Short answer: Exchange lists 8 roofing and waterproofing companies in Alberta. A roofer that sells to homeowners in person, away from its place of business, and takes money before finishing the work needs a prepaid contracting business licence from Service Alberta under the Consumer Protection Act. Contracts signed at home can be cancelled within 10 days. Under the Prompt Payment and Construction Lien Act, liens must be registered within 60 days. Hail is the biggest market driver: the August 5, 2024 Calgary storm caused nearly $2.8 billion in insured damage.
Prepaid contractor licence
Alberta roofers that sell in person away from their place of business and take payment before the work is done must hold a Service Alberta prepaid contracting business licence.
Cancellation right
An Alberta homeowner can cancel a contract signed away from the contractor's business within 10 days of receiving a copy, and gets a full refund within 15 days.
Lien deadline
Since August 29, 2022, Alberta construction liens must be registered within 60 days (90 days for concrete), up from the previous 45 days.
Prompt payment
Owners in Alberta must pay a proper invoice within 28 days, and contractors must pay subcontractors within 7 days of being paid.
Building code
The National Building Code – 2023 Alberta Edition has been in force since May 1, 2024. A second printing was published August 17, 2026.
Calgary hail
The August 5, 2024 Calgary hailstorm caused nearly $2.8 billion in insured damage, the second-costliest insured event in Canadian history.
Do roofing contractors need a licence in Alberta?
Alberta has no provincial roofing trade licence. However, a roofer that sells to homeowners in person, away from its place of business, and takes payment before the work is done must hold a prepaid contracting business licence from Service Alberta.
The licence comes from the Consumer Protection Act and its prepaid contracting rules. It applies to a business that solicits, negotiates or concludes prepaid contracts in person somewhere other than its place of business, such as a homeowner's driveway after a storm, and accepts money before the work is provided. It covers work on private dwellings and related real property. Applicants must post security with Service Alberta and pay a licensing fee, and the licence must be renewed before the expiry date shown on it. A licensee must be able to confirm its licence on request, by showing a copy or by pointing to the Find a Licensed Business search tool.
Several kinds of work fall outside the licence. These include contracts for business or commercial buildings, contracts between contractors, subcontractors and sub-trades, and new homes covered by warranty programs that include deposit or pre-possession insurance. A commercial roofing firm doing only commercial work may therefore not need the licence. A residential re-roofer that takes deposits at the kitchen table almost certainly does. Separately, most municipalities require a business licence. Calgary, for example, requires every contractor working in the city to hold a valid City of Calgary business licence. Ask for both licence numbers in writing.
How do you become a certified roofer in Alberta?
In Alberta, roofer certification comes through a four-year apprenticeship under the Skilled Trades and Apprenticeship Education Act. Certification is not required if you are self-employed or your employer is satisfied with your skills.
According to Alberta's ALIS career information service, the roofer apprenticeship lasts four years. Each of the first three years includes 1,420 hours of on-the-job training and six weeks of classroom instruction. The fourth year is 1,600 hours of on-the-job training. To learn the trade through this route, a person must become a registered apprentice, which means finding an employer willing to hire and train them. Roofing employers also carry specific safety duties. Under Part 9 of the Occupational Health and Safety Code, workers who could fall 3 metres or more must use a fall protection system, and a written fall protection plan is required where they are not protected by guardrails.
Because certification is optional for roofers, owners in Alberta cannot rely on a trade certificate to screen contractors the way they can with electricians or plumbers. Better screening tools are the prepaid contracting licence for residential work, the municipal business licence, proof of liability insurance and Workers' Compensation Board coverage, and references from recent jobs in the same municipality. Ask whether the crew includes certified journeypersons or registered apprentices, and ask to see the fall protection plan for your roof. Also ask whether the company that sells the job will use its own employees or a subcontracted crew, and who supervises that crew on site.
Which licences, permits and registrations apply in Alberta?
