Louisiana just rewired the rules of the roofing game. If you’re running a roofing company in Louisiana, the 2025 legislative package isn’t just another regulatory blip—it’s a watershed moment that favors legitimate, compliant operators and raises the bar for everyone else.
Here’s what changed, why it’s good for the industry, how Browns Roofing is leaning in, and what you need to do next if you want to thrive (or where to go if you don’t want to deal with W-2 and licensing compliance).
What Passed and When
- Act 144 (HB 121) — Effective August 1, 2025
- Prohibits public adjusters from acting as contractors or offering roofing/repair services on claims they handle, and clamps down on contractors advertising “insurance claim specialist” services or interpreting policy terms. The legislative record shows unanimous final passage and signature with an 8/1/2025 effective date LegiScan HB 121 docket. The enrolled law’s digest confirms the PA/contractor separation and marketing prohibitions LA Legislature Act 144 résumé digest PDF. Media summaries echo those points and intent to reduce conflicts of interest and fraud New Orleans CityBusiness, Louisiana Illuminator.
- Act 239 (HB 85) — Effective August 1, 2025
- Requires permits and inspections for roof construction and reroofing statewide, enforcing International Building Code (IBC Ch. 15) and International Residential Code (IRC Chs. 8–9). See the enrolled act text Act 239 PDF and summaries from Louisiana REALTORS® and municipal notices showing statewide application and code citations Louisiana REALTORS®, CityBusiness, City of Monroe.
- Act 422 (SB 122) — Effective August 1, 2025, with licensing changes fully in force January 1, 2026
- Modernizes LSLBC statutes and creates a Residential Roofing license requirement: for residential roofing work valued at $7,500 or more, you must hold Residential Roofing or Residential Construction (with roofing subclass). New violations include starting without permits, misrepresenting project scope/value, and failing required inspections. Summaries and agency guidance confirm the new classification and compliance standards, including the Jan 1, 2026 date and exam/registration pathways for already-licensed contractors Louisiana REALTORS®, Adams & Reese, City of Monroe.
What this means for your operations, in plain terms:
- You cannot wear both hats. Contractors can no longer position themselves as claim negotiators or “insurance specialists,” and public adjusters can’t do your roofing work on claims they handle Act 144 sources: LegiScan docket; résumé digest; CityBusiness; Illuminator, PDF, CityBusiness, Illuminator.
- You must pull permits and pass inspections statewide for roofing and reroofing. Local “leniency” is over. Uniform code enforcement is the standard Act 239 sources: Act PDF, REALTORS®, CityBusiness.
- You need the right license classification by 1/1/2026 for residential roofing ≥ $7,500. 1099 subcontractors on residential roofing should expect enforcement, too. If you already hold certain licenses (e.g., Residential Construction or Commercial Roofing), you may have streamlined registration/exam paths—but you still have to register correctly and abide by the new rules Act 422 summaries: REALTORS®, Adams & Reese.
Why This Is Good—for the Roofing Industry and Homeowners
Let’s be honest: there’s been abuse on both sides. Some contractors have gamed claims; some insurers have issued subpar policies and leaned on exclusions. Act 144 draws a clear boundary between adjusting and construction that reduces conflicts of interest and sharpens accountability. When contractors stick to building and licensed public adjusters handle policy disputes, homeowners get cleaner lanes and fewer “gray-area” promises that implode later CityBusiness, LegiScan HB121.
Act 239’s uniform permits and inspections raise quality. Better builds, fewer catastrophic failures in storms, and a more predictable inspection trail also help stabilize underwriting and claims outcomes—long-term, that’s good for rates and availability.
Act 422’s licensing clarity professionalizes residential roofing. If you’re legit—licensed, insured, code-competent—this filters out the fly-by-night operators undercutting you on price and ghosting on warranty service. Compliance becomes a competitive advantage.
Browns Roofing’s Take: Compliance Wins
Browns Roofing sides firmly with elevating standards. We’ve long trained our project managers to present good-faith, itemized estimates and clear options so homeowners can choose the best roofing system for their home and budget—without straying into policy interpretation. Good-faith estimates aren’t a burden; they’re a trust-builder and now a compliance requirement under the spirit of Act 144’s consumer protections Act 144 coverage: CityBusiness, BillTrack50 summary.
We welcome permit-and-inspection rigor (Act 239) and the Residential Roofing license standard (Act 422). This is how a resilient market is built: transparent scopes, documented inspections, and contractors who can stand behind their work.
Practical Changes You Must Make Now
- Stop handling or negotiating insurance claims. Do not advertise claim-handling, policy interpretation, or “insurance specialist” services. Refer clients to licensed public adjusters when needed Act 144: LegiScan/Act digest, PDF.
- Always pull permits for roofing/reroofing and schedule inspections per local authority—statewide, no exceptions. Build to IBC/IRC chapters adopted by the Uniform Construction Code Council Act 239: Act PDF, REALTORS®.
- Ensure correct licensing before 1/1/2026:
- Residential roofing ≥ $7,500 requires Residential Roofing or Residential Construction classification. Align your subs, too—1099s performing roofing work must hold proper licensure under the new regime. Local agency guidance highlights active enforcement and cease‑and‑desist risks REALTORS®, City of Monroe, Adams & Reese.
- Tighten your paperwork:
- Good-faith, itemized estimates.
- Written contracts signed and dated by all parties.
- Bid/contract in the exact legal name on your LSLBC license.
- Maintain WC, GL, and any required minimum net worth or financial statements referenced in licensing updates REALTORS®.
Positive Projections—If You’re Legit, You’ll Do Great
- Higher consumer confidence: Clear lanes (adjusters adjust; contractors build) mean fewer disputes and better customer experiences.
- Less race-to-the-bottom pricing: Permit, inspection, and license enforcement squeezes out low-compliance bidders who cut corners.
- Smoother closeouts and fewer reinspect headaches: Uniform code enforcement reduces the costly rework that kills profit.
- Better insurer relationships: Clean documentation and code-aligned installs tend to shorten claim friction even if you’re no longer “dealing directly” on negotiations.
Foreboding—but Fair—Warning
If you’re not compliant, you will fail. The combination of Act 144’s marketing/role restrictions, Act 239’s permit-and-inspection mandate, and Act 422’s licensing enforcement will expose inexperience and noncompliance quickly. Expect:
- Cease-and-desist orders for unlicensed or improperly permitted work.
- Fines and license actions for misrepresentation, starting jobs without permits, or failing inspections.
- Loss of labor channels as reputable GCs demand licensed subs.
There are many new, inexperienced owners in Louisiana contracting who aren’t ready for this shift. These laws will weed out the unprepared. Don’t be one of them.
Not Ready to Handle W-2s and Compliance? Come Work for Browns
If the administrative burden of W-2 compliance, licensing, and inspections isn’t how you want to spend your time, consider joining Browns Roofing. We’re built for this environment—fully licensed, insurance-compliant, and code-forward—and we provide the structure, training, and back office that lets you focus on doing great work.
- Business owners who’d rather not retool for W-2 and licensing: talk to us about leadership or integration paths at Browns.
- Sales pros and production leaders: visit our hiring page to see how Browns can help you transition into a stable role with real upside in 2026 as the new rules take hold.
Browns trains project managers to deliver good-faith estimates and present clear roofing system options that fit each home—exactly the kind of professionalism these laws reward.