How Much Is a Contractor License? 2026 Fees by State

Counting exams, state fees for one contractor license run from $70 in Montana to more than $1,000 in Nevada. See application, exam, license, bond and renewal figures for all 50 states, each checked at the board.

State	Application and exam fees	Renewal	Bond and financial requirements	Checked
Alabama	ALBGC: 300 dollars for a prime, 150 dollars for a subcontractor. HBLB: 100 dollar nonrefundable application processing fee plus the 235 dollar annual license fee and a 15 dollar Homeowners' Recovery Fund fee (roofers pay a 150 dollar license fee and no Recovery Fund fee)	Not stated	ALBGC: minimum 10000 dollars net worth and working capital plus a CPA or LPA financial statement no more than one year old. HBLB: credit report for Unlimited and Limited; Roofers post a 10000 dollar license and permit bond	August 14, 2026
Alaska	$350 total ($100 nonrefundable application fee plus $250 registration fee)	Two year cycle, all registrations expire December 31 of even numbered years; renewal is $250 every two years (12 AAC 02.180), plus $250 to renew a residential contractor endorsement	General Contractor $25,000 bond; residential only endorsement $20,000; Mechanical, Specialty, or Home Inspector $10,000; Handyman $5,000; plus liability insurance of $20,000 property damage, $50,000 one person, $100,000 more than one person	August 31, 2026
Arizona	Not stated	Renewal cycle and license renewal fee not stated; residential contractors pay a Recovery Fund assessment of 270 dollars at renewal	Continuous surety bond or cash deposit set by classification and annual volume (secondary sources: residential general roughly 9,000 to 15,000 dollars, commercial general roughly 5,000 to 100,000 dollars); residential contractors also pay 370 dollars into the Recovery Fund; no net worth requirement	August 25, 2026
Arkansas	100 dollars filing fee, non refundable, check or money order only	Commercial license renewal 50 dollars if received before expiration, 100 dollars if received within 30 days after expiration; a license expires the day before the anniversary of issue	Net worth minimum of 50,000 dollars (Building, Heavy, Highway/Railroad/Airport, Municipal and Utility), 20,000 dollars (Light Building, Mechanical, Electrical), or 5,000 dollars (Specialty), or a bond in lieu at 10 times the minimum; plus a separate 10,000 dollar Contractors Surety Bond for commercial contractors	August 9, 2026
California	450 dollars original application processing fee, covering an exam or waiver for one classification	Active licenses renew every two years, inactive every four; active timely renewal 450 dollars sole owner (470 with C10) or 700 dollars other entity (720 with C10); inactive 300 dollars sole owner or 500 dollars other entity; late renewal 675 or 695 sole owner, 1050 or 1070 other entity	25000 dollar contractor's bond or cash deposit; a second 25000 dollar Bond of Qualifying Individual if the qualifier owns under 10 percent (always required for an RME); no net worth statement	August 7, 2026
Colorado	Denver Class A, B, C and D 250 dollars each; Denver Supervisor Certificate 60 dollars; Denver electrical license 0 dollars; state plumbing contractor registration fee set by the State Plumbing Board (see its applications page); the registration fee amount is not stated on that applications page	Denver licenses 250 dollars on a 3 year cycle; state electrician licenses expire September 30 every three years; plumbing licenses expire every odd numbered year on February 28	No state net worth, bond or financial statement for GC; workers compensation required for all employers; Denver and Colorado Springs require general liability with no confirmed dollar minimums	August 8, 2026
Connecticut	HIC 120 dollars plus 100 dollar guaranty fund fee; NHCC 360 dollars (120 registration plus 240 guaranty fund); Major Contractor renewal 500 dollars; E-1 contractor application 150 dollars	HIC renews annually at 220 dollars by March 31; NHCC renews annually by March 31; Major Contractor renews annually for 500 dollars	HIC and NHCC need at least 20,000 dollars general liability insurance; no surety bond; HIC pays a 100 dollar annual guaranty fund fee; Major Contractor needs two credit references	August 23, 2026
