How to verify a Louisiana roofer in four minutes

After a storm, your driveway fills up with people holding clipboards. Three public lookups separate the licensed local contractors from the crews that will be in another state by the time your ceiling stains reappear.

1. Search the LSLBC licence register

In Louisiana, any residential construction job over $7,500 requires a State Licensing Board for Contractors licence. Search the contractor's exact company name in the LSLBC register and confirm the licence is active and carries the classification for the work you are buying. A licence for something unrelated is not a licence for your roof.

Watch for name games: a truck decal that does not match the licensed entity, or a "licensed and insured" claim with no number offered. A real contractor gives you the number without being pushed.

2. Ask for the certificate of insurance, from the insurer

You want general liability and workers' compensation, and you want the certificate sent by the insurance agency rather than a PDF from the salesperson's phone. If a crew member is hurt on your roof and there is no workers' comp, that exposure can land on you.

3. Ask who is pulling the permit

Louisiana has required permits and geotagged photo documentation for reroofs since August 2025. Only a licensed contractor in good standing can pull one, so this question quietly does the verification for you. In East Baton Rouge Parish it runs through the City-Parish system; Livingston and Ascension have their own. We wrote up how the permit process works here.

Two extra checks worth sixty seconds

• Manufacturer certification. GAF Master Elite is held by a small share of roofers nationally and is the prerequisite for the strongest workmanship-backed warranties. See what the certification actually requires.
• Local address and local reviews. A physical presence in the parish means someone to call in year six. Ours is in Zachary, here is who we are.

Red flags that should end the conversation

• Pressure to sign today, or a "storm discount" that expires this afternoon.
• A large cash deposit before materials are ordered.
• An offer to cover, waive or absorb your insurance deductible, that is insurance fraud in Louisiana.
• A quote that does not say whether it is a full tear-off or a layover over the existing shingles.

If you want a second opinion on a quote you already have, send it to us and we will tell you what is missing from it, whether or not you hire us.