How to Check a Roofer's License and Permits in Los Angeles
A roofer in California needs a C-39 Roofing license — and unlike most trades, a C-39 must carry workers' compensation whether or not it has employees, so a roofer listed as "exempt" is a red flag. Check the license number from the quote with the Contractors State License Board: status active, class C-39, bond in force, workers' comp insured with an end date after your job. Then look at what the license has actually done: most re-roofs in Los Angeles–area cities need a building permit, so a roofer with a long, recent record of permitted roofing jobs near you is a better bet than one with none. If your roof has solar panels — or will — ask how the panels will be removed and put back, and by whom. The free license check in Cali-Graf, built by Cali Energy, a Los Angeles solar and roofing contractor, shows the license and the roofing permits on one page.
The checks, roofer edition
| Check | What you want to see | Why it's different for roofers |
|---|---|---|
| Class | C-39 Roofing | A general contractor or another trade generally isn't the right license for a roofing-only job |
| Status | Active | — |
| Workers' comp | Insured, with an end date after your job | C-39 roofers can't claim the no-employee exemption |
| Bond | A contractor bond in force | Bond lapses are the most common cause of suspensions |
| Permits | Recent permitted roofing jobs near you | Most re-roofs need a permit; a record of them is a record of inspected work |
Why workers' comp matters to you: according to CSLB, if a worker is injured on your property and the contractor has no coverage, you could be financially liable — and your homeowner's insurance may or may not cover it. More in bonds and workers' comp exemptions.
Re-roof permits: the record that matters
A re-roof is visible work on your largest weather barrier, and Los Angeles–area cities generally require a building permit for it — the City of Los Angeles also has a certified-contractor route for detached single-family houses. Which agency requires what is collected in re-roof permits in Los Angeles County by city. Ask the roofer which route applies and who pulls the permit — the answer should be "we do" — and get the permit number before work starts.
Cali-Graf's contractor directory shows each roofer's permitted work, matched by license number. In Los Angeles County, as of October 2026, it lists 1,628 active licensed roofers, 1,011 of them with permits on the loaded portals, covering 23,291 roofing jobs. A profile shows:
- a Roofing jobs count (re-roofs and repairs) and how many permits in the last three years;
- Work history — permits by year and the most recent ones, with dates and ZIP codes;
- Where they work — the cities and ZIP codes where their permits were issued.
One caveat: in Los Angeles County, the loaded permit portals are the City of Los Angeles and the City of Palmdale, so a roofer who works mainly in Pasadena, Glendale or another city may show few permits there. Each list states which portals and years it covers.
If you have — or want — solar
A new roof under existing panels means the panels come off and go back on. Ask:
- Who removes and reinstalls the panels, and does that company hold the right license — a C-10 electrical, C-46 solar or B — for the electrical work?
- Who handles the roof penetrations for the solar mounts, and what warranty covers leaks around them?
- Does the re-roof need to happen before a planned solar install? A roof near the end of its life should be replaced first; see a new roof and solar at the same time.
Red flags
- No C-39 on the license, or a roofing job quoted by a contractor whose license doesn't cover roofing.
- A roofer listed as exempt from workers' comp.
- A suspended license, or a bond that lapsed.
- No permitted roofing work under the license, or "we don't need a permit" on a full re-roof without naming the route that allows it.
- After a storm or fire: door-to-door offers to handle your insurance claim — the rules are in roofers and insurance claims in California.
Have the roofer's license number? Check the C-39, workers' comp and permits now.
Frequently asked
How do I check a roofer's license in California?
Do roofers need workers' compensation insurance in California?
Does a re-roof need a permit in Los Angeles?
How can I see a roofer's past jobs?
Who should remove my solar panels for a re-roof?
Related reading
Sources & methodology
Product facts on this page come from Cali-Graf's own help center and the pages linked below; figures in examples come from the stated inputs. Features, limits and supported utilities change; each was verified October 16, 2026.
- Contractors State License Board — Check a contractor license
- Contractors State License Board — How do I find the right licensed contractor?
- Contractors State License Board — C-39 Roofing Contractor
- Cali-Graf — Roofers in Southern California
- Cali-Graf — Roofers in Los Angeles County
- Cali-Graf — How rankings work
Check the roofer before the re-roof
Look up the C-39 license, workers' comp and re-roof permits on one page, then confirm on cslb.ca.gov before signing. Planning a new roof, or a roof with solar? Cali Energy (CSLB #1032379, B, C-10 and C-39), which develops Cali-Graf, can give you an estimate. General information, not legal advice.
Prepared by Cali Energy, October 16, 2026. This article is for general educational purposes only and is not legal, tax, financial, engineering, or utility advice. Rates, incentives, codes, permit requirements, equipment specifications, prices, and program terms may change; figures and timelines are estimates, not guarantees. Confirm current requirements with the applicable utility, AHJ, program administrator, manufacturer, or a licensed professional. See our Content Disclaimer. Cali Energy · 19201 Parthenia St, Unit E, Northridge, CA 91324 · CSLB #1032379 (B, C-10, C-39)