After a North Texas hailstorm, Celina homeowners can get a knock on the door, a flyer on the porch, and a dozen ads before the gutters stop dripping. Most roofers are honest, but the busiest weeks are also when shortcuts and scams show up. This guide pulls together what the City of Celina, the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI), the Texas Attorney General, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and the state roofing association say about picking a roofer. Every rule below is linked to its source, and sources are listed at the bottom. Rules can change, so check the linked page before you rely on one.

1. Know what "licensed" means in Texas

The Roofing Contractors Association of Texas (RCAT) states that Texas does not require roofing contractors to hold a state-issued roofing license, and that the Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation does not currently license roofers. RCAT runs a voluntary Licensed Roofing Contractor program with screening, roofing, business, and safety exams, insurance documentation, and yearly continuing education. RCAT also notes that its credential "does not guarantee a contractor's work."

So "licensed" on a yard sign can mean an RCAT credential, a manufacturer certification, or nothing at all. Ask which one, and check it. RCAT has a searchable directory on the same page. Without a state license to lean on, insurance, local registration, references, and the contract matter even more.

2. In Celina city limits, roof work needs a permit

The City of Celina's Building Services page says plainly: "For roofing projects, a Roof Permit is required." To get one, the contractor must be registered with the City and submit a permit request with a completed residential permit application. The page lists a $100 fee per permit request (as of October 2026). Celina's permit applications page says residential permits, including "Residential Roof," have been filed online through the MGO Connect portal since December 8, 2025, and the same portal handles contractor registration.

What that means when you are comparing roofers:

Ask each bidder: "Are you registered with the City of Celina, and will you pull the roof permit?"
Ask that the permit be listed in the written bid, so you know whose job it is.
A roofer who says a Celina re-roof "doesn't need a permit" is telling you something about how they work.

Celina's building permits page applies the permit rule to work "within the City Limits." Some homes with a Celina mailing address sit outside city limits, and Prosper, Anna, Melissa, and Princeton each run their own building departments. If you are not sure who has jurisdiction, ask the roofer and confirm with the city. Celina residential permits can be reached at (945) 362-9250 per the city's page. HOA approval is a separate step; see our HOA roofing guidelines for Celina.

3. Door-to-door roofers in Celina need a solicitor badge

The same Celina Building Services page says a Solicitor Permit "is necessary for any door-to-door business activities in Celina." Applicants go through a background check, the permit is valid for one year, and solicitors "will receive a badge that must be visibly displayed while conducting business." If someone knocks after a storm, it is reasonable to ask to see the badge.

A badge is not an endorsement of anyone's work. The FTC lists showing up because they are "in the area," claiming to have leftover materials from another job, and pressuring you for an immediate decision as common scam tactics. You don't have to decide anything on the porch.

4. Verify insurance yourself

TDI's guide to contracting scams says to ask for the contractor's certificate of insurance and bond certification, then call the companies listed to verify the coverage. RCAT's checklist includes general liability insurance and a permanent business address. A photo of a certificate is a start, but a call to the insurer shows whether the policy is current.

5. Get at least three written bids and compare line by line

TDI's tips for avoiding contracting scams recommend at least three bids, on the company's letterhead with a phone number and address, and keeping copies of all agreements and warranty terms. The FTC adds that you should not automatically choose the lowest bidder and should ask why when bids differ a lot.

To make bids comparable, ask each roofer to name the shingle product and line, underlayment, flashing and vent work, decking assumptions, tear-off and cleanup, the permit, and both the manufacturer warranty and the roofer's own workmanship terms. Our roof replacement cost guide has a side-by-side bid table, and our shingle lifespan guide explains what "lifetime" warranty language usually means.

