Hiring a contractor: official state rules, lookups and consumer advice (50 states + DC)

(a) (1) All residential home builders shall be required to be licensed by the Home Builders Licensure Board annually. The board may issue more than one type of license.

Ala. Code 34-14A-5(a)(1), read 24 October 2026

Scope note: covers residential home builders only, as defined in Ala. Code 34-14A-2(16): residential construction, repair or improvement when the cost of the job exceeds $10,000 (roofing over $2,500); it is not a licence rule for every trade or every job

(a) A person may not submit a bid or work as a contractor until that person has been issued a certificate of registration as a contractor by the department. A partnership or joint venture shall be considered registered as a contractor if one of the general partners or venturers whose name appears in the name under which the partnership or venture does business is registered as a contractor.

AS 08.18.011(a), read 24 October 2026

It is unlawful for any person, firm, partnership, corporation, association or other organization, or a combination of any of them, to engage in the business of, submit a bid or respond to a request for qualification or a request for proposals for construction services as, act or offer to act in the capacity of or purport to have the capacity of a contractor without having a contractor's license in good standing in the name of the person, firm, partnership, corporation, association or other organization as provided in this chapter, unless the person, firm, partnership, corporation, association or other organization is exempt as provided in this chapter. Evidence of securing a permit from a governmental agency or the employment of a person on a construction project shall be accepted in any court as prima facie evidence of existence of a contract.

A.R.S. 32-1151, read 14 October 2026

This is the state's own record. It is not a condition to join or bid on InstaBids.

(a) A person shall not act as a residential building contractor after July 1, 2001, unless licensed by the Residential Contractors Committee or exempted from licensure under this subchapter. (b) A person shall not act as a home improvement contractor after January 1, 2012, unless: (1) Licensed by the committee; or (2) Exempt from licensure under this subchapter.

Ark. Code Ann. § 17-25-505(a), (b), read 30 October 2026

Scope note: residential building and home improvement contractors. The $2,000 line is in Ark. Code 17-25-513(3)(A): the law does not apply when the cost of the work done or to be done does not exceed $2,000; (3)(B) bars splitting a job to stay under it.

(a) Unless exempted from this chapter, it is a misdemeanor for a person to engage in the business of, or act in the capacity of, a contractor within this state under either of the following conditions: (1) The person is not licensed in accordance with this chapter.

Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 7028(a)(1), read 30 October 2026

Scope note: Section text as amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 392, Sec. 3, effective 2015-01-01 (history line of the official row). Quote taken from the official XML with the en-space after (a) and (1) rendered as one space and the paragraphs joined by one space.

(1) No person shall engage in or work at the business, trade, or calling of a journeyman electrician, master electrician, or residential wireman in this state until the person has received a license from the division upon written notice from the board or the program director, acting as the agent thereof, or a temporary permit from the board, the program director, or agent of the director.

C.R.S. 12-115-109(1), read 24 October 2026

Scope note: quote covers electrical work only; it is not a general or home-improvement licence sentence

(a) No person shall hold such person out to be a contractor or salesperson without first obtaining a certificate of registration from the commissioner as provided in this chapter, except (1) that an individual or partner, or officer or director of a corporation registered as a contractor shall not be required to obtain a salesperson's certificate, and (2) as provided in subsections (e) and (f) of this section.

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 20-420(a), read 24 October 2026

Scope note: home improvement contractor and salesperson registration (certificate of registration) under the Home Improvement Act, chapter 400; a registration, not a trade licence

(a) Any person desiring to engage in business in this State as a contractor shall obtain a license upon making application to the Division of Revenue and paying a fee of $75.

30 Del. C. § 2502(a), read 24 October 2026

Scope note: Division of Revenue business (tax) licence for contractors under Title 30 (State Taxes); not a trade-skill licence. The $75 fee is as stated in the statute on the as_of date, plus a gross-receipts fee under 2502(c).

No person shall require or accept any payment for a home improvement contract to be undertaken in the District in advance of the full completion of all work required to be performed under the contract, unless that person is licensed as a home improvement contractor or as a licensed salesperson employed by a licensed contractor in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.

16 DCMR 800.1, read 24 October 2026

Scope note: D.C. Municipal Regulations (official DC Office of Documents rule text, Word file served by dcregs.dc.gov), a regulation, not a D.C. Code section

(2) A person must be certified or registered in order to engage in the business of contracting in this state. However, for purposes of complying with the provisions of this chapter, a subcontractor who is not certified or registered may perform construction work under the supervision of a person who is certified or registered, provided that the work is within the scope of the supervising contractor’s license, the supervising contractor is responsible for the work, and the subcontractor being supervised is not engaged in construction work that would require a license as a contractor under any of the categories listed in s. 489.105(3)(d)-(o).

