Hiring a roofer

How to check a roofer’s registration in Kansas and Missouri

By Roof InspectorsUpdated October 20, 2026 5 min read

The short answer

In Kansas, roofing contractors must register with the Kansas Attorney General. Ask for the registration number and look it up in the Attorney General’s online Roofing Registration Directory; the status should say “In Good Standing.” Missouri doesn’t license roofers statewide, so in Kansas City, Missouri, check the city’s licensed-contractor search and ask which local licenses apply. Missouri law also bars roofers from promising to pay your insurance deductible.

Checking a roofer takes a few minutes, and it’s one of the best ways to avoid trouble after a storm. Kansas runs a statewide roofer registry. Missouri doesn’t, so on that side of the state line the checks are local. Here’s how to do both.

Kansas: the Roofing Registration Act in plain English

Since July 1, 2013, every roofing contractor must have a registration certificate from the Kansas Attorney General to legally provide residential or commercial roofing services for a fee, with a few narrow exceptions.

The law counts subcontractors and out-of-state contractors, and it covers anyone who offers or solicits roofing work, including repairs.

To register, a contractor has to provide, among other things:

Proof of general liability insurance of at least $500,000
Proof of workers’ compensation coverage, or a sworn exemption
A tax clearance from the Kansas Department of Revenue

Registrations last one year and must be renewed by July 1. Violations can bring civil penalties of up to $10,000 each, and the Attorney General can revoke a registration.

Kansas also requires a roofer to show its registration number on its commercial vehicles and on every business sign, card, piece of correspondence and contract used for roofing work in Kansas. Roofers must also give the number when they apply for a building permit.

How to look up a Kansas roofer

Ask for the registration number. A legitimate roofer will have it on their card and contract. The Attorney General suggests asking for a copy of the registration certificate.
Open the Roofing Registration Directory. You can search by company name, registration number, contact name or city.
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Read the status.
- In Good Standing: registered and current. This is what you want to see.
- Exempt: a general contractor that filed an affidavit saying it qualifies for the exemption. Its legal authority to do roofing is limited.
- Not In Good Standing: not currently allowed to work as a roofer in Kansas, for example because insurance lapsed.
- Revoked: the Attorney General revoked the registration.
- Enjoined: a Kansas court has ordered the contractor not to perform roofing services.
Match the details. The company name, address and number should match the card, truck and contract.
Check local licenses too. Some Kansas cities add their own rules. Olathe, for example, says roofing contractors must hold a valid Johnson County license and be registered with the state. See our Olathe page for details.

Directory questions go to the Attorney General’s office at (785) 368-6644.

Curious what storms were recorded near you?

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Missouri and Kansas City, Missouri

Missouri doesn’t license roofers statewide. The state’s Division of Professional Registration licenses dozens of professions, but roofers aren’t on the list. That leaves licensing to cities and counties.

In Kansas City, Missouri, the City Planning and Development Department runs contractor licensing, and contractors need a city business license. The city keeps a searchable database of active licensed contractors, linked from its contractor licensing page.

Ask your roofer which city licenses they hold, then confirm them there. If you’re unsure what your project needs, the city’s contractor licensing office can help at (816) 513-1500, extension 1, option 2.

In other Missouri cities, including Lee’s Summit, Independence and Parkville, call the city and ask what roofers need before they start work. Our Kansas City, Missouri page covers KCMO permit basics.

Rules that protect you when insurance is involved

These rules don’t tell you whether to file a claim. They protect you if you do.

Missouri (RSMo 407.725)

A roofer can’t advertise or promise to pay or rebate any part of your insurance deductible. The law treats discounts, credits, gifts and referral fees used for that purpose the same way.
If you sign a roofing contract that will be paid by insurance, you can cancel it before midnight on the fifth business day after your insurer tells you in writing that all or part of the claim isn’t covered. The contractor must give you a written notice of this right and a cancellation form.
A roofer can’t represent you or negotiate for you with your insurance company on the claim.

Kansas (K.S.A. 50-6,143)

If a contractor asks you to sign over insurance benefits (an “assignment of benefits”), the document must say in large capital letters that it’s voluntary.
You can cancel the assignment within five business days after signing, and the contractor must send your insurer a copy within three business days.
The assignment is void if the contractor isn’t following the Kansas Roofing Registration Act.

Wherever you live, treat any offer to “cover” or “waive” your deductible as a red flag. If you have questions about your policy, call the Kansas Insurance Department at 800-432-2484 (in Kansas) or the Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance at 800-726-7390.

If you file a claim, even after an inspection, your insurance company decides what’s covered and what it pays. Roof Inspectors and our roofing partners can’t make that decision or promise an outcome.

Red flags that should slow you down

The FTC and the Kansas Attorney General list warning signs like these:

A demand for full payment up front, or cash only
A request that you get the building permit yourself. The Kansas Attorney General says this could mean the firm isn’t registered.
No written contract, or blank spaces in the one you’re asked to sign

After the August 18–19, 2026 storm in Wyandotte County, these checks matter for anyone still waiting on repairs.

How to report a problem

Kansas: If you suspect a roofer is working without a registration, use the Attorney General’s unregistered roofer report. If you’ve already done business with a contractor, the Attorney General asks you to file a consumer protection complaint.
Missouri: Contact the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division or call 800-392-8222.
Anywhere: Report fraud to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

How Roof Inspectors fits in

Roof Inspectors sends each inspection request to an independent roofing partner that serves your area, and we tell you who it is before the appointment. You should check that partner the same way. Start with a free storm history check or learn how the free roof inspection works.

Sources

Sources (10)Kansas Attorney General, City of Olathe, Missouri Division of Professional Registration and more

How our free inspections work and who pays us

Common questions

Does registration mean the Attorney General recommends the roofer?

No. The Kansas Attorney General says a registration certificate only shows that the contractor completed the registration process and keeps a current certificate. It isn’t an endorsement of the company or its work.

Do I need to register to fix my own roof in Kansas?

No. Kansas law exempts property owners who do roofing work on their own home or other structures on their own property, by themselves or with their own employees.

This guide is general information for homeowners, not professional, insurance, or legal advice. How we write and update guides.