6. Read the contract before you sign

The FTC's guide to avoiding scams after weather emergencies says a contract should include:

The contractor's name, address, phone, and license number (if one is required)
Estimated start and completion dates
A payment schedule
Any promises made in conversations about scope and the cost of labor and materials
A written statement of your right to cancel within three business days if you signed at home
No blank spaces that someone could fill in later

TDI warns about two documents in particular. Scammers may ask you to sign something they call an estimate or "a release just to go on your roof" that is really a contract. TDI also says not to sign contracts saying "Homeowner agrees to the listed repairs for the value of insurance proceeds," because then "the contractor gets every penny from your insurance payment." TDI says the contract should list the materials to be used.

7. Your three-day right to cancel a door-to-door sale

The Texas Attorney General explains that under Texas Business & Commerce Code Chapter 601, when a seller solicits and you agree to buy somewhere other than the seller's place of business (for more than $25 of goods or services), you can generally cancel within three business days. The seller must give you written notice of that right. You must cancel in writing, and the AG suggests certified mail and keeping a copy. Some sales are excluded, so read the AG's page if you plan to rely on it.

8. Payment red flags

Large or full payment up front. TDI says never to pay the entire bill up front and to be wary of a large down payment. TDI also says that when a disaster is declared, it is against the law for contractors from outside your area to ask for payment before they start work.
Cash-only, wire, gift card, payment app, or crypto. The FTC says to pay by credit card or check because the other methods are almost impossible to get back. TDI also recommends check or credit card to create a payment record.
Final payment before the job is done. The FTC says never make the final payment until the work is done and you are satisfied, and to keep invoices and receipts.
A lender they "know." The FTC lists steering you to a lender they know as a scam sign, and urges caution about using your home as security.

9. Insurance-related red flags (and what the law says)

We don't help with insurance claims or talk to adjusters, and the claim is always yours. But a few insurance-related offers are warning signs about the roofer making them:

"We'll cover your deductible." TDI's roofing and insurance law page says it is illegal in Texas for a contractor to offer to waive, rebate, or absorb a policyholder's deductible. Under Business & Commerce Code § 27.02, a contract of $1,000 or more that is expected to be paid from a property-insurance claim must carry a bold notice that Texas law requires the insured to pay the deductible. TDI says deductible-waiver offers can be reported to the Texas Attorney General at 800-621-0508.
"We'll handle your adjuster." TDI says Texas doesn't allow a roofer to act as a public insurance adjuster on a claim if they are also doing the work (Insurance Code § 4102.163). TDI lists offering to negotiate settlements or promising to recover "every dime you are owed" as improper.
"Just sign the check over to us." The FTC says never sign your insurance check over to a contractor.

For coverage questions, go to your insurer, your agent, or TDI's Help Line at 800-252-3439. Our insurance claim help page explains what we do and don't do.

Quick checklist: questions to ask every Celina roofer

Are you registered with the City of Celina (or my city), and will you pull the roof permit?
Can I get your certificate of insurance so I can call the insurer to confirm it?
Do you hold an RCAT license or manufacturer certification? Which one?
What is your permanent local business address and phone number?
Which exact shingle product, underlayment, and flashing will you use? Can that be written into the contract?
What workmanship warranty do you offer, in writing, and who do I call in a year if something leaks?
What is the payment schedule, and what is due before materials arrive?
Can you share recent local references I can call?

If something goes wrong after the job, the FTC suggests trying to resolve it with the contractor first, following up phone calls with a certified letter, and then contacting the state Attorney General or a local consumer office. Fraud can be reported at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

How Celina Roof Pros fits in

Celina Roof Pros is a free homeowner resource and quote-request service. We connect Celina-area homeowners with independent local roofing contractors. We are not a roofing contractor, we do not do inspections or repairs ourselves, and we never help with insurance claims or speak to adjusters. Use every question above on any roofer we connect you with, too. That's the point of this guide.

Ready to compare? See roof replacement, roof repair, or storm and hail damage. Call (469) 453-7096 or request a free quote. Serving Celina, Melissa, Anna, Princeton, and Prosper.

Sources

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How to Hire a Roofer in Celina, TX: Questions, Paperwork, and Red Flags