Find Your State Requirements:
Alabama
http://genconbd.alabama.gov/default.aspx
Alabama needs a license for general contractors and subcontractors in the event the project price, including labor, is $50,000.00 for industrial and commercial projects, $10,000.00 for residential projects, and $5,000.00 for swimming pools.
License search: http://genconbd.alabama.gov/DATABASE-SQL/roster.aspx
Alaska
http://www.contractors-license.org/ak/ak.htm
Alaska requires another license for residential and commercial contractors. Non-residential contractors are not required to take an exam, but residential contractors will need to finish the Alaska Craftsman Home Program or postsecondary course in Arctic technology, followed up by an Endorsement Application for Residential Construction.
License search: https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/cbp/Main/CBPLSearch.aspx?mode=Prof
Arizona
http://www.azroc.gov/l_class.html
Arizona has different licenses for residential and commercial work and has dual licensing to pay both on a single license. Residential construction is described as homes, townhomes, condos, cooperative units, and apartments with four units or fewer. A license is essential to bid on tasks of $750.00 or longer.
License search: http://www.azroc.gov/forms/contractorsearch.html
Arkansas
http://aclb.arkansas.gov/rulesRegs/Pages/default.aspx
A homeowner in Arkansas does not require a license to perform the job himself or herself. But a builder (if used) must be licensed if the job, including material and labor, exceeds $2,000.00.
License search: http://aclb2.arkansas.gov/clbsearch.php
California
http://www.cslb.ca.gov/Contractors/
Generally speaking, California requires a license for jobs exceeding $500.00 whether on one project or multiple jobs at this amount.
License search: https://www2.cslb.ca.gov/OnlineServices/CheckLicenseII/checklicense.aspx
Colorado
http://www.contractors-license.org/co/co.htm
General contractors are not licensed by Colorado. Rather, they are licensed locally. Electrical and plumbing contractors, however, are licensed by the state. Contractors are required to get a business license, but not every contractor is required to get a contractor’s license. Local regulations should be checked.
License search: https://www.colorado.gov/dora/licensing/Lookup/LicenseLookup.aspx
Connecticut
http://www.contractors-license.org/ct/ct.htm
Connecticut contrasts between "major contractor" from "small contractor." A significant contractor is licensed to operate in institutional homes (care homes, jails, etc.), hotels/motels, multi-family homes, and other big sites. A small contractor is licensed to operate in private houses and small multi-family units. A license is necessary in case the job exceeds $200.00 for one job or if the annual job exceeds $1,000.00 total.
License search: https://www.elicense.ct.gov/Lookup/LicenseLookup.aspx
Delaware
http://www.contractors-license.org/de/de.htm
Delaware requires a license for jobs exceeding $50,000.00. Digging water well and installing a pump needs another license in Delaware.
License search: https://dpronline.delaware.gov/mylicense%20weblookup/Search.aspx?facility=N
Calculate house water pump costs using our Replacement Well Pump Cost Guide.
Florida
http://www.contractors-license.org/fl/fl.htm
Florida has two license types: licensed and registered. A registered contractor is licensed to operate at the local level, though a certified contractor can take work anywhere in the state.
License search: https://www.myfloridalicense.com/wl11.asp?mode=0&SID=
Georgia
http://www.contractors-license.org/ga/ga.htm
Georgia requires a license for work on detached single-family or two-family houses or single-family townhomes less than four stories tall, and also for projects exceeding $2,500.00.
License search: http://publicrecords.onlinesearches.com/view/lid/49531
Hawaii
http://www.contractors-license.org/hi/hi.htm
Hawaii needs a licensed contractor for tasks exceeding $1,000.00 and requiring licenses. Electrical and plumbing licenses are required for tasks involving those particular trades.
License search: http://cca.hawaii.gov/rico/business_online/
Idaho
http://www.contractors-license.org/id/id.htm
Idaho does not license general contractors at the state level. However, electrical, HVAC, plumbing, well drillers, fire sprinkler systems, and public works contractors are licensed by the state.
License search: https://web.dbs.idaho.gov/etrakit3/Custom/Idaho_LicenseSearch.aspx
Illinois
http://www.contractors-license.org/il/il.htm
Besides public works and roof, Illinois does not issue contractor licenses. Requirements have to be assessed at the local level.
License search: https://ilesonline.idfpr.illinois.gov/DPR/Lookup/LicenseLookup.aspx
Indiana
http://www.contractors-license.org/in/in.htm
Indiana only licenses plumbers at the state level. All others should be assessed locally.
License search: https://mylicense.in.gov/everification/Search.aspx
Iowa
http://www.contractors-license.org/ia/ia.htm
Iowa state law is that all construction contractors be registered with the Iowa Division of labor only if their work will make $2,000.00 for this year.
