Licensing by jurisdiction
| Jurisdiction | Roofer licensing |
|---|---|
| New York State | No state license for home improvement contractors.[1] |
| Erie County | No countywide license. Licensing or registration is handled by each city, town and village.[2] |
| City of Buffalo | City contractor license required for home improvement work, including roofing (City Code Chapter 144).[3][4] |
| Town of Amherst | Licenses all home improvement contractors (Local Law 6 of 2011, amended by Local Law 2 of 2021).[2] |
| Town of Elma | Home improvement contractors must be licensed (Town Code Chapter 105).[2] |
| Village of Kenmore | Contractor licensing required since January 1, 2020.[2] |
| City of Tonawanda and Town of Tonawanda | Contractor licensing required.[2] |
| Town of Aurora | Contractors must have liability, workers' compensation and disability insurance on file with the Building Department.[2] |
| Other Erie County towns and villages | Erie County's list shows licensing only for trades such as plumbing, electrical or HVAC, not roofing. Permits may still apply.[2] |
| Niagara County | We found no official countywide summary. Check with your city, town or village building department. |
Erie County calls its list a starting point and says the municipal building or code enforcement office is the authoritative source.[2]
City of Buffalo contractor license: what it requires
According to the City's 2026 application, Chapter 144 of the City of Buffalo Ordinance requires anyone running a home improvement business (painting, siding, roofing and so on) or doing construction work in the City to hold a City contractor license. Working without one is an unclassified misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $1,000, up to 60 days in jail, or both. The license does not cover plumbing, heating, cooling or electrical work.[3]
- The one-person Handyman license expressly excludes roofing and siding.[3]
- Applicants submit a general liability insurance certificate, proof of business name, a driver's license, and RRP/EPA lead certification. Applicants with employees need proof of workers' compensation. Those without employees file a CE-200 exemption. Residential applicants also submit a City of Buffalo home improvement contract.[3]
- Complete applications go to the Construction and Home Improvement Advisory Board, which meets monthly. The applicant must attend.[3][5]
- The Office of Licenses is at 65 Niagara Square, Room 301, City Hall, (716) 851-6583. The City also publishes a Contractor Complaint Affidavit.[3][5]
State law that applies everywhere in New York
Even without a state license, New York's General Business Law sets rules for every home improvement job:
- Written contract for most jobs over $500, with the contractor's name, address, phone number and license number if applicable, start and completion dates, a description of work and materials, and the price.[6][7]
- Three-business-day right to cancel, in writing.[6][7]
- Deposits protected: payments made before completion must go into a New York escrow account within five business days, or the contractor must post a bond.[7]
- Roofing-specific rules (§ 771-b): the contract must name the insurer, coverage type and policy limits. Roofers cannot require a deposit, may invoice for materials on delivery with the cost disclosed in writing, and invoice the rest on completion. They may not offer to pay your deductible or adjust your insurance claim, and must follow the local building code.[8]
- Insurance proof (§ 771-b): a workers' compensation certificate or a CE-200 exemption, plus general liability of at least $100,000 per person and $300,000 per occurrence for bodily injury and $50,000 for property damage. This applies wherever the locality sets no insurance requirement of its own.[8]
Permits are separate from licenses
Erie County advises asking the contractor whether permits are needed and confirming with your local building and codes office before work starts.[9] Mailing addresses can mislead: the Blasdell ZIP code 14219, for example, covers parts of the Village of Blasdell, the Town of Hamburg and the City of Lackawanna. Erie County Real Property Tax Services' parcel search can confirm which municipality your home is in.[2] New York adopted the 2025 Uniform Code, effective December 31, 2025, so permits applied for now follow the 2025 code books.[10]
How to verify a roofer before you sign
- Ask for the contractor's license number if your municipality requires one, and confirm it with the issuing office.[9]
- Get insurance certificates in writing and confirm them with the insurer.[8]
- Check references and search online for complaints.[9]
- Get at least three detailed estimates.[1]
- Have a problem? Contact Erie County Consumer Protection at (716) 858-1987, the NYS Division of Consumer Protection at 1-800-697-1220, or the NY Attorney General.[9][1]
See also how to choose a roofer and browse local roofing contractors. This page summarizes public sources as of October 17, 2026 and is not legal advice.