Short version: New Jersey doesn’t license roofers. Any company that does roofing on your home has to be registered as a Home Improvement Contractor with the NJ Division of Consumer Affairs. You can check that registration yourself in about two minutes on the state’s free license verification site. Do it before anyone climbs your ladder, and definitely before you hand over a deposit.
This guide walks through the lookup step by step, then covers what state law says your roofing contract has to include. Most homeowners never see that list, and it’s the fastest way to spot a contractor you shouldn’t hire.
Registration, not a “license”
In New Jersey, residential roofers, siders, window installers, painters and most other home improvement trades fall under the state’s Contractors’ Registration Act. There’s no roofing exam or state roofing license. Instead, each company has to register with the Division of Consumer Affairs every year and carry commercial general liability insurance.
The state is strict about the wording. Contractors are supposed to show their number as “HIC reg.#” followed by the number, and the Division’s own compliance checklist says the word “license” shouldn’t be used. So if a roofer’s truck or estimate says “NJ Licensed Roofer” with no registration number next to it, that’s worth a follow-up question.
A real number looks like 13VH12363400. That one belongs to M&J Roofing, the Blackwood company that runs this site, and you can look it up yourself using the steps below.
How to look up a New Jersey contractor, step by step
- Open the state’s verification site at newjersey.mylicense.com/verification. It’s run by the NJ Division of Consumer Affairs and it’s free. You don’t need an account.
- Choose “Business Search.” Home improvement registrations are issued in the name of the business, not the person who knocked on your door, so a search by the salesperson’s name usually comes back empty.
- Search by the registration number if you have it. It’s the most precise search. If you only have a company name, try the legal name from the contract (for example “M&J Roofing LLC”), and then try fewer words if nothing comes up.
- Check the status and the name. You want an active registration, and the name on the record should match the company on your estimate and contract. A registration in a different company’s name is a red flag, not a technicality.
- Write down the number and make sure the same number appears on the written contract you sign. By law, it has to be there.
If you can’t find a company, or the record doesn’t match what you were told, call the Division of Consumer Affairs at 1-800-242-5846 before you sign anything.
What a New Jersey roofing contract must include
For any home improvement job over $500, which covers every roof replacement and most repairs, New Jersey requires a written contract. The Division’s checklist says it has to include:
- The contractor’s legal name, business address and registration number
- The name and information of the sales representative
- A copy of the contractor’s certificate of commercial general liability insurance, with a minimum of $500,000 per occurrence
- A description of the work and the materials and products being used
- Any warranty or guarantee terms
- Any financing or security interest details
- The total price, including any finance charges
- Start and completion dates, or timeframes
- The signatures of all parties
- The Division of Consumer Affairs phone number, 1-800-242-5846
Any change to the job, like replacing rotted decking the crew finds once the old shingles are off, has to be added to the contract in writing too.
You have three business days to cancel
After you receive the signed contract, you can cancel it for any reason before midnight of the third business day. The contractor has to tell you about that right in the contract. If you cancel, any money you paid has to be refunded within 30 days. It’s the reason a good contractor never pressures you to “sign today, the price goes up tomorrow.”
What happens when a contractor ignores the rules
Violations of the home improvement rules are treated as violations of New Jersey’s Consumer Fraud Act. Homeowners can pursue up to three times their losses, plus attorney’s fees and costs. That’s a lot of leverage, but only if the contractor is registered and reachable. Checking up front costs you two minutes; tracking down an unregistered crew after a bad job can cost months.
Red flags to watch for in South Jersey
Most problems we hear about follow a storm. Crews from out of state follow the weather, knock on doors, and move on before the warranty matters. Watch for:
- No registration number on the estimate, truck, website or business card, or a number that doesn’t match the company name
- A contract with no insurance certificate attached, or an offer to “send it later”
- A large cash deposit requested on the spot, before materials are ordered or a start date is set
- “Sign now” pressure that skips over your three-day cancellation right
- An offer to cover your insurance deductible or to “handle the claim for you.” Our guide to storm damage and insurance claims explains what a contractor should and shouldn’t do
- A price with no scope. “New roof, $12,000” isn’t a contract. You should see tear-off, underlayment, flashing, ventilation and clean-up written out
On payments, New Jersey’s checklist doesn’t set a deposit limit, but a staged schedule tied to progress is common and reasonable. Don’t pay the final balance until the work is finished and any required inspections are done.
Beyond the registration: a quick vetting checklist
- Registration verified on the state site, matching the contract name
- Insurance certificate in hand, current, and at least $500,000 per occurrence
- Manufacturer certification if they claim one. GAF, for example, has a public contractor directory you can search
- Reviews on Google with a real history, not a handful posted the same week
- A local address you can drive past, and a phone number that’s answered in business hours
- A written, itemised estimate that tells you whether a repair will hold or a replacement is actually due
For more on interviewing roofers, see how to choose a roofing contractor. To sanity-check a quote, see what roofing actually costs in South Jersey.
The same check works for every contractor on your list
Home improvement registration isn’t just for roofers. The same two-minute lookup applies to your fence installer, your window and door company and your painter. If you’re lining up other projects, the South Jersey Contractors directory lists local home-service companies by trade. Local examples include Liberi Fence in Turnersville, Lomonaco’s Iron Concepts for windows, doors and ironwork, and Painting Plus Home Improvement in Cherry Hill. Run the same check on anyone you hire.
Frequently asked questions
Do roofers need a license in New Jersey?
New Jersey has no state roofing license. Residential roofing companies must instead register annually with the NJ Division of Consumer Affairs as Home Improvement Contractors and carry at least $500,000 per occurrence in commercial general liability insurance.
Where do I look up a contractor’s registration in NJ?
Use the Division of Consumer Affairs verification site at newjersey.mylicense.com/verification, and choose Business Search. Registrations are issued to businesses, so search by the company’s legal name or its registration number.
Does a roofing contract have to be in writing in New Jersey?
Yes, for any home improvement job over $500. The contract must include the contractor’s legal name, address and registration number, a copy of the liability insurance certificate, the work and materials, total price, start and completion dates, and your right to cancel within three business days.
Can I cancel a roofing contract after I sign it?
Yes. In New Jersey you can cancel a home improvement contract for any reason before midnight of the third business day after you receive it. Any payment has to be refunded within 30 days.
Sources: NJ Division of Consumer Affairs, Residential Home Improvement Contractor Compliance Checklist; NJ Home Improvement Contractor Law. This article is general information, not legal advice.