You can verify any Louisiana roofing contractor’s license in seconds at the LSLBC website (lslbc.louisiana.gov) by searching the contractor’s name or license number. A valid license should show an active status with roofing or residential classification and no disciplinary actions. Under Act 239, unlicensed contractors cannot legally pull permits in Louisiana, and any homeowner who knowingly hires one can face fines up to $7,500. Big Easy Roofers carries an active LSLBC license and encourages every Metairie and Jefferson Parish homeowner to verify credentials before signing any contract.
Every hurricane season, Metairie homeowners face the same problem twice: first the storm, then the wave of strangers knocking on doors with promises of a fast, cheap roof replacement. At Big Easy Roofers, we have seen the aftermath of these scams across Jefferson Parish for years, and the damage left behind by unlicensed storm chasers is often worse than what the hurricane did in the first place. Knowing how to verify a roofer’s license in Louisiana is not optional anymore. It is your single best defense against fraud.
This guide walks you through the exact steps to check any contractor’s credentials through the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC), the red flags that expose storm chasers, and the state laws that protect you when something goes wrong.
Metairie sits in Jefferson Parish, directly adjacent to New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain. That geography puts it squarely in the path of Gulf hurricanes, tropical storms, and severe thunderstorm systems that regularly produce wind and hail damage. After every major weather event, out-of-state contractors descend on the area in trucks with unfamiliar plates, armed with door hangers and rehearsed sales pitches.
Jefferson Parish’s population density makes it especially attractive to these transient operators. Thousands of roofs sustain damage simultaneously, homeowners are anxious to file insurance claims before deadlines pass, and legitimate local contractors are booked out for weeks. That perfect storm of urgency and limited availability is exactly the environment storm chasers exploit. They collect deposits, perform substandard work with cheap materials, and disappear long before the first leak appears.
If your roof has taken damage, the first step is always a request a licensed roof inspection in Metairie from a licensed, local company rather than a stranger who showed up uninvited at your front door.
The Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors maintains a free, public database that any homeowner can search in minutes. As of January 1, 2026, contractors performing residential roofing work over $7,500 must hold either a residential roofing license or a residential construction license with a roofing subclassification. Here is how to verify that license:
Step 1: Collect the contractor’s information. Before you search, get the exact legal business name as it appears on the written proposal or estimate, the contractor’s license number (if provided), and the qualifying party’s name. A legitimate contractor will hand over these details without hesitation.
Step 2: Visit the LSLBC Contractor Search page. Go to lslbc.louisiana.gov and select the Contractor Search tool. You can search by company name, license number, parish, city, or trade classification.
Step 3: Confirm the license status. The database will show whether the license is “active” or “current.” Any other status, including “expired,” “revoked,” or “suspended,” means that contractor is not authorized to perform work in Louisiana. Save a screenshot or PDF of the record for your project file.
Step 4: Cross-check the details. Verify that the company name on the LSLBC record matches the name on the proposal, the insurance certificate, and the contract. Mismatched names are a serious red flag and should be clarified before you sign anything.
Step 5: Use the mobile app or phone verification. The LSLBC offers a free mobile app called “La. Contractor” (available on iOS and Android) that lets you search the database from your phone. You can also text a license number to 855-999-7896 for instant verification. Both options work well when a contractor is standing in your driveway and you need a quick answer.
Storm chasers rely on speed and pressure to close deals before homeowners have time to do basic due diligence. Watch for these warning signs:
If you encounter any of these signs, step back and learn how to properly choose a roofing contractor before making a commitment.
A valid license is only part of the picture. Before signing a contract, request a current Certificate of Insurance (COI) from the contractor. The COI should include two types of coverage: general liability insurance and workers’ compensation insurance.
When the certificate arrives, verify three things. First, the company name must match the LSLBC record and the contract exactly. Second, the policy dates must cover your entire project window. Third, the coverage limits should meet any requirements set by your HOA or mortgage lender.
Do not simply accept a photocopy or screenshot. Call the insurance carrier directly using the phone number on the certificate to confirm the policy is active and has not been canceled. This five-minute phone call can save you from tens of thousands of dollars in liability if a worker is injured on your property or the contractor damages your home and vanishes.
