In Arizona, contractors are licensed by the state’s Registrar of Contractors (ROC), and you can look up a license yourself. Knowing what the license means, and what it does not, tells you what to ask for and what should give you pause. This guide covers roofing license classifications, how to search the ROC’s records, what a written contract must contain, the Residential Contractors’ Recovery Fund, and the cancellation rights that actually apply.

A license is required, with a narrow exception

State law makes it unlawful to act as a contractor, or to bid or offer to act as one, without a contractor’s license in good standing, unless an exemption applies (A.R.S. 32-1151 (opens in a new tab)). The exemption most homeowners hear about covers casual or minor work under $1,000. It does not apply if a local building permit is required for the work, if the job is part of a larger project, or if the person advertising does not disclose that they are “not a licensed contractor” (A.R.S. 32-1121 (opens in a new tab)). The exempt work must also be “of a casual or minor nature.” Whether your re-roof needs a permit depends on your city (see Do You Need a Permit to Re-Roof in Phoenix?).

A license also comes with a bond. Before granting an original license, the Registrar requires a surety bond or a cash deposit, and a license cannot be renewed unless that bond or deposit is in force (A.R.S. 32-1152 (opens in a new tab)).

Roofing classifications

The ROC licenses by classification, and roofing has its own. In the state’s administrative rules, roofing appears as R-42 (residential), C-42 (commercial), and CR-42 (dual). The “R” means the license scope is limited to what the title describes. For residential roofing, the R-42 scope covers weatherproofing and roof accessories such as flashing and valleys, as needed to install and repair roof tile, shingles, shakes, slate, metal roofing, urethane foam, and roof insulation or coatings on or above the roof deck (Ariz. Admin. Code R4-9-103 (opens in a new tab); see also R4-9-102 (opens in a new tab) and R4-9-104 (opens in a new tab)).

Two practical points follow:

  • Ask which classification the contractor holds and whether it covers your roof type and the work in your contract. Knowingly contracting beyond the scope of a license is a ground for discipline (A.R.S. 32-1154 (opens in a new tab)).
  • The R-42 scope has a limit on the roof deck. A licensee may replace up to 10 percent of the roof substrate for problems discovered after the contract is signed. More than that must be done by a properly licensed subcontractor. Ask how deck damage will be handled.

Those rule links go to a legal-research reproduction of the Arizona Administrative Code, so confirm current classifications and scopes with the ROC.

How to search a license

The ROC runs an online Contractor Search (opens in a new tab). The page says you can search by a contractor’s 6-digit license number or by name, and its Advanced Search filters by city, classification, and status. The ROC’s Before You Hire a Contractor (opens in a new tab) page recommends reviewing the license record there and calling the contractor’s number listed on that record to confirm you are dealing with an authorized representative. What to check:

  1. Name and number match your contract. The license number should appear in the contract (more below).
  2. Status is active. State law makes it a ground for discipline to contract while a license is suspended or on inactive status (A.R.S. 32-1154 (opens in a new tab)), so an inactive, expired, suspended, or revoked license is a stop sign. Check the status on the day you sign, not weeks earlier.
  3. The classification covers your job. See above.
  4. Look at the complaint history on the record, and read any closed cases.

A license is not an endorsement of the work. It tells you the contractor is on the state’s books with a bond in place, and it opens the door to the state’s complaint process. It does not tell you how good the roofing will be, so compare bids and ask for references.

What a written contract must include

For a contract above $1,000, Arizona law requires the contract to state at least the following in writing (A.R.S. 32-1158 (opens in a new tab)):

  • The contractor’s name, business address, and license number
  • Your name, mailing address, and the job site address
  • The date of the contract and the estimated completion date
  • A description of the work
  • The total price, including taxes
  • Any advance deposit
  • Each progress payment and the stage of construction at which it is due
  • A prominent notice, in at least 10-point bold type, that you can file a complaint with the Registrar, with the Registrar’s phone number, website, and the time limit for complaints

The contract must be signed by you and the contractor (or their designee). When you sign, the contractor must give you a legible copy of everything you signed and a written, signed receipt for any cash you paid. The statute adds that a missing item does not by itself void the contract or give either side a defense, so do not assume a contract with gaps protects you. Insist on a complete one.

If something goes wrong

Complaints have a deadline. A complaint to the Registrar generally must be filed within two years after the project is completed (A.R.S. 32-1162 (opens in a new tab)). You can file one through the ROC complaint page (opens in a new tab). Before the Registrar issues a citation for workmanship, the contractor must be given a chance to inspect the work within 15 days after getting written notice from the Registrar (A.R.S. 32-1155 (opens in a new tab)), so keep the work as it is until then if you can.

The Residential Contractors’ Recovery Fund is a state fund for some homeowners harmed by a licensed residential contractor. It is not insurance, and it is narrow. Under the statute (A.R.S. 32-1132 (opens in a new tab), 32-1132.01 (opens in a new tab), 32-1133 (opens in a new tab)):

  • You must own the home and live in it, or intend to live in it, as your primary residence.
  • The contractor must have held a valid residential license, not canceled, inactive, expired, suspended, or revoked, when the contract was signed, when the first payment was made, or when work began. A claim against an unlicensed operator is not covered.
  • Awards are limited to your actual damages, with a maximum individual award of $30,000. Actual damages must be established with bids from a properly licensed contractor.
  • A civil claim must start within two years of the contractor’s act (or from occupancy), with written notice to the Registrar within 30 days of filing, and you must have proceeded against any bond. The ROC also describes a route that starts with an administrative complaint. See the ROC Recovery Fund page (opens in a new tab) for current steps.

Cancellation rights that actually apply

The cancellation right we found in Arizona’s statutes applies to home solicitation sales, not to every home-improvement contract. You can cancel until midnight of the third business day after signing when the seller “personally solicits the sale without prior invitation, appointment or consent” and the agreement is made at a home other than the seller’s. The contract must include a notice of cancellation, and a contract term waiving the right is void (A.R.S. 44-5001 (opens in a new tab), 44-5002 (opens in a new tab), 44-5004 (opens in a new tab)). There is an emergency exception: you cannot cancel if you asked for work to begin without delay because of an emergency and the seller made a substantial beginning (A.R.S. 44-5007 (opens in a new tab)). If you called the contractor, or signed at their office, the definition may not fit. The Federal Trade Commission also describes a federal three-day right for sales at your home (FTC (opens in a new tab)). Ask before you sign, and do not count on a right to cancel.

Whoever you hire, these checks are yours to run. For a longer list of questions to ask contractors, see Questions to Ask a Roofing Contractor. After a storm, also read Monsoon Roof Damage in Arizona.