Requirement
Who issues it
When it applies
What it involves
Prepaid contracting business licence
Service Alberta
Residential work sold in person away from the business with payment before completion
Security posted with the Province, licensing fee, renewal before expiry; listed in Find a Licensed Business
Municipal business licence
Municipality (for example City of Calgary)
Contractors working within the municipality
Valid licence the City can suspend or revoke; checkable through 311 in Calgary
Building permit
Accredited municipality or accredited agency under the Safety Codes Act
Structural work or material changes; in Calgary, not needed for like-for-like shingle replacement
Permit before work starts; owner bears primary responsibility for compliance
Fall protection plan
Employer, under the Alberta OHS Code Part 9
Workers who could fall 3 metres or more without guardrails
Written plan covering hazards, system, anchors, clearance and rescue procedures
Lien registration
Alberta Land Titles, under the Prompt Payment and Construction Lien Act
Unpaid contractors and suppliers on contracts after August 29, 2022
Register within 60 days (90 for concrete); adjudication available for payment disputes
New home warranty
Licensed warranty provider under the New Home Buyer Protection Act
Homes built since February 1, 2014
Minimum 5 years building envelope and 10 years structure, including roof structural integrity
How do I check a roofing contractor in Alberta before I sign?
7 checks, in order, using the Alberta registers and rules described on this page:
If the roofer is selling at your home and wants a deposit, confirm it holds a prepaid contracting business licence on Service Alberta's Find a Licensed Business search before you pay anything.
In Calgary, call 311 to confirm a valid City business licence. Elsewhere, ask your municipality's business licensing office for the same check.
Call your home insurer before signing a hail repair contract, as the City of Calgary advises, and make sure the scope matches the adjuster's report.
Check that the written contract lists itemized prices, a completion date, payment terms and the cancellation statement required for prepaid contracts of $200 or more.
Confirm with your accredited municipality or agency whether the work needs a building permit, especially when switching to heavier materials such as clay tile.
For a home built after February 1, 2014, check the warranty certificate first, because building envelope defects may be covered for at least five years.
On commercial jobs, note the 60-day lien registration period and the 28-day payment timeline under the Prompt Payment and Construction Lien Act when you schedule payments.
Do you need a permit to re-roof a house in Alberta?
It depends on where the property is and what the work is. In Calgary, replacing roofing materials does not need a permit, but changing from shingles to clay roofing requires a building permit. Elsewhere in Alberta, confirm with the local permit issuer.
Alberta permits are issued under the Safety Codes Act. Municipalities accredited to administer the Act issue permits within their boundaries. In non-accredited areas, accredited inspection agencies issue them for the Province, under oversight by the Alberta Safety Codes Authority, a division of the Safety Codes Council. The Council's where-to-get-a-permit page, or Municipal Affairs, will tell you who issues permits for a given address. The Province states that primary responsibility for safety codes compliance rests with the owner of the building, and its home improvement guidance adds that the homeowner is ultimately responsible for making sure necessary permits are in place before work starts.
Calgary's storm recovery guidance shows how the line is drawn. Shingle replacement after hail is treated as repair and needs no development or building permit. Changing to a different material, such as from shingles to clay roofing, requires a building permit, and structural damage calls for a structural engineer. The City notes that each permit process can differ depending on the nature of the work, and its Planning Services Centre at 403-268-5311 answers permit questions. Other municipalities draw the line differently, so check locally for commercial roofs and for work that changes framing or drainage. A good contract states who will check permit requirements and arrange any inspections.
Which building code applies to roofing in Alberta?
Roofing in Alberta must meet the National Building Code – 2023 Alberta Edition, declared in force on May 1, 2024, along with the National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings 2020 for buildings it covers.
Alberta adopts the national model codes with provincial variations. A second printing of the National Building Code – 2023 Alberta Edition was published on August 17, 2026, and the second printing of the National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings 2020 on February 27, 2025. Designers and contractors working from older copies should check that their references match the printing in force. The Province also issues STANDATA interpretations and variances. Recent notices listed on the codes page include items on roof truss layout and wood truss design, which matter when re-roofing involves structural changes or new roof framing.
