State Contractor Regulatory
Agencies and Licensing Laws
Be sure that your contractor has agreed in writing to provide an adequate amount of coverage in a completion bond regardless of what state law may, or may not, require. Workman's compensation insurance should also be adequate, regardless of state requirements. Ask to see a copy of the bond and insurance policy and then check with the issuing companies to see that the coverage's are valid.
In states that have no licensing requirements, check to see what regulations may exist in your county or municipality and make sure that your contractor complies.
Alabama
Alabama's licensing procedures do not apply to single family homes and townhouses, except for swimming pool contractors. Subcontractors do not have to be licensed. Other contractors need to be licensed only for jobs whose cost exceeds $20,000. Licenses are issued in six different maximum bid categories. Check to see that your contractor is not bidding for a job too costly for his or her license. Licenses expire on December 31. Be sure that your contractor's license is current.
Requirements
Licensing Examination: No
Bond: No
Workmen's Compensation: No
Liability Insurance: No
State Licensing Board for General Contractors
125 South Ripley Street
Montgomery, AL 36130
(215)261-2839
Alaska
All contractors must be licensed. They must also possess a state business license. Plumbing and electrical contractors must possess a Certificate of Fitness from the Department of Labor.
Requirements
Licensing Examination: Yes for general contractors, electricians, plumbers, refrigeration, heating and air-conditioning contractors, and some others (contact regulators)
Bond: Yes
Workmen's Compensation: Yes
Liability Insurance: Yes
Department of Commerce and Economic Development
Division of Occupational Licensing
P. O. Box D
Juneau, AK 99811-0800
(907)465-2546
Be sure that your contractor has agreed in writing to provide an adequate amount of coverage in a completion bond regardless of what state law may, or may not, require. Workman's compensation insurance should also be adequate, regardless of state requirements. Ask to see a copy of the bond and insurance policy and then check with the issuing companies to see that the coverage's are valid.
In states that have no licensing requirements, check to see what regulations may exist in your county or municipality and make sure that your contractor complies.
Arizona
All home improvement and repair contractors must be licensed.
Requirements
License Examination: Yes
Bond: Yes $75,000 or contribution to state recovery fund
Workmen's Compensation: No
Liability Insurance: No
Registrar of Contracts
800 West Washington, 6th Floor
Phoenix, AZ 85007
(602)542-1525
Arkansas
No state requirement for residential remodelers, though municipalities may require such registration with the state (check with your local government). Nonresidential contractors whose projects cost more than $20,000 must be licensed. Registrations expire November 30. Licenses expire annually.
Requirements
Licensing Examination: No (except for nonresidential contractors)
Bond: No
Workmen's Compensation: No
Liability Insurance: Yes
Contractors Licensing Board
621 East Capitol Avenue
Little Rock, AR 72202
(501)372-4661
California
All contractors who build or repair structures. Licenses must be renewed every two years.
Requirements
Licensing Examination: Yes
Bond: Yes
Workmen's Compensation: Yes
Liability Insurance: No
Contractors State License Board
P. O. Box 26000
3132 Bradshaw Street
Sacramento, CA 95826
In CA: (800)321-2752 /(916)366-5153
Colorado
No regulation of contractors. The Colorado State Board on Electrical and Plumbing is the exception.
Call (303)894-2300
Connecticut
Virtually all contractors and subcontractors must be licensed. Licenses expire annually according to a chart issued by the state.
Requirements
License Examination: No
Bond: No
Workmen's Compensation: Yes
Liability Insurance: Yes
Commissioner of Consumer Protection
Department of Occupational Licensing
State Office Building
Delaware
All contractors must obtain a license, register with the state Department of Labor, and supply proof of workmen's comp. All licenses must be renewed annually by December 31.
Requirements
Licensing Examination: No
Bond: No (except for nonresident contractors, who must post bond equal to 6 percent of the cost of the job)
Workmen's Compensation: Yes
Liability Insurance: Yes
Department of Finance
Division of Revenue
Carvel State Building
820 North French Street
Wilmington, DE 19801
(302)571-3369
D C
All contractors who change more than $300 for a job must have licenses.
Requirements
License Examination: No
Bond: No (but limited)
Workmen's Compensation: No
Liability: Yes
Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs
614 H Street, N.W. Suite 1120
Washington,, DC 20001
(202)727-7089
Florida
All contractors must be licensed. Licenses must be renewed by June 30, every two years.
