Tools

Contractor License Verification Tool (Links by State)

Updated 2026-03-10

Contractor License Verification Tool (Links by State)

Always verify contractor licensing and insurance in your state. Cost estimates are averages and may vary by location.

Hiring an unlicensed contractor can leave you liable for injuries on your property, void your homeowner’s insurance coverage, and result in work that fails inspection. Verifying a contractor’s license takes less than five minutes and can save you thousands of dollars in problems down the road.

Why License Verification Matters

A valid license tells you three important things. First, the contractor has met minimum competency requirements set by your state. Second, they carry the insurance or bonding your state mandates. Third, there is a regulatory body you can file a complaint with if something goes wrong.

Unlicensed work also creates problems at resale. Home inspectors flag unpermitted or improperly done work, and buyers use it as leverage to negotiate your price down — or walk away entirely. See Home Repair Cost Estimator (Interactive Calculator) for typical costs of common repairs, so you know what a fair licensed quote looks like.

State-by-State Licensing Board Directory

Use the table below to find the licensing authority in your state. Click through to each board’s official website to run a license lookup.

[TOOL PLACEHOLDER]

StateLicensing BoardLink
AlabamaAlabama Licensing Board for General Contractors[LINK PLACEHOLDER]
AlaskaAlaska Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing[LINK PLACEHOLDER]
ArizonaArizona Registrar of Contractors[LINK PLACEHOLDER]
ArkansasArkansas Contractors Licensing Board[LINK PLACEHOLDER]
CaliforniaCalifornia Contractors State License Board[LINK PLACEHOLDER]
ColoradoColorado DORA Division of Professions and Occupations[LINK PLACEHOLDER]
ConnecticutConnecticut DCP License Services[LINK PLACEHOLDER]
DelawareDelaware Division of Professional Regulation[LINK PLACEHOLDER]
FloridaFlorida DBPR Construction Industry Licensing[LINK PLACEHOLDER]
GeorgiaGeorgia Secretary of State Licensing[LINK PLACEHOLDER]
HawaiiHawaii DCCA Professional and Vocational Licensing[LINK PLACEHOLDER]
IdahoIdaho Division of Building Safety[LINK PLACEHOLDER]
IllinoisIllinois DFPR Online Licensing[LINK PLACEHOLDER]
IndianaIndiana Professional Licensing Agency[LINK PLACEHOLDER]
IowaIowa Division of Labor[LINK PLACEHOLDER]
KansasKansas Attorney General Consumer Protection[LINK PLACEHOLDER]
KentuckyKentucky DHBC Licensing[LINK PLACEHOLDER]
LouisianaLouisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors[LINK PLACEHOLDER]
MaineMaine Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation[LINK PLACEHOLDER]
MarylandMaryland DLLR Licensing[LINK PLACEHOLDER]
MassachusettsMassachusetts OCABR License Verification[LINK PLACEHOLDER]
MichiganMichigan LARA License Verification[LINK PLACEHOLDER]
MinnesotaMinnesota DLI Contractor Licensing[LINK PLACEHOLDER]
MississippiMississippi State Board of Contractors[LINK PLACEHOLDER]
MissouriMissouri Division of Professional Registration[LINK PLACEHOLDER]
MontanaMontana DLI Building Codes Bureau[LINK PLACEHOLDER]
NebraskaNebraska Secretary of State Licensing[LINK PLACEHOLDER]
NevadaNevada State Contractors Board[LINK PLACEHOLDER]
New HampshireNew Hampshire Joint Board of Licensure[LINK PLACEHOLDER]
New JerseyNew Jersey DCA Division of Consumer Affairs[LINK PLACEHOLDER]
New MexicoNew Mexico RLD Construction Industries Division[LINK PLACEHOLDER]
New YorkNew York DOS Division of Licensing Services[LINK PLACEHOLDER]
North CarolinaNorth Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors[LINK PLACEHOLDER]
North DakotaNorth Dakota Secretary of State Licensing[LINK PLACEHOLDER]
OhioOhio COM Division of Industrial Compliance[LINK PLACEHOLDER]
OklahomaOklahoma CIB Construction Industries Board[LINK PLACEHOLDER]
OregonOregon CCB Construction Contractors Board[LINK PLACEHOLDER]
PennsylvaniaPennsylvania DOS Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs[LINK PLACEHOLDER]
Rhode IslandRhode Island Contractors Registration Board[LINK PLACEHOLDER]
South CarolinaSouth Carolina LLR Contractors Licensing Board[LINK PLACEHOLDER]
South DakotaSouth Dakota DLRR License Lookup[LINK PLACEHOLDER]
TennesseeTennessee Commerce and Insurance Board for Licensing Contractors[LINK PLACEHOLDER]
TexasTexas TDLR License Search[LINK PLACEHOLDER]
UtahUtah DOPL License Lookup[LINK PLACEHOLDER]
VermontVermont Office of Professional Regulation[LINK PLACEHOLDER]
VirginiaVirginia DPOR License Lookup[LINK PLACEHOLDER]
WashingtonWashington LNI Contractor Verification[LINK PLACEHOLDER]
West VirginiaWest Virginia Division of Labor Contractor Licensing[LINK PLACEHOLDER]
WisconsinWisconsin DSPS Credential Search[LINK PLACEHOLDER]
WyomingWyoming Fire Marshal Contractor Licensing[LINK PLACEHOLDER]

What to Check Beyond the License

A license is the minimum. Before you hire, also confirm:

  • Insurance. Ask for a Certificate of Insurance and call the insurer to verify it is current. You need both general liability and workers’ compensation.
  • Bond status. Some states require surety bonds. Confirm the bond is active and covers your project value.
  • Complaint history. Most licensing boards publish complaints and disciplinary actions. A license in good standing with zero complaints is ideal.
  • Specialty endorsements. Electrical, plumbing, and HVAC work often require separate specialty licenses on top of a general contractor license.

Key Takeaways

  • Always verify a contractor’s license before signing a contract or making any payment.
  • Licensing requirements differ by state — some regulate general handyman work, others only regulate specialty trades.
  • Check insurance, bond status, and complaint history in addition to the license itself.
  • Unlicensed work can void insurance, fail inspections, and reduce your home’s resale value.

Next Steps