How to Choose a Roofing Contractor in Georgia: 10 Things to Check Before You Sign

Georgia does not issue a state roofing license, so almost anyone with a truck and a ladder can call themselves a roofer here. That puts the checking on you. Before you sign, verify five things: a Georgia contractor license for any job over $2,500, current general liability insurance, workers compensation coverage, a written workmanship warranty, and a local physical address. Georgia law also gives you five business days to cancel a storm damage roofing contract after your insurer tells you in writing that the claim is not covered.

Here is the full checklist, plus the parts of Georgia law that most homeowners never hear about until it is too late.

Does Georgia require a roofing license?

No. Georgia does not issue a roofing-specific license, and roofers are not required to hold one to work on homes here.

What Georgia does require is a contractor license for larger jobs. The State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors, part of the Georgia Secretary of State’s office, issues a Residential Basic Contractor license and higher tiers. That license is required for residential work exceeding $2,500. Almost every roof replacement clears that threshold.

To hold that license, a contractor has to carry general liability insurance, typically $300,000 to $500,000 in coverage depending on tier.

So when someone tells you “roofers don’t need a license in Georgia,” that is half true. Ask for the license number and verify it with the Georgia Secretary of State. Ask for the city or county business license too.

The 10-point checklist

1. Georgia contractor license number. Ask for the number, then look it up yourself with the Secretary of State. A photo of a card is not verification.

2. General liability insurance. Ask for a certificate of insurance sent directly from their agent to you. A PDF forwarded by the contractor can be expired or edited.

3. Workers compensation coverage. Georgia requires it for businesses with three or more employees. If an uninsured worker falls on your roof, you can end up the one exposed. Ask, and get it in writing.

4. A local physical address. Not a PO box, not an out-of-state cell number, not a magnet on a truck door. Where is the office, and can you drive to it?

5. Manufacturer certification. GAF, Owens Corning, and CertainTeed certifications are required to install their strongest system warranties. If nobody on site is certified, you are not getting the warranty on the brochure.

6. A written workmanship warranty. The manufacturer warranty covers the shingle. The workmanship warranty covers the install, and install error causes most roof leaks. Ask for the number of years, in writing.

7. An itemized written scope of work. Tear-off or overlay, underlayment, flashing, pipe boots, drip edge, ventilation plan, cleanup, permit. A single number on a single page is not a scope.

8. A named decking replacement price. Rotted plywood is only visible after the old roof comes off. Your contract should state the per sheet price in advance so the change order is not a surprise.

9. Recent, named reviews. Look for full names, photos, and dates in the last twelve months. A wall of five-star reviews with no detail tells you less than six specific ones. You can read our reviews and see our completed projects.

10. They pull the permit. A contractor who asks you to pull the permit yourself is shifting liability onto you. A contractor who says no permit is needed is telling you something about how they work.

Your rights under Georgia law

Georgia has a specific statute covering residential roofing contracts tied to insurance claims, O.C.G.A. section 10-1-393.12. Three things in it protect you directly.

You have five business days to cancel. If you sign a roofing contract that will be paid by an insurance claim, you can cancel until midnight on the fifth business day after your insurer notifies you in writing that all or part of the claim is not a covered loss. The contractor is required to give you a written statement of this right and a detachable notice of cancellation form, both in bold type at least ten points.

They cannot take your money during that window. The contractor cannot require payment from you until the five day cancellation period has passed. The only exception is emergency work that you acknowledged in writing, like a tarp after a tree comes through.

Your roofer is not your adjuster. Under Georgia law, a roofing contractor cannot represent or negotiate your insurance claim on your behalf unless they are a licensed public adjuster. What a contractor can do is inspect your roof, document and photograph the damage, meet your adjuster on the roof, and give you a written scope of work. If someone offers to “handle your claim” or “negotiate with your insurance company for you,” that is a reason to slow down.

If a storm just hit, read steps to take before calling insurance first. It will save you money. We also handle storm damage roof repair in Atlanta.

Six red flags

• Door knocking after a storm with pressure to sign today. Real contractors are booked, not desperate.

• An offer to cover, waive, eat, or “work around” your deductible. This is a problem in Georgia and it should end the conversation.

• A large deposit requested before the five day cancellation window closes.

• Out-of-state plates and no local office. When the warranty matters in year three, who are you calling?

• A verbal quote, or a one page contract with no scope of work.

• “You don’t need a permit for this.”

Eight questions to ask on the first call

1. What is your Georgia contractor license number?

2. Can your agent send me your certificate of insurance directly?

3. Do you carry workers compensation on your crews?

4. Are you manufacturer certified, and with which brand?

5. How many years is your workmanship warranty?

6. What do you charge per sheet if the decking is rotted?

7. Who pulls the permit?

8. Are your crews employees or subcontractors?

Write the answers down. Ask all eight of every company you talk to. The differences will be obvious.

How many quotes should you get?

Three is the right number. One gives you no reference point. Five turns into noise and delay, and delay costs money when a roof is leaking.

Compare the scopes side by side, not just the totals. If one is thousands lower, find the line item that explains it. There is always one. For the full pricing breakdown, see what a roof replacement costs.

What a real roof inspection looks like

A proper inspection is not a walk around the yard with binoculars. It should include:

• Someone physically on the roof, not just in the driveway

• Photos of every problem area, shared with you

• A look inside the attic for daylight, moisture, staining, and ventilation

• Checks of flashing, valleys, pipe boots, and the chimney

• A written report and an itemized quote, not a number scribbled on a card

• No pressure to sign anything that day

That is what Roofit Restoration does on every free roof inspection, including storm damage and insurance claims work across Metro Atlanta.

Talk to a local roofing team

Roofit Restoration is based in Decatur and works throughout Metro Atlanta. We will inspect your roof, show you what we find, and put a real price in writing.

Call (470) 600-0417 or book your free roof inspection.

Frequently asked questions

Do roofers need a license in Georgia?

Georgia does not issue a roofing-specific license. However, the State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors requires a Residential Basic Contractor license or higher for residential work over $2,500, which covers nearly every roof replacement. Always ask for the license number and verify it with the Georgia Secretary of State.

Should I pay a roofer a deposit up front?

For insurance-related roofing work in Georgia, a contractor cannot require payment until the five business day cancellation period has passed, except for emergency work you acknowledged in writing. For non-insurance work, a modest material deposit is normal, but be cautious about large sums before any work begins.

Can my roofer negotiate with my insurance company?

No. Under Georgia law, a roofing contractor cannot represent or negotiate an insurance claim on a homeowner’s behalf unless they are a licensed public adjuster. A contractor can inspect the roof, document damage, meet the adjuster on site, and provide a written scope of work.

How many roofing quotes should I get?

Three. Compare the written scopes side by side rather than just the totals, and find the line item that explains any large price gap.

What happens if a roofer gets hurt on my property?

If the contractor carries workers compensation and general liability insurance, their policies respond. If they do not, you may be exposed. Ask for a certificate of insurance sent directly from the contractor’s insurance agent before work starts.