Contractor license & bond check by state

General information, not legal advice. Compiled October 16, 2026 from each state agency's official website. Thresholds, bond amounts and rules change, and trades (electrical, plumbing, HVAC) are usually licensed separately. Always confirm with the agency and your local building department.

Quick table

State by state

Alabama

State license / registration. Home Builders Licensure Board licenses residential builders/remodelers (jobs over $10,000); General Contractors Board covers commercial work over $50,000.

Bond / insurance: Builder license requires proof of liability insurance.

Look up a contractor: https://hblb.alabama.gov/

Arizona

State license / registration. Registrar of Contractors licenses contractors for most jobs, including handyman work over $1,000 or any job needing a permit.

Bond / insurance: License bond required; residential contractors also pay into a recovery fund.

Look up a contractor: https://roc.az.gov/

Arkansas

State license / registration. Contractors Licensing Board: residential builders and home improvement contractors (home improvement over $2,000); commercial over $50,000.

Bond / insurance: See board for insurance and financial requirements.

Look up a contractor: https://www.aclb.arkansas.gov/

California

State license / registration. Contractors State License Board licenses contractors for jobs over $1,000 (labor + materials) or any job needing a permit.

Bond / insurance: $25,000 contractor bond required; workers' comp required if the contractor has employees.

Look up a contractor: https://www.cslb.ca.gov/

Colorado

Local only (no statewide GC license). No statewide general contractor license; cities and counties (e.g. Denver) license builders. Electricians and plumbers are state-licensed.

Bond / insurance: Set locally.

Look up a contractor: https://dpo.colorado.gov/

Connecticut

State license / registration. Department of Consumer Protection registers home improvement contractors and new home construction contractors.

Bond / insurance: Registration funds a Home Improvement Guaranty Fund.

Look up a contractor: https://www.elicense.ct.gov/

Delaware

State license / registration. Division of Revenue requires a contractor business license; trades are licensed by the Division of Professional Regulation.

Bond / insurance: See Division of Revenue.

Look up a contractor: https://revenue.delaware.gov/

District of Columbia

State license / registration. Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection licenses home improvement contractors and general contractors.

Bond / insurance: Bond required for home improvement contractors.

Look up a contractor: https://dlcp.dc.gov/

Florida

State license / registration. Construction Industry Licensing Board (DBPR) certifies/registers general, building and residential contractors.

Bond / insurance: Proof of liability insurance and financial responsibility required.

Look up a contractor: https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/

Georgia

State license / registration. State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors licenses residential and general contractors (jobs over $2,500).

Bond / insurance: Proof of general liability insurance required.

Look up a contractor: https://verify.sos.ga.gov/verification/

Idaho

State license / registration. Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses registers contractors.

Bond / insurance: Proof of liability insurance required for registration.

Look up a contractor: https://dopl.idaho.gov/

Illinois

Local only (no statewide GC license). No statewide general contractor license; municipalities (e.g. Chicago) license contractors. Roofers are state-licensed.

Bond / insurance: Set locally; roofers carry a state bond.

Look up a contractor: https://idfpr.illinois.gov/

Indiana

Local only (no statewide GC license). No statewide general contractor license; licensing is by city or county. Plumbers are state-licensed.

Bond / insurance: Set locally.

Look up a contractor: https://www.in.gov/pla/

Iowa

State license / registration. Contractors must register with the state Division of Labor (generally if earning $2,000+ per year).

Bond / insurance: Out-of-state contractors may need a bond.

Look up a contractor: https://dial.iowa.gov/

Kansas

Local only (no statewide GC license). No statewide general contractor license; counties/cities license. Roofers register with the Attorney General.

Bond / insurance: Set locally.

Look up a contractor: https://www.ag.ks.gov/

Kentucky

Local only (no statewide GC license). No statewide general contractor license; local governments license. HVAC, plumbing and electrical are state-licensed.

Bond / insurance: Set locally.

Look up a contractor: https://dhbc.ky.gov/

Louisiana

State license / registration. State Licensing Board for Contractors: residential building contractors (over $75,000) and home improvement registration (over $7,500).

Bond / insurance: Proof of insurance required.

Look up a contractor: https://lslbc.gov/

Maine

Local only (no statewide GC license). No statewide general contractor license; state law requires written contracts for home construction over $3,000. Electricians/plumbers state-licensed.

Bond / insurance: Set locally.

Look up a contractor: https://www.maine.gov/ag/about-us/consumer-protection

Maryland

State license / registration. Maryland Home Improvement Commission licenses home improvement contractors.

Bond / insurance: Guaranty Fund and liability insurance required.

Look up a contractor: https://www.labor.maryland.gov/license/mhic/

Massachusetts

State license / registration. Construction Supervisor License (structural work) plus Home Improvement Contractor registration for residential work.

Bond / insurance: HIC registration funds a guaranty fund.

Look up a contractor: https://www.mass.gov/orgs/office-of-consumer-affairs-and-business-regulation

Michigan

State license / registration. LARA licenses residential builders and maintenance & alteration contractors (jobs over $600).

Bond / insurance: See LARA.

Look up a contractor: https://www.michigan.gov/lara

Minnesota

State license / registration. Department of Labor and Industry licenses residential building contractors and remodelers.

Bond / insurance: Recovery fund and liability insurance required.

Look up a contractor: https://www.dli.mn.gov/

Mississippi

State license / registration. State Board of Contractors: residential builders (over $50,000) and remodelers (over $10,000); commercial over $50,000.

Bond / insurance: See board.

Look up a contractor: https://www.msboc.us/

Missouri

Local only (no statewide GC license). No statewide general contractor license; cities and counties license contractors.

