STATE LICENSE
ConditionalMississippi State Board of Contractors (M…
Residential roofing falls under the remodeler definition in Miss. Code Ann. § 73-59-1(c) — improvements to an existing residence costing more than $10,000. MSBOC Residential Rule 1.1(1)(g) creates a Residential Roofer subclassification with its own roofer's exam and a license marked roofing-only; Residential Remodeler and Residential Builder licenses also include roofing. Commercial roofing contracts of $50,000 or more require the Roofing, Sheet Metal and Siding specialty, which has a trade exam.
Roofers paid through homeowners' insurance must follow the Insurance Benefits Roofing Repair Consumer Protection Act (Miss. Code Ann. §§ 75-24-301 to -311), tightened by H.B. 1408 effective July 1, 2024: a three-business-day cancellation right after an insurer denial, no payment until that period ends, no deductible rebates, no negotiating a claim before it is filed, and no attorney-referral payments. A 2025 bill to license every roofer doing insurance-funded roofs died.
The state sets the license floor; the county or city permit office controls filing, inspections, and local rules wherever the job site sits.
Mississippi licensing is statewide through MSBOC, but cities and counties enforce it: building officials must refuse permits to anyone who would be a residential builder or remodeler unless they show an MSBOC license or exemption, and must report suspected violations to the Board (Miss. Code Ann. § 73-59-17). Residential contractors without a permanent Mississippi place of business (and not holding a commercial certificate) also need a Department of Revenue permit under § 27-65-27 to obtain a building permit, regardless of project cost or insurance funding (§ 73-59-18).
The local offices section below names the exact permit desk for every Mississippi 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.
Residential roofing jobs over $10,000 need an MSBOC license; at or under $10,000, no state contractor license applies — but local permits still do.
An out-of-state residential contractor without a permanent Mississippi place of business needs a Department of Revenue permit to get a building permit, regardless of job size or insurance funding (§ 73-59-18).
Since July 1, 2024 a residential roofing contractor may not advertise, offer, or pay any part of an insured's deductible as an inducement (§ 75-24-307(4)(b)).
A practical sequence for a new roofing contractor in Mississippi. 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.
Undertaking residential work that requires an MSBOC license without one — or giving the Board false information to get one — is a misdemeanor, and the Board may cite and stop the work.
A contractor unlicensed when the work was performed may not sue to enforce a residential building or remodeling contract; recovery is limited to documented labor and material expenses proved by clear and convincing evidence.
A public or private contract awarded to a contractor without a certificate of responsibility is void; knowingly bidding without one is a misdemeanor, and the Board may order abatement.
Inside city limits, the city office listed here issues the permit; the county office serves unincorporated areas. Every office links to its official page.
Every fact in this file was checked against these official sources on October 2026.
Pending verification: PSI exam fees for the Law & Business Management exam and the trade exams (MSBOC sends a PSI Candidate Information Bulletin only after an application is received) · Department of Revenue permit fee and process under § 27-65-27 (not retrieved) · Dollar amounts of the Consumer Protection Law penalties in §§ 75-24-19, -20, and -23 (not retrieved) · Emergency license fee after a disaster — § 73-59-7 caps it at $50, but the amount MSBOC currently charges was not confirmed
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.