Does Wisconsin Require a Roofing License?
Wisconsin has no roofing-specific license, but any contractor who pulls a building permit for work on a one- or two-family home must hold the state's Dwelling Contractor certification and have a certified Dwelling Contractor Qualifier. Whether a reroof in the Hudson area needs a permit at all depends on your city, village or town.
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What Credential Does a Wisconsin Roofer Need?
A Wisconsin roofer needs the state's Dwelling Contractor certification, plus a certified Dwelling Contractor Qualifier on staff, whenever they take out a building permit for work on a one- or two-family home. Roofing is named in the state's definition of a dwelling contractor, but the credential is tied to the permit, not to roofing as a trade, which is why there is no separate roofing license to ask for.
The two credentials are held by different people. The Dwelling Contractor certification belongs to the business, and the Qualifier certification belongs to an individual, who must be the owner or an employee of that business. Both are issued by the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services, and a city or village may not issue a building permit to a contractor who cannot show the certificate.
A homeowner who lives in the house, or will live in it, can pull a permit for work on their own home without either credential.
What to ask for
Two credentials
One for the roofing business and one for a qualified person who owns it or works for it.
What the Dwelling Contractor Credential Proves About a Roofer
The Dwelling Contractor credential proves a roofer has shown the state proof of financial responsibility and, through its Qualifier, keeps up with continuing education on codes and contracts. Each part covers something a homeowner would otherwise have to take on trust.
Liability Insurance or a Bond
The business must carry general liability insurance of at least $250,000 per occurrence or a surety bond, renewed every year.
Workers' Compensation Where It Applies
Workers' compensation and unemployment insurance coverage are also required where the law applies them to the business.
A Qualifier Who Keeps Learning
The Qualifier renews every two years and completes 12 hours of approved education, four of them on construction law, codes, contracts, liability and risk.
Permission to Pull the Permit
Without the certificate, a contractor cannot take out a building permit for work on your home.
Do You Need a Permit to Replace a Roof in the Hudson Area?
You do not need a building permit to replace a roof in the City of Hudson unless the job includes structural changes or repairs, but the rule changes from one village or town to the next. Wisconsin leaves permits for repairs and alterations to local ordinance, so there is no single statewide answer.
St. Croix County does not issue building permits at all. Each town contracts its own building inspector, and villages and cities run their own offices, so the permit rules follow the municipality your parcel sits in rather than your mailing address.
| Where the home is | Reroof permit rule |
|---|---|
| City of Hudson | No building permit for new or replacement roofing with no structural changes or repairs |
| Village of Hammond | A permit from the Village Clerk is required for re-roofing |
| Village of Woodville | Contact the village's building inspector before replacing a roof |
| Other towns and villages | Not stated on their official sites; we confirm the rules with your local building inspector before work starts |
When structural work turns up partway through a job, such as rotten sheathing that needs roof decking replacement, even a Hudson reroof can move into permit territory, which is one more reason to know who will pull it.
How Many Roof Layers Does Wisconsin Allow?
Wisconsin allows a maximum of two layers of roofing, so a new roof can go over one existing layer but never over two. The state's dwelling code also requires a full tear-off when the old roof is water-soaked or too deteriorated to hold new roofing.
Some old roofs must come off no matter how many layers there are. A new covering may not go over wood shake, slate, clay, cement or asbestos-cement tile, so a cedar shake roof is always torn off before anything new goes on.
People searching for a "25% rule" are usually reading about Florida, where repairing more than a quarter of a roof within a year can require bringing the whole roof up to code. Wisconsin has no percentage rule like that; its dwelling code does not apply to repairs at all, and the limit that shapes a Hudson reroof is the two-layer rule.
Layer limit
Two layers at most
If your roof already has two layers, the next roof starts with a tear-off.
Not sure how many layers are on your Hudson roof?
We can look at the roof and tell you whether a tear-off is needed before you plan the replacement.
What Wisconsin Requires of a New Shingle Roof
Wisconsin requires a new shingle roof to have approved underlayment, ice dam protection at the eaves on low-slope roofs over heated space, metal or membrane flashing at every valley, chimney and opening, and shingles installed to the manufacturer's instructions. Each rule covers a place where snow, ice and meltwater get under a roof in a Hudson winter.
