Michigan Roofing Licensing: Check the LARA Record

Updated July 27, 2026

3D Roofs Editorial Team

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Plenty of states let almost anyone call themselves a roofer. Michigan isn't one of them. Michigan provides a state license record for residential roofing work. Use it to verify the contracting entity and current authorization before signing. Do not rely on a license number printed in an estimate; match the business name and current status in the official record. Here's exactly what the law requires and how to verify it yourself.

What the law actually requires

Under Article 24 of Public Act 299 of 1980, a contractor doing roofing on homes in Michigan must hold one of two credentials: a Residential Builder license, or a Maintenance and Alteration (M&A) Contractor license carrying the roofing classification (trade code 'M'). Both are issued by the Bureau of Construction Codes under the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, which everyone refers to as LARA. The M&A license is the trade-specific credential for contractors who do specialty work like roofing rather than building whole houses; what matters is that it carries the roofing classification, not just that the company holds some license.

Why 'unlicensed' is more than a red flag here

In a state without licensing, 'unlicensed' means 'be careful.' In Michigan it means something stronger: a contractor without the required license is not legally allowed to do residential roofing for compensation. That changes your risk entirely. An unlicensed crew has no state credential to lose, often carries no real insurance, and is frequently gone by the time a problem surfaces. Hiring outside a licensing requirement can affect legal rights and remedies. Confirm current requirements with LARA and seek legal advice for a dispute.

How to verify a license through LARA

• Ask for the license up front. A legitimate Michigan roofer will give you the business name and license number without hesitation; reluctance is its own answer.
• Confirm it's the right type: a Residential Builder license, or a Maintenance and Alteration (M&A) Contractor license that specifically carries the roofing classification.
• Look it up on LARA's online license lookup to confirm the license is active and in good standing, not expired, lapsed, or belonging to a different company.
• Match the name on the license to the name on your contract and your check. 'Borrowing' a license holder's number is a known dodge.

Where this fits with your other checks

The LARA license is the foundation, but it isn't the whole inspection. It tells you the contractor is legally permitted to do the work; it doesn't, on its own, tell you they carry current liability and workers'-compensation insurance, that they have a local track record, or that they understand Michigan-specific details like ice-and-water shield and attic ventilation. Treat the license as the gate you check first, then move on to the broader vetting. A contractor who fails the license check never needs the rest of the conversation.

In most states an unlicensed roofer is a risk. In Michigan, they're not even allowed to do the job for pay, and verifying that takes about two minutes.

Verify the Michigan license record, not just the number

Michigan LARA advises homeowners to verify contractor licensing before work begins. For residential roofing, confirm the legal business and the Residential Builder or Maintenance and Alteration credential with the roofing classification that applies to the scope. Match the legal business name in that record to the proposal, contract, vehicle, and payment instructions. A copied number or a credential held by a different entity does not establish who is accountable for your job.

• Check that the license is active and that its classification fits the roofing scope you are buying.
• Review the official record for the business name and available complaint or discipline information.
• Confirm the salesperson or estimator is connected to the licensed entity shown in the record.
• Put price, permits, start and completion expectations, materials, change orders, and payment timing in writing.
• Keep the signed contract and proof of every payment under the same licensed business name.
• For the Michigan license verification, save the official credential record with the signed contract and receipts.

Use the license check as the start of due diligence

Michigan roofs face snow, ice dams, freeze-thaw cycling, lake-influenced moisture, and warm-season storms, which puts attic conditions and water control at the center of the decision. A valid credential does not choose the roof system for you or prove that a particular scope is complete. Continue by comparing recent local work, insurance documents, named materials, supervision, property protection, deck and flashing assumptions, and warranty responsibility. The license check establishes who is accountable; the written scope establishes what that business has agreed to build.

Updated July 27, 2026

3D Roofs Editorial Team

Editorial Standards

Source-Checked