Fla. Stat. 489.113(2), read 14 October 2026

This is the state's own record. It is not a condition to join or bid on InstaBids.

(a) No person, whether an individual or a business organization, shall have the right to engage in the business of residential contracting or commercial general contracting without a current, valid residential contractor license or commercial general contractor license, respectively, issued by the division under this chapter or, in the case of a business organization, unless such business organization shall have a qualifying agent as provided in this chapter holding such a current, valid residential contractor or commercial general contractor license on behalf of such organization issued to such qualifying agent as provided in this chapter.

O.C.G.A. § 43-41-17(a), read 30 October 2026

Scope note: residential and commercial general contracting only; 43-41-17(f) carves out specialty contractors (the GA AG page names roofers, painters, drywall contractors and repair handymen as exempt); plumbing, electrical and HVAC sit under Chapter 14.

§444-9 Licenses required. No person within the purview of this chapter shall act, or assume to act, or advertise, as general engineering contractor, general building contractor, or specialty contractor without a license previously obtained under and in compliance with this chapter and the rules and regulations of the contractors license board.

HRS 444-9, read 14 October 2026

54-5204. REGISTRATION REQUIRED. (1) On and after January 1, 2006, it shall be unlawful for any person to engage in the business of, or hold himself out as, a contractor within this state without being registered as required in this chapter.

Idaho Code 54-5204(1), read 24 October 2026

Scope note: contractor registration, not a licence

"Home repair and remodeling" means the fixing, replacing, altering, converting, modernizing, improving, or making of an addition to any real property primarily designed or used as a residence other than maintenance, service, or repairs under $500. "Home repair and remodeling" includes the construction, installation, replacement, or improvement of driveways, swimming pools, porches, kitchens, bathrooms, basements, chimneys, chimney liners, garages, fences, fallout shelters, central air conditioning, central heating, boilers, furnaces, electrical wiring, sewers, plumbing fixtures, storm doors, windows, roofs, awnings, and other improvements to structures within the residence or upon the land adjacent to the residence.

815 ILCS 513/10, read 24 October 2026

Scope note: definition sentences from the Home Repair and Remodeling Act; not a licence or registration requirement

(a) A person who acts or advertises as a plumbing contractor or journeyman plumber without first obtaining a license from the commission or who continues to act as a plumbing contractor or journeyman plumber after the person's license has been suspended, revoked, or otherwise restricted under IC 25-1-11 commits a Class A misdemeanor.

IC 25-28.5-1-31(a) (Indiana Code 2026), read 24 October 2026

Scope note: quote covers plumbing work only; it is not a general or home-improvement licence sentence

A contractor doing business in this state shall register with the director and shall meet all of the following requirements as a condition of registration:

Iowa Code 91C.2 (2026), read 24 October 2026

Scope note: lead sentence; numbered conditions 1-3 follow

(a) (1) No person shall engage in the business of or act in the capacity of a roofing contractor within this state without having a valid registration certificate as required by this act.

K.S.A. 50-6,123(a)(1), read 24 October 2026

Scope note: quote covers roofing work only; it is not a general or home-improvement licence sentence

(4) A person who is not licensed as an electrical contractor, electrician, or master electrician shall not engage in any activities or perform any of the duties usually performed by an electrical contractor, electrician, or master electrician unless the unlicensed person is under the direct supervision of a licensed electrician or master electrician who is present on the site where the work is being performed.

KRS 227A.020(4), read 24 October 2026

Scope note: quote covers electrical work only; it is not a general or home-improvement licence sentence

(b) "Residential contractor" includes both of the following: (i) Any person bidding or performing home improvement for which the project value is seven thousand five hundred dollars or more. (ii) Any person performing the installation of a modular home with a value equal to or greater than fifty thousand dollars for which the total project value shall not include the cost of the component parts of the modular home in the condition each part leaves the factory pursuant to R.S. 40:1730.71.

La. R.S. 37:2150.1(19)(b), read 24 October 2026

Scope note: definition of 'residential contractor' in the contractor licensing chapter (home improvement of $7,500 or more; modular home installation of $50,000 or more); it is a definition, not the licence-requirement sentence itself

An electrical installation may not be made unless by an electrician licensed by the board except as provided in this chapter.

