No. As of October 2026, Texas has no mandatory statewide license for residential roofers. The most recent licensing bill, HB 3344 in 2025, would have had the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation license reroofing contractors, but it never got a House floor vote. Roofers can earn a voluntary license from the Roofing Contractors Association of Texas, and some cities require local registration.
That gap surprises a lot of homeowners, especially after a big hailstorm when unfamiliar trucks show up in the neighborhood. No state license does not mean no rules, though. Texas has specific laws on deductibles, insurance claims and disaster contracts that apply to every roofer. This 2026 update covers where licensing stands, what the voluntary credentials mean and how to vet a roofer when the state does not do it for you.
Does Texas require a roofing license in 2026?
No. Texas does not require roofers to hold a state license as of October 2026. Anyone can operate as a roofing contractor statewide without passing a state exam or registering with a state agency. Local registration and permit rules, insurance laws and consumer protection laws still apply to the work.
Texas is unusual here. Many states license roofers directly or fold them into a general contractor license, and Texas did not. The closest the state has come in recent years were two bills that both failed:
| Bill | Session | What it proposed | What happened |
|---|---|---|---|
| HB 3344 | 2025 (89th Legislature, regular session) | Licensing and regulation of reroofing contractors through the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, with penalties and fees | Reported out of the House trade and workforce committee as substituted; last action May 8, 2025, when the report was sent to the Calendars Committee. No floor vote. |
| HB 2101 | 2019 (86th Legislature) | A state registration requirement for roofing contractors | Did not pass |
The Legislature’s next regular session begins in January 2027, so a new licensing bill could be filed then. Until a law actually passes and takes effect, any roofer who says they hold “a Texas state roofing license” is either confused or describing something else, usually the voluntary RCAT credential.
What is an RCAT license, and does it matter?
The Roofing Contractors Association of Texas, or RCAT, runs a voluntary Licensed Roofing Contractor Program. Roofers who join it have to meet the program’s requirements and pass industry exams. It is not a government license, but it shows a roofer invested time in testing and documentation that the state does not require.
According to RCAT’s website, the program is meant to build public confidence by recognizing roofing professionals who meet its standards and pass its exams. Third-party summaries describe requirements such as business experience as a principal, insurance or bonding, references and separate residential and commercial exams, but they disagree on the exact figures, so check RCAT’s current rules directly if the details matter to you.
How much weight to give it:
- It is a positive signal. A roofer who passed exams and documented insurance has cleared a bar many have not.
- It is not a guarantee. It does not replace checking references, insurance certificates and a written contract.
- Its absence is not disqualifying. Plenty of capable roofers never apply. Judge them on the other checks below.
Do Texas cities license or register roofers?
Some do. Because the state does not license roofers, a few cities fill the gap with their own contractor registration for permit purposes. Dallas is the best-known example in North Texas: a roofing permit there must be pulled by a city-registered roofing contractor or by the homestead owner.
According to the City of Dallas Development Services guide, Dallas requires a permit when roofing work exceeds $500. Fort Worth handles it differently. Its residential re-roofing FAQ says a shingle-only replacement on a single-family or two-family home with no decking replaced does not need a permit, but replacing any decking does. Confirm with the city before work starts.
Suburbs such as Keller, Haslet, Saginaw and Southlake each set their own rules. If you are in one of them, call your city’s building department and ask two questions: does a reroof need a permit, and does the roofer have to be registered with the city? A roofer who regularly works in your city should already know both answers.
Which Texas laws apply to every roofer, licensed or not?
Several state laws apply to anyone doing roofing work. Roofers may not waive, rebate or absorb your insurance deductible. They may not act as or advertise as a public adjuster on a property they are working on. And in declared disaster areas, Chapter 58 of the Business and Commerce Code adds contract rules for remediation work.
The Texas Department of Insurance summarizes the insurance-related rules on its roofing and insurance know-the-law page:
- Business and Commerce Code §27.02. Contractors may not offer to waive, rebate or absorb a deductible, and contracts of $1,000 or more involving an insurance settlement must include a notice that the policyholder must pay the deductible.
- Insurance Code Chapter 707. The policyholder must pay the deductible, and insurers may ask for proof that it was paid.
- Insurance Code §4102.163. A contractor may not act as a public adjuster, or advertise to adjust claims, on a property where they provide or may provide contracting services.
