Step by step: checking a roofer before you sign
Roof repair and replacement on a home counts as home improvement in Maryland, so the contractor you sign with needs an MHIC license. The state's licensing site has a tool for checking a contractor's or salesperson's license status. Run that check, then match what you find to the paperwork you're handed.
- Get the contractor's MHIC license number and the exact business name.
- Use the "Check the License Status of a Contractor or Salesperson" tool on labor.maryland.gov.
- Confirm the license is active, not suspended. The commission posts notices when it suspends a contractor.
- Make sure the licensed name matches the company named on your contract.
- Ask for proof of general liability insurance. The Maryland Home Improvement Commission (labor.maryland.gov) sets a $500,000 minimum.
- Questions about a license? The commission's contact details are listed on labor.maryland.gov.
Why the license matters to you
A license gives you protection you lose with an unlicensed outfit. The commission investigates homeowner complaints and runs a Guaranty Fund that pays homeowners for actual losses from poor workmanship or failure to perform, but only on work done by licensed contractors.
- The Maryland Home Improvement Commission (labor.maryland.gov) caps Guaranty Fund recovery at what you paid the contractor, up to $30,000.
- The Maryland Home Improvement Commission (labor.maryland.gov) pro-rates each award if total claims against one contractor exceed $250,000.
- Only MHIC-licensed contractors may sign home improvement contracts with homeowners.
- Subcontractors may work unlicensed, but only for an MHIC-licensed contractor. So the company you sign with is the one to check.
Checking insurance
Maryland now sets a floor for coverage. The Maryland Home Improvement Commission (labor.maryland.gov) requires every home improvement contractor to maintain general liability insurance of at least $500,000, a rule in effect since June 1, 2024. Ask to see proof of that coverage, and confirm the insured business matches the licensed name and your contract.
If storm damage and an insurance claim are involved
A roofer can write a repair estimate for storm or fire damage and answer your insurer's questions about it. Unless the contractor also holds a public adjuster license from the Maryland Insurance Administration, they may not prepare your claim, negotiate it, or advise you on your policy's coverage.
Put the same questions to us
Check us the way you'd check anyone. Ask your questions when you reach out, then compare what you're told with the MHIC lookup before you decide.
- Everything is quoted in writing before work starts: scope, materials, steps and price.
- Free estimate, no pressure, no charge.
- One crew stays on your job, and the site is swept at the end of every day.
- If something hidden turns up, you hear about it before anyone spends your money.
- Call (443) 880-7507, open 7 days a week, 7 AM to 6 PM.
Common questions
How do I verify a roofing contractor's Maryland license and insurance?
Get the contractor's MHIC license number and look it up with the license status tool on labor.maryland.gov. Confirm it's active and matches the name on your contract. Then ask for proof of general liability insurance. The Maryland Home Improvement Commission (labor.maryland.gov) requires at least $500,000 in coverage.
Does the subcontractor on my roof need its own license?
Not necessarily. Maryland dropped the subcontractor license in 2016, and subs may work unlicensed for an MHIC-licensed contractor. The company that signs your contract must hold the license.
What happens if a licensed roofer doesn't finish the job?
You can file a complaint with the commission. The Maryland Home Improvement Commission (labor.maryland.gov) says its Guaranty Fund can repay actual losses from poor workmanship or failure to perform, up to what you paid and no more than $30,000. It covers licensed contractors only.
Next step
Ready to compare? Send a request with your questions. Gianna or Mark will usually call back the same day to set a time to measure.
Request a free written estimate