Contractor State Licensing Requirements

List of contractor license requirements by the state in the US. How do you find out if a contractor is licensed with links to each state's licensing board? Always check with your state, county and city requirements before any work is done. You could also consider working with your local Builder's Associations.

Alabama

Alabama Board of Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors
State license for home improvements over $10,000
State License Board (334) 242-2230
License Verification
HVAC Licensing (334) 242-5550
Laws, Rules & Regulations

Alaska

Alaska Division of Professional Licensing
State license required
State License Board (602) 542-1525

Arizona

Arizona Registrar of Contractors
License Verification

Arkansas

Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board
State license required for commercial jobs over $20,000
State License Board (501) 372-4661
License Verification

California

California Contractors State License Board
State license required for jobs over $500
State License Board 1-800-321-2752
License Verification Laws

Colorado

Colorado State Electrical and Examining Board of Plumbers
License Verification
Electrical and Plumbing - Laws, Rules & Policies

Connecticut

License Verification
Contractors must register with the Home Improvement Division
Laws
(860) 713-6000

Delaware

License Verification
Contractors are licensed through the Department of Revenue
Business License Assistance

District of Columbia

License Verification
District of Columbia Department of Consumer & Regulatory Affairs or https://dcratransition.dc.gov/
(202) 442-4320

Florida

License Verification
Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board
Contractors who wish to work statewide must pass a state exam
To work in a specific county, must possess a registered license
State License Board (850) 487-1395

Georgia

License Verification
Plumbing, Electrical, HVAC only requires licensing.
State Board of Construction (912) 207-1416

Idaho

Idaho Bureau of Occupational Licenses
Idaho State Contractors Board
Proposed Laws & Rules

State license required only for HVAC and electrical contractors
Check local government for others 208-327-7326

Illinois

License Verification
State license required for plumbing, roofing, and electrical.
Check local government for other requirements.
State License Board (217) 782-0458

Indiana

License Verification
Local government

Iowa

License Verification
Contractors are licensed through the Labor Division
Call (515) 281-3606

Kansas

License Verification

Kentucky

License Verification
Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction
Statutes & Regulations
Building Code Enforcement
Only HVAC contractors require a state license, check local government for others
HVAC License: Department of Housing, Building & Construction (502) 564-8090

Louisiana

License Veridication
Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors
Contractors Licensing Board 800-256-1392
State license required for commercial contractors.

Maine

License Veridication
Maine Public Protection Office (207) 626-8849

Maryland

License Verification
Maryland Home Improvement Commission
Check local government Law for contractor registration
Home Improvement Commission (410) 333-6309

Massachusetts

License Verification
Home improvement contractors must register with Director of Home Improvement (617)727-8598
Builders (new construction), require a Construction Supervisor's License
Cashier's Office/Licensing (617) 727-3200

Minnesota

License Verification
Minnesota Department of Labor & Industry
Building Code
State License Department (651) 296-6319
Plumbers licensed through the Department of Health (651) 215-0836

Mississippi

License Verification
Mississippi State Board of Contractors & Laws
(601) 354-6161

Missouri

License Verification
No state license is required, check the local government
(406) 444-7734

Montana

License Verification
Construction Contractor Registration
State license required only for government jobs, check local government for others

Nebraska

License Verification
State license required only for Journeyman Electricians, check local government for others

Nevada

Nevada State Contractors Board
Rules, Regulations & Statutes
State license required
CustomerService@nscb.state.nv.us
(702) 486-1100 (So. NV)
(775) 688-1141 (No NV)

New Jersey

New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs
License Verification
Laws and Regulations
State license required for builders (new construction)

Check local government for home improvement contractors
Office of Community Affairs (Licensing) (609) 984-1704

New Mexico

License Verification
New Mexico Construction Industries Division
Contractors must register with Construction Industries Division (505) 827-7030

New York

No state license is required, check the local government.

North Carolina

License Verification
North Carolina State Licensing Board for Contractors
State license required for jobs over $30,000 (labor & materials)
Others check the local Department of Revenue
State License Board (919) 571-4183
State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating, and Fire Sprinkler Contractors
Laws & Rules

North Dakota

North Dakota State Electrical Board
License Verification
State license required
North Dakota Secretary of State (701) 328-3665
Laws and Rules

Ohio

License Verification
Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board
No state license is required, check the local government
Laws/Rules

Oklahoma

License Verification
Oklahoma Construction Industries Board
State license required only for termite extermination
Check local government for others

Oregon

Oregon Construction Contractors Board
License Verification
State license required
Construction Contractors Board (541) 365-7484
Statutes & Rules

Pennsylvania

License Verification
No state license is required, check the local government

Rhode Island

Rhode Island Contractors' Registration and Licensing Board
State license required
(401) 222-1270

South Carolina

South Carolina Contractors Licensing Board
Contractors must register with South Carolina Residential Builders Commission 803-896-4686
Laws/Policies

South Dakota

Sewer and Water Contractor License through the state only. Check local government.

Texas

Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation
License Verification
Plumbers, Heating & Air Conditioning Contractors must be state-licensed.
Plumbing: 512-458-2145
HVAC: 512-463-6599
For all other contractors, check the local government.
Statutes & Administrative Rules

Utah

Utah Construction Trades Bureau
Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing
License Verification
State license required
State License Board (801) 530-6628
Statutes & Rules
Utah Chapter ICC

Virginia

Virginia Board for Contractors
Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation
License Verification
State license required
Board of Contractors (804) 367-8511
Law & Policy
Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code

Vermont

Business license required
License Verification
Secretary of State (802) 828-2363

Washington

License Verification
Washington Department of Labor and Industries
Must register with the State Department of Labor and Industries, Contractor Registration Division
Laws & Rules

West Virginia

License Verification
West Virginia Contractors Licensing Board
Division of Labor
State license required for jobs over $1,000 (labor & materials)
West Virginia Division of Labor (304) 558-7890

Wisconsin

Wisconsin Division of Safety & Buildings (608) 261-8500.

Wyoming

No state license is required unless it is "wired" you must have both personal and company licenses. Contact the division of Fire Prevention and Electrical Safety in Cheyenne

** Please note that we update our website with updates when state requirements change; however always check with your state, county, and city requirements before any work is done. If you find any of this information is incorrect, please contact us.

You could also consider working with your Local Builder's Associations