Do General Contractors Need a License? Rules by State
Short answerRules differ by state, and some leave licensing to cities and counties. This page lists the 31 places where we read the rule on an official page, each with its source. A missing state means we couldn't verify it, not that no license is needed.
| State | Rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | A residential home builder license is required when the cost of a home construction, repair or improvement job, including labor and materials, exceeds $10,000, unless the work is outside the board's jurisdiction. Commercial or public work of $100,000 or more is general contractor work instead. | Source |
| Alaska | Alaska contractors must hold a state certificate of registration, a business license, a bond and insurance. Per a 2015 state brochure, a handyman registration limits work to projects of not more than $10,000 including labor and materials, and a residential endorsement is needed for work worth 25% or more of the value of a privately owned home of one to four units. Confirm with the state. | Source |
| Arkansas | A residential builder, remodeler or home improvement license is required for work on a single-family home when the project is more than $2,000. A commercial license is needed for work of $50,000 or more, including labor and materials, on any project that is not a single-family residence. | Source |
| California | A contractor's license is required for projects of $1,000 or more in labor, materials and all other items. An unlicensed person may do smaller jobs only if the work needs no permit and the person employs no workers. | Source |
| Connecticut | Home improvement contractors, new home construction contractors and home improvement salespeople must be registered with the Department of Consumer Protection. Contractors must register before advertising or beginning home improvement work. | Source |
| Delaware | Any contractor conducting business activity in Delaware must register with the Division of Revenue and obtain a business license. This is a business license from the tax agency rather than a trade license. | Source |
| District of Columbia | Home improvement contractors in DC need a business license from DLCP and a $25,000 surety bond. Contractors doing residential work must also designate and maintain a Basic Business License for at least one Home Improvement Salesperson. | Source |
| Georgia | In Georgia, you must be licensed to perform or offer residential or commercial general contractor services for compensation. Licenses are not required for work that qualifies as a specialty trade. | Source |
| Hawaii | Hawaii's state pages differ: the Contractors License Board FAQ says no license is needed only up to $1,000 with no permit, while other state pages say $1,500. Treat any job over $1,000, or any job needing a permit, as requiring a license, and confirm with the board. | Source |
| Iowa | Iowa requires individuals and businesses that earn at least $2,000 a year from construction work to register. Registration is handled by the Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing. | Source |
| Louisiana | The board's Types of Licenses page requires a license for residential construction exceeding $50,000, while its law book says $75,000, so confirm with the board. Commercial projects of $50,000 or more also need a license, including labor and materials, and home improvement work on existing homes needs a registration when the project value is $7,500 or more. | Source |
| Maine | In Maine, general contractors are not licensed or regulated. Maine law does require a written contract for any home construction or repair work that costs more than $3,000, though you and the contractor can agree in writing to exempt yourselves after the contractor has informed you of your rights. | Source |
| Maryland | Contractors performing home improvement work for a homeowner in Maryland are licensed by the Maryland Home Improvement Commission. That license does not cover new home construction, and builders must register with the Home Builder Registration Unit of the Office of the Attorney General. | Source |
| Massachusetts | In Massachusetts, contractors and subcontractors who solicit, bid on or perform work on an existing, owner-occupied home with one to four units must register as a Home Improvement Contractor. A separate Construction Supervisor License, which requires an exam, is generally required for work on a building's structural elements. Some part-time and small jobs under $500 are exempt. | Source |
| Michigan | Michigan licenses and regulates people who build homes, or who repair, alter, add to or improve homes, for compensation other than wages for personal labor. The state's licenses are Residential Builder and Maintenance & Alteration Contractor. | Source |
| Mississippi | Mississippi requires a license from the State Board of Contractors for new residential construction over $50,000, improvements to an existing residence over $10,000, and commercial work over $50,000. | Source |
| Nebraska | The Nebraska Contractor Registration Act requires contractors and subcontractors doing business in Nebraska to register with the Nebraska Department of Labor. | Source |
| Nevada | All contractors in Nevada, including subcontractors and specialty contractors, must be licensed before contracting. Work to repair or maintain property valued at less than $1,000 may be exempt, depending on conditions such as whether a building permit is required and the type of work. | Source |
| New Jersey | Every business making or selling home improvements in New Jersey must register annually with the Division of Consumer Affairs unless exempt. Unregistered contractors will not be issued municipal construction permits. | Source |
| New Mexico | The Construction Industries Division licenses contractors in New Mexico. An individual doing casual, minor or inconsequential work such as handyman repairs is exempt up to $7,200 in compensation a year, with conditions such as filing a yearly declaration, but not for electrical wiring, plumbing or gas fitting. | Source |
| New York | Home improvement contractors must be licensed in New York City and in Suffolk, Nassau, Westchester, Putnam and Rockland counties. State law requires a written contract for home improvement work. | Source |
| North Carolina | A general contractor in North Carolina must be licensed if the contract is valued at $40,000 or higher. | Source |
| North Dakota | When the cost of a job exceeds $4,000, the person doing the work must be licensed as a contractor in North Dakota through the Secretary of State. | Source |
| Oregon | Oregon law generally requires anyone who works for compensation in any construction activity involving improvements to real property to be licensed by the Construction Contractors Board. Gutter cleaning, cleaning-only power washing and debris cleanup are listed as exempt. | Source |
| Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania has no licensure or certification requirement for most construction contractors, but contractors doing residential work must register as a Home Improvement Contractor with the state Attorney General's office. | Source |
| South Dakota | Anyone who signs a construction services contract or handles building, installation or repair of a fixture to real property must have a South Dakota contractor's tax license. This is a tax license with a 2% excise tax on gross receipts, not a competency license. | Source |
| Vermont | Vermont requires residential contractors to register with the Office of Professional Regulation for residential work with an estimated value of $10,000 or more, including labor and materials. | Source |
| Virginia | A project of more than $1,000 but less than $30,000 requires a Class C license, $30,000 or more but less than $150,000 requires Class B, and $150,000 or more requires Class A, all issued by the Board for Contractors. | Source |
| Washington | Washington requires all construction contractors to register with the Department of Labor & Industries. | Source |
| West Virginia | The West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board licenses contractors by class under West Virginia Code Chapter 30, Article 42. The contractor's license number must appear in advertising and binding contracts. | Source |
| Wisconsin | A Dwelling Contractor credential is for the owner, partner or chief executive of a contracting business that wants to obtain building permits for one- and two-family dwellings. It requires a surety bond of at least $25,000 or general liability insurance of at least $250,000 per occurrence. | Source |
Not verified yet
Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Wyoming
Download (CSV) · Check a contractor's license
General information, not professional advice. Conditions, codes and prices vary. Turn off power, gas or water before any work, and hire a licensed professional when in doubt. Cost figures are our estimates, not quotes.