32 M.R.S. §1201, read 24 October 2026

Scope note: quote covers electrical work only; it is not a general or home-improvement licence sentence

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this title, a person must have a contractor license whenever the person acts as a contractor in the State. (b) Except as otherwise provided in this title, a person must have a salesperson license or contractor license whenever the person sells a home improvement in the State.

Md. Code, Bus. Reg. § 8-301(a)-(b), read 24 October 2026

Scope note: Maryland Home Improvement law; subsection (c) lists exemptions (for example, employees on wages, and electricians, plumbers and HVAC contractors licensed in their own trade)

(a) No contractor or subcontractor shall undertake, offer to undertake, or agree to perform residential contracting services unless registered therefor with the approval of the office of consumer affairs and business regulation.

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 142A s. 9(a), read 14 October 2026

(1) A person shall not engage in or attempt to engage in the practice of an occupation regulated under this act or use a title designated in this act unless the person possesses a license or registration issued by the department for the occupation.

MCL 339.601(1), read 24 October 2026

Scope note: general Occupational Code requirement; Article 24 (MCL 339.2401) defines the residential builder and residential maintenance and alteration contractor occupations

A person who meets the definition of a residential building contractor as defined in section 326B.802, subdivision 11, must be licensed as a residential building contractor by the commissioner. A person who meets the definition of a residential remodeler as defined in section 326B.802, subdivision 12, must be licensed by the commissioner as a residential remodeler or residential building contractor. A person who meets the definition of a residential roofer as defined in section 326B.802, subdivision 14, must be licensed by the commissioner as a residential roofer, residential building contractor, or residential remodeler. A person who meets the definition of a manufactured home installer as defined in section 327.31, subdivision 11, must be licensed as a manufactured home installer by the commissioner.

Minn. Stat. § 326B.805, subd. 1, read 24 October 2026

Scope note: covers residential building contractors, residential remodelers and residential roofers as defined in Minn. Stat. 326B.802 (subds. 11, 12, 14), and manufactured home installers as defined in Minn. Stat. 327.31, subd. 11

(1) Except as otherwise provided in Section 73-59-15 or Section 33-1-39, the following persons or entities shall be licensed by the board annually as an active licensee or inactive licensee, as appropriate: (a) Persons or entities acting in the capacity as a residential builder; (b) Persons or entities acting in the capacity as a residential remodeler;

Miss. Code Ann. § 73-59-3(1)(a), (b), read 30 October 2026

Scope note: residential builders and remodelers (Chapter 59); who counts as a residential builder or remodeler, and any dollar line, is in the definitions (73-59-1), NOT CAPTURED this run. 73-59-3(1)(d) adds electrical, plumbing, mechanical and HVAC subcontractors on residential work 'no matter the dollar amount'.

Political subdivisions shall not be prohibited from establishing their own local electrical contractor's license, but shall recognize a statewide license in lieu of a local license for the purposes of performing contracting work or obtaining permits to perform work within such political subdivision.

RSMo 324.925.1 (first sentence), read 24 October 2026

Scope note: electrical contractors only; this sentence does not require a statewide licence: it says cities and counties may keep their own electrical contractor licence but must accept the statewide licence in its place; it is not a general or home-improvement licence sentence

(1) An individual or business entity may not engage in business as a construction contractor without a current license from the department.

MCA 37-45-201(1) (first sentence), read 24 October 2026

Scope note: Montana Code Annotated 2025, Title 37, Chapter 45 (construction contractors)

(1) Before performing any construction work in Nebraska, a contractor shall be registered with the department. If a contractor does business under more than one name, the contractor shall obtain a registration number for each name under which the contractor is doing business. Any person who performs work or has work performed on his or her own property or any person who earns less than five thousand dollars annually for construction services is not a contractor for purposes of the Contractor Registration Act.

Neb. Rev. Stat. § 48-2104(1), read 24 October 2026

Scope note: registration with the Nebraska Department of Labor under the Contractor Registration Act; a registration requirement, not a licence

1. It is unlawful for any person or combination of persons to: (a) Engage in the business or act in the capacity of a contractor within this State; or (b) Submit a bid on a job situated within this State, without having an active license therefor as provided in this chapter, unless that person or combination of persons is exempted from licensure pursuant to NRS 624.031.

NRS 624.700(1), read 24 October 2026

No electrician installation shall be made for compensation, unless made by an electrician or other person licensed by the office of professional licensure and certification, except as provided in this chapter.