The deductible rule has teeth. HB 2102, effective September 1, 2019, made paying or waiving a deductible an offense. Penalty amounts have been reported in news coverage; check the current statute for exact figures.
For storm work in a county under a disaster declaration, Chapter 58 of the Business and Commerce Code requires a written contract and limits how much a contractor can collect before work begins. A law-firm summary is available in this client alert on disaster remediation contracts; verify the current text of the statute before relying on specific terms.
If a roofer offers to “cover your deductible” or says they will handle your claim for you, the TDI page says to report it to the Texas Attorney General at 800-621-0508.
How do you vet a roofer when the state doesn’t?
Do the checking yourself. Ask for a certificate of insurance sent directly from the insurer, a physical local address, local references from recent jobs, a detailed written contract, city registration where required and the TDI roofing certificate if you want an impact-resistant discount. It takes an afternoon and saves headaches.
| Check | What to ask for | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Insurance | A certificate of general liability coverage sent to you by the insurance agent, plus proof of workers’ compensation or how injuries are covered | Protects you if someone is hurt or your property is damaged |
| Local presence | A physical business address and local phone number | Storm-chasing crews may be gone before warranty issues show up |
| References | Two or three recent jobs in your area you can drive past | Shows real local work, not stock photos |
| Written contract | Scope, materials, decking pricing, cleanup, payment schedule and the deductible notice if insurance is involved | Required for insured work over $1,000 and your best protection |
| City registration | Registration number where your city requires one | Needed to pull permits in cities like Dallas |
| Voluntary credentials | RCAT license, manufacturer program status | Useful extra signal, not a substitute for the checks above |
| Discount paperwork | Willingness to sign TDI form PC068 | Needed for impact-resistant roof discounts |
That last row matters more than many homeowners realize. Many Texas insurers offer premium discounts for impact-resistant roofs rated Class 1 through Class 4 under UL 2218, with Class 4 earning the highest credit and the amount set by each insurer. The roofer who installed the roof signs PC068 to document it.
Why hasn’t Texas passed a roofing license law?
The public record shows the bills stalling rather than a single stated reason. HB 3344 cleared a House committee in 2025 but never reached the floor, and HB 2101 failed in 2019. Licensing debates typically weigh consumer protection against added cost and paperwork for small contractors.
Hail keeps the issue alive. Texas recorded 902 major hail events in 2025 and led the nation in hail damage for the 11th straight year, according to United Policyholders. State Farm alone reported paying about $1.4 billion in Texas hail claims in 2025. Every big storm brings out-of-town crews, and every legislative session brings renewed calls to regulate them. Watch for new bills when the Legislature convenes in 2027.
What does this mean for DFW homeowners right now?
Since the state won’t screen roofers for you, use the checklist above, verify city registration where it applies, keep everything in writing and pay your own deductible. Choosing a roofer with a permanent local address who will still answer the phone after the next storm is the simplest protection you have.
Prometheus Power Solutions is based at 1953 Golden Heights Rd in Fort Worth, 76177, and serves homeowners across the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. You can see how we approach a tear-off on our roof replacement services page. If an insurance claim is involved, we document the damage and can meet your adjuster to show what we found, but the claim itself stays between you and your insurer. And if a new roof is part of a bigger plan, it pairs well with solar or battery backup, since a fresh roof avoids removing panels later.
If you’re comparing roofers and want straight answers to the questions above, get in touch with our team and we’ll walk you through it.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do roofers need a license in Texas?
No. As of October 2026, Texas has no mandatory statewide roofing license. HB 3344, a 2025 bill to license reroofing contractors through TDLR, never reached a House floor vote. Some cities, such as Dallas, require roofers to register locally to pull permits.
Is an RCAT license required in Texas?
No. The Roofing Contractors Association of Texas license is voluntary. Roofers earn it by meeting the program’s requirements and passing industry exams. It is a useful signal, but you should still check insurance, references and the written contract.
Does a roofer need to be registered in Dallas or Fort Worth?
Dallas requires a permit for roofing work over $500, pulled by a city-registered roofing contractor or the homestead owner. Fort Worth’s roofing FAQ says shingle-only reroofs on 1–2 family homes need no permit unless decking is replaced. Confirm with each city.
Can a roofer pay my deductible in Texas?
No roofer can. Business and Commerce Code §27.02 bars any contractor from waiving, rebating or absorbing your deductible, and Insurance Code Chapter 707 requires you to pay it. Report offers to the Texas Attorney General at 800-621-0508.