Bond / insurance: Set locally.

Look up a contractor: https://pr.mo.gov/ (site did not respond to our automated check on Oct 16, 2026; link from the agency's published address)

Montana

State license / registration. Department of Labor and Industry registers construction contractors with employees.

Bond / insurance: Workers' comp or exemption required.

Look up a contractor: https://erd.dli.mt.gov/

Nebraska

State license / registration. Department of Labor registers contractors and subcontractors.

Bond / insurance: Workers' comp proof required.

Look up a contractor: https://dol.nebraska.gov/

Nevada

State license / registration. State Contractors Board licenses contractors for jobs of $1,000 or more.

Bond / insurance: License bond required; residential recovery fund.

Look up a contractor: https://www.nvcontractorsboard.com/

New Hampshire

Local only (no statewide GC license). No statewide general contractor license; electricians and plumbers are state-licensed.

Bond / insurance: Set locally.

Look up a contractor: https://www.oplc.nh.gov/

New Jersey

State license / registration. Division of Consumer Affairs registers home improvement contractors; new home builders register with DCA.

Bond / insurance: Liability insurance required for HIC registration.

Look up a contractor: https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/

New Mexico

State license / registration. Construction Industries Division licenses contractors.

Bond / insurance: Bond required.

Look up a contractor: https://www.rld.nm.gov/construction-industries/

New York

Local only (no statewide GC license). No statewide general contractor license; local licensing (e.g. NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection home improvement license, Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester).

Bond / insurance: Set locally.

Look up a contractor: https://www.nyc.gov/site/dca/index.page

North Carolina

State license / registration. Licensing Board for General Contractors licenses general contractors for projects of $40,000 or more.

Bond / insurance: Financial requirements vary by license limit.

Look up a contractor: https://nclbgc.org/

North Dakota

State license / registration. Secretary of State licenses contractors for jobs over $4,000.

Bond / insurance: Liability insurance and workers' comp required.

Look up a contractor: https://www.sos.nd.gov/

Ohio

Local only (no statewide GC license). No statewide general contractor license; commercial trades licensed by the state (OCILB); residential licensing is local.

Bond / insurance: Set locally.

Look up a contractor: https://elicense4.com.ohio.gov/Lookup/LicenseLookup.aspx

Oklahoma

Local only (no statewide GC license). No statewide general contractor license; roofers register with the Construction Industries Board, which also licenses trades.

Bond / insurance: Set locally.

Look up a contractor: https://oklahoma.gov/cib.html

Oregon

State license / registration. Construction Contractors Board licenses anyone paid to build, remodel or repair.

Bond / insurance: Surety bond and liability insurance required.

Look up a contractor: https://www.oregon.gov/ccb/Pages/default.aspx

Pennsylvania

State license / registration. Attorney General registers home improvement contractors (over $5,000/year). Philadelphia also licenses contractors.

Bond / insurance: Liability insurance required.

Look up a contractor: https://www.attorneygeneral.gov/

Rhode Island

State license / registration. Contractors' Registration and Licensing Board registers residential and commercial contractors.

Bond / insurance: Liability insurance required.

Look up a contractor: https://crb.ri.gov/

South Carolina

State license / registration. Residential Builders Commission (LLR) licenses residential builders and registers specialty contractors; Contractors' Licensing Board for commercial.

Bond / insurance: Bond or financial statement for some classes.

Look up a contractor: https://llr.sc.gov/

South Dakota

Local only (no statewide GC license). No statewide general contractor license; electricians and plumbers are state-licensed.

Bond / insurance: Set locally.

Look up a contractor: https://dlr.sd.gov/

Tennessee

State license / registration. Board for Licensing Contractors licenses contractors for jobs of $25,000+; home improvement licenses required in some counties.

Bond / insurance: See board.

Look up a contractor: https://www.tn.gov/commerce/regboards/contractors.html (site did not respond to our automated check on Oct 16, 2026; link from the agency's published address)

Texas

Local only (no statewide GC license). No statewide general or residential contractor license; trades (electrical, HVAC, plumbing) are state-licensed. Some cities register contractors.

Bond / insurance: Set locally.

Look up a contractor: https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/

Utah

State license / registration. Division of Professional Licensing licenses contractors.

Bond / insurance: Liability insurance required; recovery fund for residential.

Look up a contractor: https://commerce.utah.gov/dopl/

Vermont

State license / registration. Office of Professional Regulation registers residential contractors (contracts over $10,000).

Bond / insurance: See OPR.

Look up a contractor: https://sos.vermont.gov/opr

Virginia

State license / registration. DPOR Board for Contractors licenses contractors (Class C starts at $1,000).

Bond / insurance: Recovery fund for residential.

Look up a contractor: https://www.dpor.virginia.gov/

Washington

State license / registration. Department of Labor & Industries registers all construction contractors.

Bond / insurance: Bond required ($30,000 general / $15,000 specialty) and liability insurance.

Look up a contractor: https://lni.wa.gov/

West Virginia

State license / registration. Contractor Licensing Board licenses contractors for jobs of $2,500 or more.

Bond / insurance: See board.

Look up a contractor: https://labor.wv.gov/

Wisconsin

State license / registration. Department of Safety and Professional Services issues Dwelling Contractor credentials for one- and two-family homes.

Bond / insurance: Liability insurance required.

Look up a contractor: https://dsps.wi.gov/

Wyoming

Local only (no statewide GC license). No statewide general contractor license; cities and counties license. Electricians are state-licensed.

Bond / insurance: Set locally.

Look up a contractor: https://wsfm.wyo.gov/

Interview checklist: Contractor Interview Kit ($9 add-on).

Frequently asked questions

More guides: all cost guides