RSA 319-C:1, read 24 October 2026

Scope note: quote covers electrical work only; it is not a general or home-improvement licence sentence

a. No contractor business shall offer to perform, or engage, or attempt to engage in the business of making or selling home improvements unless registered with the Division of Consumer Affairs in accordance with the provisions of P.L.2004, c.16 (C.56:8-136 et seq.).

N.J.S.A. 56:8-138(a) (as amended by P.L.2023, c.237, § 27) (STATUTES.TXT, N.J.S.A. 56:8-138), read 24 October 2026

Scope note: registration of the contractor business with the Division of Consumer Affairs; P.L.2023, c.237 also creates a separate individual licence (Home Improvement and Home Elevation Contractor Licensing Act, N.J.S.A. 45:5AAA-1 et seq.) - check its current status before relying on this line; subsections (d)-(g) (licensed-employee requirements) are not in force until the new board's rules plus 6 months (56:8-138(h)).

A. No person shall act as a contractor without a license issued by the division classified to cover the type of work to be undertaken.

NMSA 1978, § 60-13-12(A), read 24 October 2026

Scope note: NMOneSource (New Mexico Compilation Commission) Chapter 60 PDF

6. "Home improvement contract" means an agreement for the performance of home improvement, between a home improvement contractor and an owner, and where the aggregate contract price specified in one or more home improvement contracts, including all labor, services and materials to be furnished by the home improvement contractor, exceeds five hundred dollars.

N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law § 770(6), read 24 October 2026

Scope note: definition with the $500 threshold; not a licence or registration requirement (no statewide one is quoted here)

(a) For the purpose of this Article any person or firm or corporation who for a fixed price, commission, fee, or wage, undertakes to bid upon or to construct or who undertakes to superintend or manage, on his own behalf or for any person, firm, or corporation that is not licensed as a general contractor pursuant to this Article, the construction of any building, highway, public utilities, grading or any improvement or structure where the cost of the undertaking is forty thousand dollars ($40,000) or more, or undertakes to erect a North Carolina labeled manufactured modular building meeting the North Carolina State Building Code, shall be deemed to be a "general contractor" engaged in the business of general contracting in the State of North Carolina.

G.S. 87-1(a), read 24 October 2026

Scope note: definition of "general contractor" ($40,000 threshold); the requirement sentence of Article 1 is not captured here

1. A person may not engage in the business nor act in the capacity of a contractor within this state when the cost, value, or price per job exceeds the sum of four thousand dollars nor may that person maintain any claim, action, suit, or proceeding in any court of this state related to the person's business or capacity as a contractor without first having a license as provided in this chapter.

N.D.C.C. § 43-07-02(1), read 24 October 2026

Scope note: contractor licence from the North Dakota Secretary of State for jobs over $4,000

(A) No person shall act as or claim to be a type of contractor that this chapter licenses unless that person holds or has been assigned a license issued pursuant to this chapter for the type of contractor that person is acting as or claiming to be.

R.C. 4740.13(A), read 24 October 2026

Scope note: covers only the trades Chapter 4740 licenses - heating, ventilating and air conditioning, refrigeration, electrical, plumbing and hydronics (R.C. 4740.01(A)); it is not a general or home-improvement licence sentence

A. All roofing contractors shall be registered annually by the Board. All registrations shall be nontransferable. It is unlawful for any person to act as a roofing contractor without having a current and valid roofing contractor's registration or act as a commercial roofing contractor without a current and valid commercial roofer endorsement issued pursuant to the Roofing Contractor Registration Act, unless the person is exempt under the Roofing Contractor Registration Act.

59 O.S. § 1151.3(A) (version in force until 2027-01-01), read 24 October 2026

Scope note: quote covers roofing work only; OSCN marks this version "Will Be Superceded" on 01/01/2027 by CiteID=460634 (adds residential roofer endorsement) - re-capture on or after 2027-01-01

(1) Except as provided in ORS 701.010, a person or joint venture that undertakes, offers to undertake or submits a bid to do work as a contractor must have a current license issued by the Construction Contractors Board and possess an appropriate endorsement as provided in this section. For purposes of offering to undertake or submitting a bid to do work, a partnership or joint venture is licensed and endorsed if any partner or joint venturer whose name appears in the business name of the partnership or joint venture has a current license issued by the board and possesses an appropriate endorsement.

