Texas has no state roofing license. Here is what the voluntary RCAT license means and 7 things Central Texas homeowners should check instead.
No. Texas does not require roofing contractors to hold a state-issued license, and no state agency licenses roofers. That means a license number can't tell you much here. To vet a roofer in Lago Vista, Austin or anywhere in Central Texas, check proof of insurance, a permanent local address, a written contract, manufacturer credentials, local permits and real local references.
Below is what the law actually says, what the voluntary industry license means, and a practical checklist you can use before anyone climbs onto your roof.
The Roofing Contractors Association of Texas (RCAT) puts it plainly on its licensing page: the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) does not license roofing contractors, and "anyone can call themselves a roofer in Texas."
For you as a homeowner, the practical result is simple:
That doesn't mean roofing is unregulated. Cities enforce building codes and permits, and state law sets rules on how contractors can deal with insurance claims (more on both below). It just means there's no single credential that does the vetting for you.
Because the state doesn't license roofers, RCAT runs a voluntary program of its own. If a Texas roofer tells you they are "licensed," ask whether they mean this credential. According to RCAT's published requirements, a residential applicant must:
The license is held by an individual, not the company. Once a principal qualifies, the company can market itself as licensed.
An RCAT license is a useful signal: it shows a company has been around for a couple of years, carries insurance and passed an industry exam. But it's voluntary, and many capable local roofers don't hold it. Treat it as one item on your checklist, not a pass/fail test. It also doesn't replace looking at the contract, the insurance certificate and the company's track record yourself.
Since a license number can't do the work for you, these are the checks that actually protect you on a Central Texas roof replacement or repair.
Ask for a certificate of insurance (COI) before work starts. Look at the policy dates to make sure it's current, and check that the business name on the certificate matches the name on your contract. If anything looks off, call the insurance agent listed on the certificate and confirm the policy is active. A contractor who can't or won't produce a COI shouldn't be on your roof.
The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) recommends using local companies when you can and checking references in its storm fraud resources. A real office address in the Austin area, a local phone number and a history of jobs in your part of town all matter. Installation problems don't always show up right away. You want a company that will still be here to answer the phone.
Permits and contractor registration are handled locally by your city or county, not by a state roofing board. TDI suggests calling your city or county to confirm a company is registered there. Ask the roofer directly: "Will you pull the permit for my job, and in whose name?" A contractor who suggests skipping the permit is a contractor to skip.
TDI's guidance is specific. Don't sign a contract that has blank spaces, because they can be filled in later. Make sure the contract lists the materials that will be used. And read anything a contractor asks you to sign before an inspection, because it may be a contract rather than a simple estimate request. A good contract also spells out the scope of work, the price, the payment schedule, cleanup and the workmanship warranty.
Don't pay in full up front, and be cautious about large down payments. TDI also notes that after a disaster is declared, it's against the law for contractors from outside your area to ask for payment before they start work. Final payment should come after the job is complete and you've seen it.
Shingle manufacturers such as IKO, Owens Corning, CertainTeed and TAMKO run their own contractor programs. A certification shows the manufacturer has recognized the company as an installer of its products. Ask which manufacturers the roofer is certified with and which shingle line they plan to install, then confirm it on the manufacturer's own website. Also ask what warranty paperwork you'll receive and who registers it.
The shingle manufacturer's warranty covers the material. Installation mistakes are the contractor's responsibility. Ask for the workmanship warranty in writing, read what it covers and excludes, and note whether it transfers if you sell the house.
After a hail or wind storm, many homeowners hear from roofers they've never met. With no state license to check, it helps to know where Texas law draws the line on insurance claims.
Under Texas Insurance Code §4102.163, a roofer can't act as a public insurance adjuster on a claim for a property where they are doing the work, and they can't advertise that they will. TDI's "Roofing and insurance: Know the law" page lists other practices that are off-limits. In plain terms, be cautious of any contractor who:
What a roofer can legitimately do is inspect your roof, photo-document the damage, write an estimate, and meet your adjuster to explain that estimate. Coverage decisions are between you and your insurance company. If you have questions about your claim or your insurer, TDI's help line is 800-252-3439.
We'd rather show you than tell you, so here's how we line up against the same list:
For a broader list of questions to bring to any estimate, see 10 questions to ask a roofing contractor before hiring. If you're planning a replacement, our roof replacement page walks through how we handle the job from inspection to cleanup.
Next step: Book a free roof inspection, or if you already know you need a new roof, get a ballpark number with our instant roof replacement quote.
Texas does not issue a state roofing license, so there's no state license to require. You can ask whether the contractor holds the voluntary RCAT license, but insurance, a written contract, local permits and references matter more.
No. It's a voluntary credential run by the Roofing Contractors Association of Texas, an industry association. It requires insurance, at least two years as a principal of a Texas roofing company, exams and yearly continuing education, but it isn't issued or enforced by the state.
Ask for a current certificate of insurance and confirm it with the agent, verify a local address and phone number, call your city's building department about permits and registration, get references from recent local jobs, and read the full written contract before signing.
No. Texas law bars a contractor from acting as a public adjuster on a property where they're doing the work. A roofer can inspect, document damage, write an estimate and meet your adjuster to explain it, but claim and coverage decisions are between you and your insurer.
It depends on the city. Permit and contractor registration rules vary across Lago Vista, Cedar Park, Leander, Austin and other Central Texas cities, so call your local building department or ask your roofer to show you the permit for your job.
