Indiana Has No Statewide Roofing License. Homeowners Are Still Told to Check

On October 27, 2026, IndyStar reported that Indiana is one of just 12 states without a statewide roofing license. The newspaper's look at how contractor licensing works in Indiana came two months after the August 2026 storms. After those storms, the state's Attorney General told homeowners to research any company they hire and to verify its licensing and insurance.

This article covers what IndyStar reported, what Indiana does and does not license at the state level, and what the Attorney General told homeowners about contracts. It also covers what this means for a contractor who wants to stand out or work in Indiana. For the full picture of how the state licenses contractors, start with the Indiana contractor license page.

At a glance

• Who: IndyStar, reporting on October 27, 2026, and the Indiana Attorney General's office, which issued a consumer warning in August 2026.
• The gap: According to IndyStar, Indiana is one of 12 states with no statewide roofing license. The state does license plumbers.
• Where licensing happens: in cities and counties. In Indianapolis, IndyStar reports, roofing falls under the general contractor license.
• What homeowners are told: research the company, verify licensing and insurance, and get a written contract on residential repair or improvement jobs over $150. Homeowners also generally have three business days to cancel.
• The takeaway: with no statewide roofing license to look up, a license that checks out, current insurance and a clear written contract set a contractor apart.

What IndyStar reported

IndyStar reports that Indiana is one of just 12 states that do not require a statewide roofing license. The state does regulate other industries, such as cosmetology and insurance. The count of 12 is the newspaper's.

Licensing in Indiana is local. IndyStar says individual cities and towns can have their own licensing processes, and that requirements can vary greatly from one town to the next.

In Indianapolis, IndyStar reports, the city's permitting department requires industry-specific licenses for electrician, HVAC, wrecking and plumbing work. All other work, roofing included, falls under general contracting. A general contracting license application includes an application, proof of business, a certificate of insurance and workers' compensation policies, the paper says, and none of it asks for proof of roofing experience. A spokesperson for the city's Department of Business and Neighborhood Services told the paper that the city recommends hiring only licensed, listed or registered contractors for jobs that require a permit. The city also keeps a database of contractors online.

IndyStar also reports that Beech Grove and Southport have their own systems, so a contractor working in either city needs a separate general contractor license from that city.

An Attorney General's Office spokesperson also told IndyStar that the office has filed six complaints against contractors since the August 2026 storms. They were filed under the Deceptive Consumer Sales Act and the Home Improvement Contracts Act.

What the state licenses and what the cities license

The Indiana Professional Licensing Agency lists Plumbing among the professions it licenses. Its list does not include roofing, general contractor, electrician or HVAC. Our Indiana contractor license page lays it out the same way. Indiana has no statewide general contractor license, and cities and counties license general contractors locally. Electrical and HVAC work is regulated locally too.

Outside Indianapolis, the pattern repeats. The Allen County Building Department handles contractor and trade licensing in Fort Wayne and Allen County. Evansville and Vanderburgh County, and South Bend, have their own local authorities. Which license applies depends on where the job is.

What the Attorney General told homeowners

After the August 2026 storms, derecho and flooding, the Attorney General's office issued a consumer warning. Its advice: "Consumers should research the company independently and verify licensing and insurance requirements." The Attorney General's own words to homeowners were to do their homework, be tenacious and demand everything in writing.

On contracts, the release says that under the Home Improvement Contracts Act, contracts for residential repairs or improvements exceeding $150 must be in writing. At a minimum the contract must include:

• The name and address of the homeowner and the property.
• The name, address and contact information of the contractor and any agents.
• A reasonably detailed description of the work.
• Approximate start and completion dates.
• The full contract price.
• A clear statement if third parties or subcontractors will perform any of the work or supply materials.

Any change or expansion of the project requires a written, signed change order. Homeowners "generally have three business days to cancel a home improvement contract with no questions asked." Contractors may not advertise, offer or promise to pay or rebate any portion of an insurance deductible, and they cannot act as public adjusters. The release says a violation of the Act counts as a "deceptive act" under Indiana's Deceptive Consumer Sales Act. A company or contractor who commits one can be responsible for actual damages, attorney's fees and injunctive relief.

The release also advises homeowners to avoid large upfront payments. It says never to send final payment until a walkthrough confirms every item in the written contract is complete, including debris removal and finishing details. Homeowners who suspect a scam can report it to the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division at indianaconsumer.com or 1-800-382-5516.

Why a license is a selling point here

With no statewide roofing license to look up, a homeowner's check goes local. The Attorney General's advice is to verify licensing and insurance. For jobs that need a permit, IndyStar reports, Indianapolis recommends licensed, listed or registered contractors and keeps a database of contractors online. A contractor who is on that list and can show a certificate of insurance has answered two of the questions a homeowner was told to ask. A written contract that names the work, the price, the dates and any subcontractors covers the third.

When a homeowner asks for your license number and your insurance, that is a buying signal. Answer it quickly and in writing, and you have done what the Attorney General told the homeowner to look for.

For companies that want to work in Indiana

Indiana has no statewide general contractor license, so the first question is which city or county the work is in. Indianapolis issues a general Building Contractor license through its Department of Business and Neighborhood Services, and IndyStar reports that roofing falls under it. Beech Grove and Southport license separately. Each office sets its own application, so confirm the requirements with the office in the jurisdiction where the work will happen. The Indiana contractor license page covers the local authorities and the state plumbing license.

Indiana has no qualifying agent or qualifying party requirement at the state level, so there is no state qualifier to place. If you also work in states that license the company through a qualifying agent, contractor qualifier services explains how The Licensing Company helps. It also covers help with license applications in other states.

Frequently asked questions

Does Indiana require a roofing license? Not statewide. IndyStar reports that Indiana is one of 12 states without a statewide roofing license. Cities and counties handle licensing, so the rules depend on where the job is. In Indianapolis, IndyStar reports, roofing falls under the general contractor license.

Does Indiana license general contractors? Not at the state level. Cities and counties license general contractors locally. The state does license plumbers through the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency.

Does an Indiana homeowner need a written contract for home repair work? The Attorney General's release says contracts for residential repairs or improvements exceeding $150 must be in writing under the Home Improvement Contracts Act. The contract must include the information listed above.

Can an Indiana homeowner cancel a home improvement contract? The release says homeowners generally have three business days to cancel a home improvement contract with no questions asked.

How do Indiana homeowners check a contractor? The Attorney General says to research the company independently and verify licensing and insurance requirements. In Indianapolis, the city keeps a database of contractors online, according to IndyStar.

Is this a new law? No. IndyStar's report explains rules that already exist, and nothing in the sources says Indiana is changing them.

This article is general education, not legal advice. The Indiana Attorney General's office, the licensing office in your city or county, or an Indiana construction attorney can confirm how the rules apply to a specific job.

Marshall Schofield, one of the nation's leading contractor exam prep instructors, has helped thousands upon thousands of contractors get licensed. Jeremiah Jaskulski is a licensed contractor who has lived the licensing process across multiple states. Together they founded The Licensing Company, and they help contractors get licensed the right way in Indiana and nationwide. Sources: IndyStar, October 27, 2026, as republished by InkFreeNews, Indiana Attorney General news release, August 2026, and the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency professions list.