For waterproofing and low-slope roofing, the code's requirements for roofing materials, flashing and protection against water ingress apply alongside the manufacturer's installation instructions. On commercial buildings, insulation added during a re-roof also brings the National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings 2020 into play. Owners of commercial buildings should ask the contractor to confirm in writing which code edition and printing it is building to, and whether the design needs professional review. Re-roofs that add insulation or change the deck, drains or parapets deserve particular attention, because those changes can affect structure, drainage and energy performance together, and may need a permit even where like-for-like shingle work does not.
How do roofing payment and lien deadlines work in Alberta?
In Alberta, the Prompt Payment and Construction Lien Act gives owners 28 days to pay a proper invoice and contractors 7 days to pay subcontractors. Liens must be registered within 60 days, or 90 days for concrete.
The Act replaced the Builders' Lien Act and applies to construction contracts executed after August 29, 2022. When it took effect, the Province extended the lien registration period for the construction industry from 45 to 60 days, and for the concrete industry from 45 to 90 days. A roofing subcontractor that has not been paid can also refer disputes over valuation, payment and notices of non-payment to adjudication. Adjudicators are certified by Nominating Authorities and make determinations on payment disputes. Holdbacks are released annually unless the contract provides for progressive or phased release, and quick-release rules apply to projects worth at least $10 million that last longer than 12 months.
The rules have been amended since 2022. In fall 2024, Bill 30, the Service Alberta Statutes Amendment Act, made further changes to the prompt payment legislation, and amendments to the Prompt Payment and Adjudication Regulation were passed in late 2025. Alberta government projects follow the Public Works Act instead and are exempt from the Act's payment timelines. Roofing contractors should review current subcontract templates against the amended rules, and keep invoices in proper-invoice form so the 28-day clock actually starts. Liens are registered against the property title through Alberta Land Titles, and the Province publishes filing timelines on its land title registration pages.
Why is hail the biggest roofing risk in Alberta?
In Alberta, hail is the defining roofing risk. The August 5, 2024 Calgary hailstorm caused nearly $2.8 billion in insured damage, the second-costliest insured event in Canadian history, and set off a wave of roof replacement claims.
On August 5, 2024, severe thunderstorms swept through southern Alberta and into Calgary. Catastrophe Indices and Quantification Inc. estimated insured damage at nearly $2.8 billion, which the Insurance Bureau of Canada ranked as the second-costliest insured event in Canadian history, behind only the 2016 Fort McMurray wildfire. After a storm on that scale, reputable roofers book up quickly and homeowners can face door-to-door offers from unfamiliar crews. That is exactly the situation the prepaid contracting licence and the 10-day cancellation right are designed for, so owners should use both before signing.
The City of Calgary advises homeowners to contact their home insurance provider before doing any repair work. Before hiring, record the contractor's business or trade name, the owner's name, and the business address and phone number, and call 311 to confirm the contractor holds a valid City business licence. The City can suspend or revoke a contractor's licence. It also suggests contacting the Alberta Allied Roofing Association or the Alberta Roofing Contractors Association to find an approved roof inspector, which gives owners an independent view of the damage before they accept a contractor's assessment.
What new home warranty applies to roofs in Alberta?
Under Alberta's New Home Buyer Protection Act, every home built since February 1, 2014 must carry warranty coverage. That includes at least 5 years on the building envelope and 10 years on major structural components, which include the roof's structural integrity.
The mandatory warranty has four minimum layers: one year for labour and materials, two years for defects in delivery and distribution systems such as electrical, plumbing and HVAC, five years for the building envelope, and ten years for major structural components. Warranty providers must offer builders the option of buying two more years of building envelope coverage. Major structural components cover the frame, including the roof's structural integrity, and the foundation. Roof leaks on a newer home are therefore usually first a warranty matter between the owner, the builder and the warranty provider, not just a roofing repair.
