STATE LICENSE
NoneSee what applies
No Kentucky statute licenses roofers. Roofing is permitted and inspected locally under the Uniform State Building Code, and every building permit requires a workers' comp and unemployment insurance affidavit (KRS 198B.060). What makes Kentucky roofing distinct is KRS 367.620–.628, rewritten in 2025 and 2026: before signing any contract expected to be paid from property insurance, a roofer must furnish contact details, two bold-type notices, and a detachable 'Notice of Cancellation' form, and may take no advance payment until the homeowner's five-business-day cancellation window after a claim denial has passed.
Roofers may not offer to pay or rebate any part of a deductible, grant allowances against their fee, give the insured anything worth more than $100, act as a public adjuster, or lien an insured for charges above what insurance pays. Under KRS 367.379 (effective July 15, 2026), when an emergency causes property destruction the Attorney General may order roofing and siding contractors in the designated area to register, post the certificate at each job site, and refrain from door-to-door solicitation for 90 days.
The state sets the license floor; the county or city permit office controls filing, inspections, and local rules wherever the job site sits.
Roofing permits are local under the Uniform State Building Code (KRS 198B.060). During an AG emergency order, a local government may not require its own emergency registration from a contractor who complies with KRS 367.379(3), unless the AG confirms the local rules are stricter — in which case the local rules control (KRS 367.379(5)–(6)).
The local offices section below names the exact permit desk for every Kentucky county on file.
Each row names the issuing authority, cost, timeline, citation, and status behind the requirement — verified against the official source.
Published fees from the issuing authorities, as of October 2026. Local permit fees vary by project and jurisdiction — the basis is stated where a flat number does not exist.
Offering to pay or rebate any part of an insurance deductible as an inducement is prohibited (KRS 367.628(2)(b)).
No bonus, credit, gift, referral fee, or anything else worth more than $100 to the insured on an insurance-paid job (KRS 367.628(2)(d)).
2026 Ky. Acts ch. 54 amendments to KRS 367.620–.628 apply to contracts entered into on or after July 15, 2026.
A practical sequence for a new roofing contractor in Kentucky. Actual agency processing times are noted in the ledger above.
Each item names the issuing authority, cycle, and citation.
Statutory consequences with their citations — not estimates, not “commonly cited” guesses.
Violating KRS 367.620–.628 — missing notices, advance payments, deductible rebates, or acting as an adjuster. The AG or an injured person may sue.
Causing or encouraging damage to property to expand scope or win a contract on an insurance-paid job.
A building permit issues only on an affidavit that every contractor and subcontractor on the job complies with Kentucky workers' compensation and unemployment insurance law; a person who fails to honor that assurance is fined, enforced by the county attorney.
Inside city limits, the city office listed here issues the permit; the county office serves unincorporated areas. Every office links to its official page.
| County · City | Permit office | Portal |
|---|---|---|
| Fayette County Lexington (consolidated gov.) | Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government — Division of Building Inspection ↗ | Lexington-Fayette Permitting Portal (One-Stop Shop) ↗ |
| Jefferson County Louisville (consolidated gov.) | Louisville Metro Government — Construction Review (Department of Codes and Regulations) ↗ | Louisville Metro Business Portal (Accela Citizen Access) ↗ |
Every fact in this file was checked against these official sources on October 2026.
Pending verification: Attorney General emergency registration form and any fee (KRS 367.379(7) authorizes regulations; none retrieved) · Which Kentucky cities and counties (reportedly including Louisville Metro and Lexington-Fayette) require their own contractor license or registration, and on what terms — no official local source was retrieved · Which local governments have adopted an ordinance requiring permits and inspections for single-family residences under KRS 198B.060(1)
General information, not legal advice. Always confirm requirements, deadlines, and forms with the issuing authority before filing or contracting.
Store licenses, permits, policies, and renewal dates in one place.