How to report a Michigan roofing problem
The correct agency depends on whether the issue involves licensing, permits, consumer practices, insurance, or a private contract dispute.
| Issue | Where to start |
|---|---|
| Unlicensed residential roofing, work outside an M&A classification, or licensed-contractor misconduct | Michigan LARA Bureau of Construction Codes Enforcement Section |
| Permit, inspection, roofing-code, or local registration issue | The state or local building-code enforcing agency responsible for the property |
| Deceptive sales practice, home-solicitation issue, or consumer fraud | Michigan Attorney General Consumer Protection Team |
| Insurance-claim or insurer issue | Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services when the matter falls within its authority |
| Construction lien, payment, workmanship, warranty, or contract dispute | Preserve all records and consult a qualified Michigan attorney when necessary |
Preserve evidence: Keep the license lookup, advertisements, contract, financing documents, insurance paperwork, permit and inspection records, photos, payments, sworn statements, lien waivers, change orders, warranties, emails, texts, and complaint correspondence.
Michigan roofing license questions
Answers to common questions from Michigan homeowners.
Does Michigan require roofers to be licensed?
For residential work, generally yes when the total undertaking is $600 or more in labor and materials, unless a statutory exemption applies. The roofer may hold a Residential Builder license or a Maintenance & Alteration Contractor license that includes roofing.
What is the $600 Michigan contractor rule?
Michigan law exempts certain projects when the aggregate contract price for labor, materials, and other items is less than $600. The exemption cannot be used by dividing a larger project into smaller contracts to evade licensing.
What does “Roofing” mean on a Michigan M&A license?
Maintenance & Alteration contractors are licensed by specific trade. Roofing is a listed trade, so a specialty contractor performing residential roofing should have roofing shown among the authorized classifications.
Can a Michigan Residential Builder perform roofing?
A Residential Builder license is broader than an M&A specialty license and generally authorizes residential construction, repair, alteration, and improvement work that includes roofing.
Do I need to verify the roofing company as well as the individual?
Yes when the contract is with an LLC, corporation, partnership, or other company. Michigan uses company licenses and qualifying officers, so verify the contracting company and the active qualifying officer.
Does a Michigan roofing salesperson need a license?
An individual who, for compensation, solicits or secures business for a residential builder or M&A contractor generally must be licensed as a salesperson to that contractor.
Is a roofing permit required in Michigan?
Permit requirements depend on the project and the enforcing agency. Michigan allows an exception for ordinary repairs, while more substantial work is subject to building-permit requirements. Confirm the exact rule for the property address before work starts.
Can I cancel a Michigan roofing contract within three days?
Not every contract. A three-business-day cancellation period may apply to a qualifying home-solicitation sale. Other financing-related cancellation rules may also apply. Read the required cancellation notice and act within the applicable deadline.
How much can a Michigan roofer require as a deposit?
The Michigan homeowner guidance reviewed for this page does not state a universal percentage cap for ordinary roofing deposits. It advises homeowners never to pay for the entire job in advance and to schedule payments as work progresses.
How can I protect myself from construction liens?
Use the Construction Lien Act process carefully. Request sworn statements, identify unpaid subcontractors and suppliers, obtain appropriate lien waivers as payments are made, and do not make final payment until outstanding lien issues are resolved.
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Official Michigan sources
- Michigan LARA — Residential Builders and Maintenance & Alteration Contractors
- Michigan LARA — Maintenance & Alteration Contractor License Information
- Michigan LARA — Helpful Information for Homeowners
- Michigan LARA — Find / Verify a Licensed Professional or Business
- Michigan LARA — Builder and M&A Company / Qualifying Officer Renewal Information
- Michigan LARA — Residential Builder and M&A Salesperson Licensing
- Michigan LARA — Building Permit Information
- City of Detroit — Building Permits and Residential Contractor Requirements
- City of Ann Arbor — Permitting Process and Contractor Licensing Registration
- Michigan Attorney General — Building and Remodeling Advice for Homeowners
- Michigan Attorney General — Contract Cancellation Information for Consumers
- Michigan LARA — Bureau of Construction Codes Enforcement Section
- Michigan Legislature — MCL 339.2403 Contractor Licensing Exemptions
- Michigan Legislature — MCL 339.2404 Maintenance & Alteration Contractor Trades
- Michigan Legislature — MCL 570.1110 Contractor Sworn Statements
- Michigan Legislature — Construction Lien Waiver Forms, MCL 570.1115
- State of Michigan — How to Find a Reputable Contractor After a Storm or Disaster
Last reviewed: August 7, 2026. Licensing, building-code enforcement, permit requirements, insurance obligations, cancellation rules, and construction-lien procedures can change. Confirm current information with Michigan LARA and the building-code enforcing agency responsible for the property before signing a contract or beginning work. This guide is general consumer information and is not legal advice.