Requirements
Licensing Examination: Yes
Bond: No
Workmen's Compensation: No
Liability Insurance: Yes
Department of Professional Regulation
The Construction Industry Licensing Board
P. O. Box 2
Jacksonville, FL 32201-0002
(904)359-6310
Georgia
Out-of-state contractors must register for any jobs costing more than $10,000. Air-conditioning, utility, and plumbing contractors must be licensed by the Construction Industry Licensing Board.
Requirements
License Examination: No
Bond: Yes (required in the amount of 10 percent of each contract price)
Workmen's Compensation: Yes
Liability Insurance: No
State Revenue Commissioner
Contract Unit, Tax Division
Trinity- Washington Building
Atlanta, GA 30334
(404)656-4080
Construction Industry Licensing Board
166 Pryor Street , S. W.
Atlanta, GA 30303- 3465
(404)656-2448
Hawaii
All contractors must be licensed, and all must deposit $150 into a Contractors Recovery Fund, which, upon court order, reimburses those injured by the actions of a contractor. Awards are limited to $12,500. License must be renewed by April 30 of even-numbered years.
Requirements
Licensing Examination: Yes
Bond: No (see above for Recovery Fund)
Workmen's Compensation: Yes
Liability Insurance: Yes
Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs
Contractors License Board
P. O. Box 3469
Honolulu, HI 96801
(808)548-4100
Idaho
No Licensing of residential contractors.
Illinois
No licensing of residential contractors. However, plumbing contractors are regulated though the Department of Public Health, Division of Environmental Health. Call (217)782-5830
Indiana
No statewide licensing of residential contractors. The exception is plumbers, who are regulated by the Professional Licensing Agency. Call (317)232-2980.
Iowa
Only construction contractors must be registered with (not licensed by) the state.
Requirements
Licensing Examination: No
Bond: Yes 5 percent of job or $1,000, whichever is greater
Workmen's Compensation: Yes
Liability Insurance: No
Department of Employment Services
Division of Labor
1000 east Grand Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50319- 0209
(515)281-3606
No Licensing of residential contractors.
Kansas
No licensing requirements. Contractors and subcontractors must register for each job with the Department of Revenue.
Requirements
Licensing Examination: No
Bond: Yes, 8 percent of cost of job or $1,000, whichever is greater
Workmen's Compensation: No
Liability Insurance: No
Kentucky
No licensing requirements for construction or repair contractors. However, plumbers are regulated through the Department of Housing, Department of Plumbing, (502)564-3580; and electricians are regulated through the State Fire Marshal, 504)564-3626
Louisiana
No licensing of contractors who build or work on home residences.
Maine
No regulation of residential contractors. Plumbers and electricians are regulated though the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, Division of Licensing and Enforcement, (207)582-8723.
Maryland
This one gets complicated. All contractors must be licensed. All home improvement contractors must get an additional license for that specialty. All plumbers and electrical contractors must also get licenses from the State Board of Commissioners of Practical Plumbing and the Maryland Statewide Master Electrical licensing Board (they evidently like cumbersome names in Maryland), respectively, Construction firm (contractor) licenses expire May 1. Home improvement contractor licenses expire June 30, in odd-numbered years. A home Improvement Guarantee Fund compensates for actual losses due to wrong conduct by contractors.
Requirements
Licensing Examination: Yes
Bond: Must contribute to Guarantee Fund (see above)
Workmen's Compensation: Yes (or provide evidence of self-insurance)
Liability Insurance: No
All contractors
Comptroller of the Treasury
Retail Sales Tax Division
State License Bureau
301 West Preston Street
Baltimore, MD 21201-2383
(301)225-1550
Home improvement contractors
Department of Licensing and Regulation
Home Improvement Commission
501 St. Paul Place, Room 801
Baltimore, MD 21202
(301)333-6309
Massachusetts
All construction supervisors must be licensed for work on structures up to a maximum of 35,000 cubic feet. Licenses issued initially for three years and must be renewed at two year intervals.
Requirements
Licensing Examination: Yes
Bond: No
Workmen's Compensation: No
Liability Insurance: No
State Board of Building Regulations and Standards
John W. McCormack State Office Building
One Asburton Place, Room 1301
Boston, MA 02108
(617)727-3200
Michigan
All residential contractors must be licensed. Licenses must be renewed by every May 31.