ORS 701.021(1), read 24 October 2026

(a) General rule.--No person shall hold himself out as a contractor, nor shall a person perform any home improvement without first registering with the bureau, as provided for in this act.

73 P.S. § 517.3(a) (Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act, s.3(a)), read 24 October 2026

Scope note: registration with the Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection; a registration requirement, not a licence

(a) A person shall not undertake, offer to undertake, or submit a bid to do work as a contractor on a structure unless that person has a current, valid certificate of registration for all construction work issued by the board.

R.I. Gen. Laws 5-65-3(a), read 14 October 2026

(A) A person or firm who engages or offers to engage in the business of residential building or residential specialty contracting without first having registered with the commission or procured a license from the commission, which has not expired or been revoked, suspended, or restricted or who knowingly presents to, or files with, the commission false information for the purpose of obtaining a license or registering with the commission is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than five hundred dollars or more than ten thousand dollars or imprisoned for not less than thirty days, or both.

S.C. Code § 40-59-30(A), read 24 October 2026

Scope note: penalty sentence for unregistered or unlicensed residential building or residential specialty contracting; it is not a general contractor licence sentence

Any person, firm, partnership, limited liability company, or corporation engaged, or offering to engage, in business as an electrical contractor as defined in § 36-16-2 or any person performing the work as defined in this chapter, shall obtain a license from the State Electrical Commission before any person may undertake and perform such work to the end that any such work will be safely and properly installed in accordance with approved standards for such work.

SDCL 36-16-1 (first sentence), read 24 October 2026

Scope note: quote covers electrical work only; it is not a general or home-improvement licence sentence

(1) Any person, firm or corporation engaged in contracting in this state shall be required to submit evidence of qualification to engage in contracting, and shall be licensed as provided in this part. It is unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to engage in or offer to engage in contracting for any project in this state, unless, at the time of such engagement or offer to engage, the person, firm, or corporation has been duly licensed with a monetary limitation sufficient to allow the person, firm, or corporation to engage in or offer to engage in such contracting project under this chapter.

Tenn. Code Ann. § 62-6-103(a)(1), read 30 October 2026

Scope note: Contracting is defined in 62-6-102; that definition was not captured from the code this run.

(a) A person may not engage in air conditioning and refrigeration contracting unless the person holds an air conditioning and refrigeration contractor license under this subchapter or Subchapter G.

Tex. Occ. Code § 1302.251(a), read 24 October 2026

Scope note: quote covers air conditioning and refrigeration work only; it is not a general or home-improvement licence sentence

A person engaged in the construction trades licensed under this chapter, as a contractor regulated under this chapter, as an alarm business or company, or as an alarm company agent, shall become licensed under this chapter before engaging in that trade or contracting activity in this state unless specifically exempted from licensure under Section 58-1-307 or 58-55-305.

Utah Code 58-55-301(1)(a) (version effective 5/7/2025; superseded 1/1/2027), read 24 October 2026

(a) A person shall register with the Office of Professional Regulation prior to contracting with a homeowner to perform residential construction in exchange for consideration of more than $10,000.00, including labor and materials.

26 V.S.A. § 5501(a), read 24 October 2026

Scope note: registration (not a licence) for residential construction contracts with a homeowner over $10,000.00; source is the Legislature's online V.S.A. (labelled unofficial copy)

A. No person shall engage in, or offer to engage in, contracting work in the Commonwealth unless he has been licensed under the provisions of this chapter.

Va. Code 54.1-1103(A), read 14 October 2026

(1) Every contractor shall register with the department.

RCW 18.27.020(1), read 14 October 2026

(a) No person may engage in this state in any activity as a contractor or submit a bid to perform work as a contractor, as defined in this article, unless that person holds a license issued under the provisions of this article. No firm, partnership, corporation, association, or other entity may engage in contracting in this state unless an officer thereof holds a license issued pursuant to this article.

W. Va. Code 30-42-6(a), read 14 October 2026

No person may engage in the business of installing, repairing, or maintaining electrical wiring unless the person is licensed as an electrical contractor by the department.

Wis. Stat. § 101.862(1), read 24 October 2026

Scope note: quote covers electrical work only; it is not a general or home-improvement licence sentence

(a) Licensed electrical contractors employing licensed master or journeymen electricians, or registered apprentice electricians supervised by a licensed master or journeyman electrician shall install all electrical equipment.

W.S. 35-9-123(a) (lead sentence), read 24 October 2026

Scope note: quote covers electrical work only; waiver list (i)-(viii) follows the lead sentence