Ice Dam Protection at the Eaves
Shingle or shake roofs over heated space with a slope of 4:12 or less need ice dam protection at least 30 inches up from the roof edge and at least 12 inches past the inside face of the exterior wall.
Underlayment Under Every Shingle
Felt or an equivalent water-resistant underlayment goes under all shingles, and ice-and-water membrane also meets the rule.
Flashing at Valleys and Chimneys
Flashing is required at every valley, chimney and roof opening, and a chimney wider than 30 inches on its upper side needs a cricket.
Shingles Fastened as the Maker Says
Shingles go on to the manufacturer's instructions, with at least four fasteners per strip shingle unless the maker says otherwise.
How to Check a Roofer's Wisconsin Credential Before They Start
You can check a roofer's Wisconsin credential yourself in a few minutes on the state's free credential lookup, then ask for proof of insurance in writing. Doing both before you sign means you know who is pulling the permit and who carries the risk if something goes wrong on your roof.
- 1
Search the Business Name
Look up the company's name and check that it holds a current Dwelling Contractor certification.
- 2
Search the Qualifier's Name
Ask who the company's Dwelling Contractor Qualifier is and look up that person's certification as well.
- 3
Ask for Proof of Insurance
Ask for a certificate showing the liability insurance, and workers' compensation where it applies, before work starts.
- 4
Ask Who Pulls the Permit
Where your town requires a permit, agree in writing that the contractor pulls it, and have the inspector look at the finished work before your final payment.
If you pull the permit yourself as the owner, the permit office will ask you to sign a statement warning that if your contractor does not carry the bond or insurance the law requires, you may be liable for injury or damage to others and may be unable to collect damages from the contractor. Before you sign, also check for a cancellation form in the contract and a written question about whether the job is tied to an insurance claim. Our guide on how to hire a roofer in Wisconsin covers both.
Want proof of our credential and insurance before you book?
Ask us for it when you call or send the form about your roof.
Who Can Replace Your Roof in Hudson?
A contractor holding Wisconsin's Dwelling Contractor certification, with a certified Dwelling Contractor Qualifier, is the one who can replace your roof in Hudson when the job needs a building permit, because only a certified contractor can pull that permit for a one- or two-family home. Hudson Roofing Pros does this work; ask us for proof of the credential and insurance when you book.
We are a family-owned company that has been roofing in Hudson and western Wisconsin since 2016. Garrett Olson, our owner, personally oversees every project, and the same crew stays on your job from the first inspection to the final cleanup. We confirm the permit rules with your local building inspector before work starts, and on every roof replacement our crew builds the roofing system for Wisconsin's snow, ice, wind and seasonal weather.
Wisconsin Roofing License and Permit FAQs
Do You Need a Permit to Replace a Roof in Wisconsin?
Whether you need a permit to replace a roof in Wisconsin depends on your city, village or town, because the state leaves permits for repairs and alterations to local ordinance. In the City of Hudson a reroof with no structural changes needs no building permit, while the Village of Hammond requires one from the Village Clerk.
Does a Roofer Need a License in Wisconsin?
A roofer does not need a roofing-specific license in Wisconsin, but one who pulls a building permit for a one- or two-family home must hold the Dwelling Contractor certification and have a certified Dwelling Contractor Qualifier.
What Is the 25% Rule for Roofing?
The 25% rule is a Florida building rule that can require a whole roof to meet current code when more than a quarter of it is repaired or replaced within a year. Wisconsin has no such rule; here, the limit that matters is that a roof may carry at most two layers, so a third means a tear-off.
Can You Put a New Roof Over Old Shingles in Wisconsin?
You can put a new roof over one layer of old shingles in Wisconsin, as long as that layer is sound and not water-soaked. A roof that already has two layers, or one of wood shake, slate or tile, must be torn off first.
Who Pulls the Permit for a Roof Replacement?
The contractor normally pulls the permit for a roof replacement where one is required, and only a contractor with the state's Dwelling Contractor certification may do so. If you pull it yourself as the owner, you sign a statement warning that you may be liable for injury or damage if your contractor is not insured as the law requires.
Get a roof replacement estimate
Send the form or call Hudson Roofing Pros, and we will look at your roof, check the permit rules for your town and give you a written estimate.
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