Requirements
Licensing Examination: Yes
Bond: No, but contractor must contribute to lien recovery fund
Workmen's Compensation: No
Liability Insurance: No
Depart of Licensing and Regulation
Residential Builders and Maintenance and Alteration Contractors Board
P. O. Box 30245
Lansing, MI 48909
(517)373-0678
Minnesota
No licensing of contractors. Plumbing contractors are licensed through the State Health Department, (612)296-3871; and electrical contractors are licensed through the Board of Electricity, (612)642-0800
Mississippi
No licensing of contractors is required. Certificates of Responsibility are required for projects costing more than $100,000.
Requirements
Licensing Examination: Yes
Bond: No
Workmen's Compensation: No
Liability Insurance: No
State Board of Contractors
2001 Airport Road # 101
Jackson, MS 39208
(601)354-6161
Missouri
No licensing of contractors.
Montana
Except for plumbers and electrical contractors, no licensing of residential contractors.
Building Codes Bureau
Capitol Station
1218 East Sixth Avenue
Helena, MT 59620
(406)444-3933
Nebraska
All contractors and each individual contract must be registered. Electricians are licensed through the State Electrical Division.
Requirements
Licensing Examination: No
Bond: 10 percent of contract price for first $100,000; 5 percent thereafter; $1,000 minimum; no bond required for jobs under $2,500
Workmen's Compensation: No
Liability Insurance: No
Nevada
All contractors must be licensed. Licenses expire annually.
Requirements
Licensing Examination: Yes
Bond: Yes, but only for the first five years of licensing
Workmen's Compensation: Yes
Liability Insurance: No
State Contractors Boards
70 Linden Street
Reno, NV 89502
(702)789-0141
1800 Industrial Road
Las Vegas, NV 89158
(702)486-3500
New Hampshire
No licensing of residential contractors. Plumbers are licensed through the New Hampshire Plumbers Board, (603) 271-3267; and electricians are licensed through the New Hampshire Board, (603)271-3748.
New Jersey
All residential contractors must be registered (not licensed). However, plumbers and electricians must be licensed through their respective licensing boards in the Department of Law and Public Safety, (201)648-4010
Requirements
Licensing Examination: No
Bond: No
Workmen's Compensation: Yes
Liability Insurance: Yes
Electricians and plumbers
Department of Law and Public Safety
Division of Consumer Affairs
1100 Raymond Boulevard, Room 504
Newark, NJ 07102
(201)648-4010
Other contractors
Department of Banking
Division of Supervision
License Section
CN 040, 20 West State Street
Trenton, NJ 08625
(609)292-5340 or 5341
New Mexico
All contractors must be licensed. Licenses expire every two years from the date of issue.
Requirements
Licensing Examination: Yes
Bond: Yes
Workmen's Compensation: Yes
Liability Insurance: No
Regulation and Licensing Department
Construction Industries Division
725 St. Michaels Drives
P. O. Box 25101
Sante Fe, NM 87504
(505)827-7030
New York
No Licensing of contractors.
North Carolina
Licensing required only for contractors who perform jobs that cost $45,000 or more. Plumbing and electrical contractors are licensed by the Plumbing and Heating Board and the Electrical Board, respectively. Licenses expire every December 31.
Requirements
Licensing Examination: Yes
Bond: No
Workmen's Compensation: No
Liability Insurance: No
Licensing Board for General Contractors
P. O. Box 17187
Raleigh, NC 27619
(919)781-8771
North Dakota
All contractors must be licensed. Licenses must be renewed every February 1.
Requirements
Licensing Examination: No
Bond: Yes (very small)
Workmen's Compensation: Yes
Liability Insurance: No
Secretary of State
State Capitol
600 East Boulevard Avenue
Bismarck, ND 58505-0500
(701)224-2900
Ohio
No licensing Regulations.
Oklahoma
No licensing of contractors except for plumbers and electricians who are licensed by the Department of Health. Out of state contractors must be bonded and must notify the state Tax Commission (405)521-4437 and the assessor of the country in which the work is to be performed. This must be done before work starts and when it is completed.
Oregon
All contractors must be registered. Registration expires one year from the date of issuance. Plumbers and electricians must be licensed by the Building Codes Agency.