Delaware	Business license 75 dollars annually; Department of Labor contractor registration 200 dollars a year private work, 300 public, 500 both; trade exams 100 dollars per sitting	Business license 75 dollars annually; Department of Labor registration annual at 200, 300 or 500 dollars with a discounted two year rate after two consecutive compliant years	Non resident contractors bond 6 percent of the contract amount on contracts of 20000 dollars or more; workers compensation with employees; Master and Limited Electricians 300000 dollars general liability; New Castle County statutory compliance bond	August 6, 2026
Florida	Certified contractor initial certification 245 dollars for filings May 1, 2026 through August 31, 2027; later filers use the fee printed on the current CILB 5-A or 6-A form; exam registration 135 dollars to Professional Testing plus Pearson VUE fees of 80, 40 and 40 dollars, 295 dollars total for three parts; NASCLA application 65 dollars	Certified renews by August 31 of even numbered years; Registered by August 31 of odd numbered years; fee not stated; 14 hour CE requirement	FICO 660 or better, or a 14 hour financial responsibility course; General and Building carry 300000 dollars public liability and 50000 property damage, other categories 100000 and 25000; a Financially Responsible Officer posts a 100000 dollar bond or letter of credit	August 4, 2026
Georgia	Exam application 200 dollars plus a 10 dollar processing fee; exam fees Business and Law 60 dollars, Residential Basic 72, Residential Light Commercial 72, NASCLA 106	Renewal 100 dollars every two years, expiring June 30 of even numbered years; late renewal 200 dollars	Commercial General unlimited 150000 dollars net worth, Limited Tier 25000; Commercial General and Residential Light Commercial 500000 dollars general liability, Residential Basic 300000, all plus workers compensation	July 14, 2026
Hawaii	$50 per application; separate application per entity and per RME	$338.00 biennial; all licenses expire September 30 of even numbered years; 2026 window runs August 10, 2026 through September 30, 2026	Credit report from every officer, partner, manager or member (issued within 6 months, covering 5 years); entity applicants also submit a financial statement not more than a year old with a CPA report; surety bond only at Board discretion with no published dollar amount	August 13, 2026
Idaho	Basic registration $120 initial (fee schedule effective July 1, 2026) with a $60 annual option; Public Works application fee not stated	Registration renews at $120 biennial or $60 annual, transitioning from annual to biennial on a phased schedule since late 2025; Public Works renewal fee not stated	Public Works license class is set by net worth and working capital, from Class D ($10,000 net worth, $3,000 working capital) up to Unlimited ($1,000,000 net worth, $600,000 working capital, no bid limit)	August 11, 2026
Illinois	Plumbing exam application fee 175 dollars (225 dollars for plumbers licensed in Chicago or out of state), filed at least 30 days before the exam date; roofing license application fee 125 dollars	Roofing: two year cycle expiring December 31 of odd numbered years, 62.50 dollars per year renewal fee, new bond each cycle	Roofing: continuous surety bond of 10000 dollars (Limited) or 25000 dollars (Unlimited) plus public liability and property damage insurance, workers compensation for all employees and an Illinois unemployment insurance number	August 10, 2026
Indiana	State Plumbing Contractor application fee 50 dollars	State Plumbing Contractor: expires December 31 of odd numbered years, 100 dollar renewal fee	No statewide bond or net worth test; state plumbing has no financial requirement; Indianapolis GC needs 500000 dollars general liability and a 10000 dollar surety bond	August 5, 2026
Iowa	91C registration fee set by the director, cannot exceed fifty dollars a year	PMSB contractor licenses run on a three year cycle expiring June 30 of the renewal year, with the fee resetting to its full amount at the start of each new cycle	No net worth or bond for in state registration; out of state contractors must file a twenty five thousand dollar surety bond or a statement of prequalification to bid Iowa DOT projects	August 26, 2026