Bonding provides an additional layer of protection. If a bonded contractor fails to complete the work or meet financial obligations, the bond issuer can compensate you. While not all roofing jobs require bonding in Louisiana, it is a strong indicator of a contractor’s financial stability and professionalism.
Louisiana has specific statutes designed to protect homeowners from unlicensed and fraudulent contractors:
RS 37:2160 makes it unlawful for any person to engage in the business of contracting in Louisiana without an active license. Violations are classified as a misdemeanor, with penalties of up to $500 per day of violation, up to three months in prison, or both. The district attorney in the parish where the violation occurs has the authority to prosecute.
Act 239 (effective August 1, 2025) now requires permitting and inspection for roof construction and reroofing on both residential and commercial structures. This means your contractor must pull permits through Jefferson Parish before starting work. If a storm chaser skips the permit process, the work is not just substandard, it is illegal.
Act 422 increased the net worth threshold to $50,000 for residential and commercial licenses, ensuring that licensed contractors have real financial backing behind their operations.
These laws exist because the Louisiana legislature recognized the need to protect homeowners from “incompetent, inexperienced, unlawful, and fraudulent acts” by unqualified contractors. When you hire a licensed roofer, you gain access to the LSLBC complaint process and legal recourse that simply does not exist with unlicensed operators. Big Easy Roofers meets every requirement under Act 239 and Act 422, including the $50,000 net worth threshold and active residential roofing classification.
If someone approaches you after a storm and the red flags start adding up, here is what to do. Do not sign anything. Tell them you need time to verify their credentials. A legitimate contractor will understand and welcome the scrutiny.
Run their information through the LSLBC database using the steps outlined above. If their license comes back inactive, expired, or nonexistent, do not proceed. You can report unlicensed activity directly through the LSLBC website or the La. Contractor mobile app.
Contact your insurance company directly to report the damage and begin the claims process on your own terms. Never let a contractor file a claim on your behalf or act as your public adjuster without a separate, valid public adjuster license.
For storm damage that needs immediate attention, such as a tarp over an exposed section of roof, work with a licensed local company that offers contact our emergency roofing team in Metairie and can provide verifiable credentials on the spot. Big Easy Roofers carries full documentation of its LSLBC license, liability insurance, and workers’ compensation coverage and can provide certificates before any work begins.
Knowing the current licensing requirements helps you with the 2026 Louisiana roofing license and permit laws.
The quickest method is the LSLBC’s “La. Contractor” mobile app, available on iOS and Android. You can search by company name or license number in seconds. You can also text a license number to 855-999-7896 for instant phone-based verification. The full online database is available at lslbc.louisiana.gov under the Contractor Search tool.
As of January 1, 2026, any contractor performing residential roofing work valued over $7,500 must hold a valid residential roofing license or a residential construction license with a roofing subclassification from the LSLBC. Projects under that threshold may still require a licensed contractor depending on parish-level regulations, so it is always safer to hire someone who is fully licensed.
Under RS 37:2160, operating as an unlicensed contractor in Louisiana is a misdemeanor offense. Penalties include fines of up to $500 for each day the violation continues, imprisonment for up to three months, or both. The parish district attorney has the authority to prosecute these cases, and homeowners can also file complaints through the LSLBC.
When a contractor offers to absorb or hide your deductible, they are proposing to misrepresent the actual cost of repairs to your insurance company. This constitutes insurance fraud. Contractors who make this offer are signaling a willingness to cut corners or inflate costs elsewhere to cover the gap. Louisiana insurers and the Department of Insurance treat deductible waiver schemes as serious violations.
Local roofers will have a verifiable physical address in the greater New Orleans or Baton Rouge area, an active LSLBC license you can confirm online, current insurance certificates with matching company names, local references you can call, and a history of work in Jefferson Parish that predates the most recent storm. Storm chasers typically lack most or all of these, rely on door-to-door solicitation, and push for immediate signatures before you can verify anything.
By Admin 
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Jun 11, 2026