Requirements
Licensing Examination: No
Bond: Yes (varies)
Workmen's Compensation: Yes
Liability Insurance: Yes
Construction Contractors Board
700 Summer N. E., Suite 300
Salem, OR 93710-0151
(503)378-4621
Pennsylvania
No licensing of contractors.
Rhode Island
All contractors must be registered. Registrations expire one year from the date of issuance.
Requirements
Licensing Examination: No
Bond: No
Workmen's Compensation: Yes
Liability Insurance: Yes
Office of Professional Regulation
Department of Health
75 Davis Street
Providence, RI 0290(401)277-2827
South Carolina
General contractors who construct or improve any structure for more than $30,000 and residential builders and related subcontractors who construct or improve certain building for more than $5,000 must be licensed. Consult respective agencies for details. General contractors' licenses expire annually on January 1. Residential builders' licenses expires on June 30.
Requirements
Licensing Examination: Yes (requirements vary with specialties)
Bond: No
Workmen's Compensation: No
Liability Insurance: No
State of South Carolina Licensing Board for Contractors
1300 Pickens Street
P. O. Box 5737
Columbia, SC 29250
(803)734-8954
South Carolina Residential Builders Commission
2221 Devine Street, Suite 530
Columbia, SC 29205
(803)734-9174
South Dakota
No licensing of contractors. Plumber are regulated through the State Plumbing Commission, (605)773-3429.
Tennessee
Contractors are required to have a license if the contract is for $25,000 or more. In the four largest counties, home improvement contractors are required to obtain a license through a separate procedure. Licenses are not required when the construction of a dwelling for resale is on private property in the county of one's residence in counties with less than 60,000 population. General contractors' licenses expire annually on the last day of the twelfth month following issuance. Home improvement contractors' licenses expire annually on the date of issue.
Requirements
Licensing Examination: Yes
Bond: Only for home improvement contractors who do not submit financial statements or other surety
Workmen's Compensation: No
Liability Insurance: No
Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors
500 James Robertson Parkway, Suite 110
Nashville, TN 37243-1150
(800) 544-7693/(615)741-2121
Texas
No licensing of contractors except for those who provide "residential service contract." These contracts include maintaining repairing, and replacing structural components or the electrical, plumbing, heating, cooling, or air-conditioning systems of residential properties. Licenses are obtained from the Texas Real Estate Commission. Plumbers are licensed through the State Plumbing Commission, (512)458-2145.
Utah
All contractors must be licensed. Licenses must be renewed by July 31 of each odd-numbered year.
Requirements
Licensing Examination: Yes
Bond: For jobs of $2,000 or more, if requested by client, for full amount of contract price
Workmen's Compensation: Yes
Liability Insurance: Yes
Depart of Commerce
Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing
P. O. Box 45802
Salt Lake City, UT 84145
(801)530-6628
Vermont
No licensing of contractors. Plumbers and electricians are regulated by the Department of Labor and Industry, (802)828-2458
Virginia
All contractors must obtain licenses. Licenses must be renewed every two years by the end of the month of original issuance.
Requirements
Licensing Examination: Yes
Bond: No
Workmen's Compensation: No
Liability Insurance: Yes
Department of Commerce
State Board of Contractors
3600 West Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23230
(800)552-3016 (in VA)/(804)257-8500
Washington
All contractors must be registered.
Requirements
Licensing Examination: No
Bond: Yes
Workmen's Compensation: No
Liability Insurance: Yes
Department of Labor and Industries
Contractors' Section
P. O. Box 9689
Olympia, WA 98504-9689
(206)753-6807
West Virginia
No licensing of contractors. They must, however, have a business registration certificate. Electrical contractors must be licensed through the state fire commissioner. Out of state contractors must either deposit 6 percent of the contract fee in a Contractor's Use Tax Fund or post a surety bond to be approved by the tax commissioner.
Wisconsin
No licensing of contractors. Plumber are though the Department of Industry, Labor and Human Relations, Division of Safety and Building, (608)266-3815.
Wyoming
No licensing of resident contractors. However, nonresident contractors defined as those who have not
Continuously done business in the state for five years or who have less than $5,000 worth of real property in Wyoming prior to bidding on a contract must be licensed. Workmen's Compensation and surety bonds are required only for nonresident, employer contractors.
Department of Employment
Division of Employment Affairs
Herschler Building
112 West 25th Street
Cheyenne, WY 82002 (307)777-7261