License search: http://www2.iwd.state.ia.us/contractor.nsf
Kansas
http://www.contractors-license.org/ks/ks.htm
Kansas only licenses water well drillers and asbestos abatement contractors.
Kentucky
http://www.contractors-license.org/ky/ky.htm
Kentucky just licenses electrical, plumbing, and HVAC contractors. A homeowner can achieve his or her plumbing job with the proper licenses but for safety's sake HVAC and electrical need a licensed contractor. Kentucky has HVAC reciprocity with Ohio.
License search: https://ky.joportal.com/License/Search
Louisiana
http://www.contractors-license.org/la/la.htm
Louisiana needs a building contractor be registered if construction work passes $75,000.00. Home improvement and repair contractor limits are between $7,500.00 and $75,000.00. If a repair or improvement passes this limit, the home improvement contractor must register as a building contractor.
License search: http://www.lslbc.louisiana.gov/contractor-search/
Maine
http://www.contractors-license.org/me/me.htm
Maine only licenses plumbing, electrical, and asbestos abatement contractors.
License search: https://www.pfr.maine.gov/almsonline/almsquery/welcome.aspx?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1
Maryland
http://www.contractors-license.org/md/md.htm
Maryland licenses plumbers (including gas fitters), electricians, HVAC, and home improvement contractors. They must have an MHIC license.
License search: http://www.dllr.state.md.us/pq/
Massachusetts
http://www.contractors-license.org/ma/ma.htm
Massachusetts requires anyone supervising or performing construction work to be licensed.
License search: http://elicense.chs.state.ma.us/Verification/Search.aspx
Michigan
http://www.contractors-license.org/mi/mi.htm
Michigan requires all contractors to be licensed.
License search: http://www.dleg.state.mi.us/verify.htm
Minnesota
http://www.contractors-license.org/mn/mn.htm
License search: https://secure.doli.state.mn.us/lookup/licensing.aspx
Mississippi
http://www.contractors-license.org/ms/ms.htm
Any project exceeding $500.00 requires a contractor license.
License search: http://www.msboc.us/ConsolidatedResults.cfm?ContractorType=&VarDatasource=BOC&Advanced=1
Missouri
http://www.contractors-license.org/mo/mo.htm
Missouri requires licensing only for work done in towns that exceed a population of 15,000
Montana
http://www.contractors-license.org/mt/mt.htm
License search: http://erd.dli.mt.gov/work-comp-regulations/montana-contractor/construction-contractor-search
Independent contractors license search: http://erd.dli.mt.gov/work-comp-regulations/montana-contractor/icec-search
Nebraska
http://www.contractors-license.org/ne/ne.htm
Builders, plumbers, renovators, and HVAC contractors do not need licenses, but they do require registration if the contract exceeds $2,500.00. Electricians must be licensed with the Nebraska State Electrical Division.
License search: http://www.nebraska.gov/sed/search/index.cgi
Nevada
http://www.contractors-license.org/nv/nv.htm
Nevada requires all contractors have a license regardless of the contract.
License search: https://www.nvcontractorsboard.com/datamart/nvscbSearchType.do
New Hampshire
http://www.contractors-license.org/nh/nh.htm
New Hampshire only licenses asbestos and lead abatement contractors, plumbers, and electricians.
License search: https://nhlicenses.nh.gov/MyLicense%20Verification/
New Jersey
http://www.contractors-license.org/nj/nj.htm
New Jersey home builders and home repair contractors must be recorded with the state.
License search: https://newjersey.mylicense.com/verification/
New Mexico
http://www.contractors-license.org/nm/nm.htm
All contractors in New Mexico must be licensed with the state regardless of the contract.
License search: https://public.psiexams.com/search.jsp
New York
http://www.contractors-license.org/ny/ny.htm
Asbestos abatement is the only contract work licensed at the state level in New York.
North Carolina
http://www.contractors-license.org/nc/nc.htm
North Carolina requires a general contractor’s license for jobs costing $30,000.00 or more.
License search, general contractor: http://www.nclbgc.net/lic_fr.html
License search, plumbing, heating, fire sprinklers: https://onlineweb.nclicensing.org/Lookup/LicenseLookup.aspx
License search, electrician: https://lookup.ncbeec.org/Lookup/LicenseLookup.aspx/
North Dakota
http://www.contractors-license.org/nd/nd.htm
North Dakota requires a license for any job costing $4,000.00 or more.
License search: https://apps.nd.gov/sc/busnsrch/busnSearch.htm
Ohio
http://www.contractors-license.org/oh/oh.htm
General contractors are licensed at the local level.