All residential builders constructing new homes in Alberta since December 1, 2017 need a valid builder licence. Owner builders with an owner builder authorization are exempt from both the licence and warranty coverage for the home named in the authorization. Roofing and waterproofing subcontractors on new homes work under the builder's warranty obligations, so builders often require detailed installation records, photos and manufacturer documentation. Those records help resolve envelope claims within the five-year period and are worth keeping for the life of the warranty. Owners of a newer home should find their warranty certificate before calling a roofer about a leak.
What contract rules protect homeowners hiring roofers in Alberta?
In Alberta, a prepaid roofing contract worth $200 or more must be in writing. If it was signed away from the contractor's business, such as at your home, you can cancel it within 10 days of receiving your copy without giving a reason.
Service Alberta's home improvement guidance sets out what the written contract must include: full names and addresses, itemized prices, the completion date, a cancellation statement, the total price and payment terms, and full cost-of-credit disclosure if financing is involved. The contractor must give you a copy on or before the day work starts, or within 10 days after you sign, whichever comes first. If you cancel within the 10-day window, the contractor must give a full refund within 15 days of your notice. Keep proof of the date you sent the notice. A notice sent other than by personal service or verbally is treated as given on the date it was sent.
The guidance also flags warning signs. A large down payment to buy materials is one, and any deposit should come with clear terms on whether and when it is refundable. Get a signed receipt for every payment. The contract should also state who is responsible for obtaining permits and arranging inspections. For suspected violations, or to check a licence, contact Service Alberta's Consumer Contact Centre at 780-427-4088 or toll-free at 1-877-427-4088. A roofer that refuses to put these terms in writing is a red flag. Compare written quotes on the same scope before choosing, especially after a major storm.
Where can I verify a licence and check the source in Alberta?
Every figure and rule on this page can be checked against the primary source. These are the offices that publish them. Confirm current requirements directly before you rely on any of them:
For residential work sold in person with payment up front, use Service Alberta's Find a Licensed Business search to confirm a prepaid contracting business licence. Licensees must confirm their licence on request. Also check the municipal business licence, through 311 in Calgary. Alberta has no provincial roofing trade licence, so these two licences and proof of insurance are the main checks.
Can I cancel a roofing contract signed at my door in Alberta?
Yes. If a written contract was solicited or signed away from the contractor's normal place of business, you can cancel within 10 days after receiving your copy, without giving a reason. The contractor must refund you in full within 15 days of your cancellation notice. Keep proof of the date you sent the notice.
Does Calgary require a permit for hail roof repairs?
Usually not. The City of Calgary says roofing materials such as shingles can be repaired or replaced without a development or building permit. Changing materials, for example from shingles to clay roofing, requires a building permit, and structural damage should be assessed by a structural engineer. For questions, call the Planning Services Centre at 403-268-5311.
How long do Alberta subcontractors have to register a lien?
Under the Prompt Payment and Construction Lien Act, liens on construction contracts executed after August 29, 2022 must be registered within 60 days, or 90 days in the concrete industry. Both periods were extended from 45 days when the Act took effect. Payment disputes can also go to adjudication, which is often faster than a lien action.
Is a roofer apprenticeship required in Alberta?
No. Under the Skilled Trades and Apprenticeship Education Act, you do not have to be certified as a roofer if you are self-employed or your employer is satisfied with your skills. Becoming certified requires a four-year registered apprenticeship: 1,420 hours of work and six weeks of classroom training in each of the first three years, then 1,600 hours in year four.
Is a leaking roof on a new Alberta home covered by warranty?
Often, yes. Homes built since February 1, 2014 must carry warranty coverage with at least five years on the building envelope. Major structural components, including the roof's structural integrity, are covered for ten years. Contact the builder and the warranty provider before hiring an independent roofer.
When do Alberta roofers need fall protection?
Under Part 9 of Alberta's Occupational Health and Safety Code, employers must ensure workers use a fall protection system if they could fall 3 metres or more. Protection is also needed for lower falls with an unusual risk of injury. If workers could fall 3 metres or more and are not protected by guardrails, a written fall protection plan, including rescue procedures, must be in place before work begins.