License lookup: http://publicrecords.onlinesearches.com/view/lid/6354
Oklahoma
http://www.contractors-license.org/ok/ok.htm
Oklahoma licenses plumbers, electricians, and mechanical (HVAC) contractors. General contractors are licensed at the local level.
License lookup: http://cibverify.ok.gov/
Oregon
http://www.contractors-license.org/or/or.htm
Oregon requires a license for anyone performing construction activity for compensation.
License lookup: http://search.ccb.state.or.us/search/
Pennsylvania
http://www.contractors-license.org/pa/pa.htm
Pennsylvania only licenses asbestos and lead abatement contractors at the state level.
Licenses are researched at the local level.
Rhode Island
http://www.contractors-license.org/ri/ri.htm
Rhode Island requires registration with the Contractor’s Registration Board for building, repairing, or remodeling 1- to 4-family residences. Electricians, plumbers, and HVAC contractors must be licensed.
License search: http://www.crb.ri.gov/search.php
South Carolina
http://www.contractors-license.org/sc/sc.htm
South Carolina requires a license for residential work totaling over $200.00.
License search: https://verify.llronline.com/LicLookup/Resbu/Resbu.aspx?div=46
South Dakota
http://www.contractors-license.org/sd/sd.htm
South Dakota only licenses plumbers, electricians, and asbestos abatement contractors. General contractors are licensed at the local level.
License search: electrical call 605-773-3573, plumbers call 605-773-3153
Tennessee
https://www.tn.gov/commerce/topic/cont-contractors
Tennessee requires a license for bidding on jobs exceeding $25,000.00, and on masonry work exceeding $100,000.00.
License search: http://verify.tn.gov/
Texas
http://www.contractors-license.org/tx/Texas.html
Only specialty contractors, including HVAC, fire sprinkler systems, plumbing, and well drilling/pump installation specialists, need to be licensed in Texas.
Utah
http://www.contractors-license.org/ut/ut.htm
Utah requires all contractors be licensed at the state level regardless of the size of the contract. There are over 50 classifications of licenses.
License search: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html#
Vermont
http://www.contractors-license.org/vt/vt.htm
Vermont licenses general contractors or home improvement contractors at the local level. Plumbing/HVAC and electrical contractors are licensed at the state level.
License search: http://firesafety.vermont.gov/building_trades
Virginia
http://www.contractors-license.org/va/va.htm
Tradesman licenses are required for electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and all gas fitting. Construction contractors are licensed by the Virginia Board for Contractors at three levels:
- Class A: Single contracts at $70,000.00 or more, or $500,000.00 in a single year.
- Class B: Single contracts at $7,500.00 to less than $70,000.00, or $150,000.00 to less than $500,000.00 in a single year.
- Class C: Single contracts at $1,000.00 to less than $7,500.00, or less than $150,000.00 in a single year.
License search: http://www.dpor.virginia.gov/LicenseLookup/
Washington
http://www.contractors-license.org/wa/wa.htm
General and specialty contractors must be registered with the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries. Electricians must be licensed and plumbers certified.
License search: http://publicrecords.onlinesearches.com/view/lid/508
Washington DC
http://www.contractors-license.org/dc/dc.htm
General contractors are not required to be licensed, but any subcontractors must be even if the general contractor is licensed. DC has project cost limits according to license class:
- A – No limit
- B – $10,000,000.00
- C – $5,000,000.00
- D – $2,000,000.00
- E – $500,000.00
Plumbers license search: https://www.asisvcs.com/services/licensing/DCOPLA/search_page.asp?CPCAT=4909STATEREG
Electricians license search:
https://www.asisvcs.com/services/licensing/DCOPLA/search_page.asp?CPCAT=3609STATEREG
HVAC contractors license search:
https://www.asisvcs.com/services/licensing/DCOPLA/search_page.asp?CPCAT=RA09STATEREG
West Virginia
http://www.contractors-license.org/wv/wv.htm
All contractors and subcontractors must be licensed if the work performed is $2,500.00 or more. Plumbers and HVAC contractors must be certified.
License search: http://www.wvlabor.com/newwebsite/Pages/contractor_searchNEW.cfm
Plumber certification search: http://www.wvlabor.com/newwebsite/Pages/plumber_searchNEW.cfm
HVAC certification search: http://www.wvlabor.com/newwebsite/Pages/plumber_searchNEW.cfm
Wisconsin
http://www.contractors-license.org/wi/wi.htm
Plumbing, electrical, HVAC and building contractors must apply for a license at the state level.
License search: https://app.wi.gov/licensesearch
Wyoming
http://www.contractors-license.org/wy/wy.htm
Only electricians are licensed at the state level.