Kansas	Johnson County: 100 dollars to apply plus 225 dollars for the license, per license type. ICC exam 115 dollars per exam.	Johnson County: 225 dollars annually, 75 dollar late fee after February 1.	No net worth statement or bond. General liability and workers compensation insurance required; Sedgwick County requires at least 300000 dollars general liability.	August 12, 2026
Kentucky	Electrical Contractor 400 dollars per two year term (Master Electrician 200, Electrician 100). Master Plumber 150 dollar exam fee plus 250 dollar license fee. Master HVAC 250 dollar application plus 150 dollar exam fee. Prov exam fee 80 dollars for electrical and HVAC.	Electrical: 400 dollars per two years for contractor. Plumbing: 250 dollars annually. HVAC: 250 dollars annually.	No bond or net worth stated. Electrical Contractor must carry general liability plus workers compensation and unemployment insurance proof.	August 15, 2026
Louisiana	Not stated	Not stated	Net worth 50000 dollars or more for Commercial and Residential on a CPA financial statement no older than 12 months (25000 dollars for Home Improvement and Mold per secondary sources). General liability minimum 500000 dollars for Residential, Home Improvement, Mold as of August 1 2026 (Act 757); Commercial has no statutory insurance minimum. Letter of credit may cover a net worth shortfall.	September 1, 2026
Maine	Master Electrician license $150 plus $21 background check, $171 total. Master Plumber $200 plus $21, $221 total. Prov exam fees: Master Electrician $90, Master Plumber $65.	Two year renewal: Master Electrician 150 dollars, Master Plumber 200 dollars; a 50 dollar late fee applies up to 90 days after expiration.	No net worth statement, bank reference, or bond. Workers compensation coverage mandatory for any employer with one or more employees.	August 18, 2026
Maryland	403.75 dollars for an original two year Contractor license (281.25 application, 100 Guaranty Fund, 22.50 processing). PSI exam fee 63 dollars.	456.25 dollars every two years (281.25 application plus 175 Guaranty Fund).	Net worth assessed case by case with a credit report within 90 days; otherwise a two year 30,000 dollar surety bond or an indemnitor. General liability 500,000 dollars per 2024 statute.	August 17, 2026
Massachusetts	CSL license fee 150 dollars; HIC registration 150 dollars plus a Guaranty Fund surcharge of 100 to 500 dollars by employee count; PSI CSL exam 23 dollar application plus 75 dollar exam fee	CSL every 2 years at 100 dollars with 12 CE units per cycle; HIC registration runs 2 years	No bond, no credit or net worth test, no liability insurance required for the CSL; HIC uses a tiered Guaranty Fund surcharge instead of a bond; workers compensation required if there are employees	August 30, 2026
Michigan	195 dollars for the Residential Builder or Maintenance and Alteration Contractor license application, covering the first three year license (LARA fee schedule)	3 year cycle; renewal 150 dollars (50 dollars per year under MCL 338.2239), 170 dollars if late	Not stated for the RB or M&A license; no statewide bond set for the electrical contractor license	August 21, 2026
Minnesota	Exam application 50 dollars; base license fee 180 dollars plus the Contractor Recovery Fund fee	Every two years; renewal fee not stated; qualifying person needs 14 hours of continuing education per cycle; recovery fund fee is annual at 320, 420 or 520 dollars by receipts	No financial statement or net worth test; general liability insurance of 100000 per occurrence, 300000 aggregate and 25000 property damage; Contractor Recovery Fund fee of 320, 420 or 520 dollars a year in place of a bond; Residential Roofer posts a 15000 dollar surety bond	August 16, 2026
Mississippi	Commercial 400 dollars; residential 50 dollars; both non refundable, check or money order only	Annual renewal, renewable online; 400 dollars commercial, 100 dollars residential	Commercial net worth of 50000 dollars (major classification) or 20000 dollars (specialty) on a CPA reviewed or audited statement; no residential net worth test stated; commercial general liability insurance of 300000 per occurrence and 600000 aggregate; workers compensation at 5 or more employees; no bond stated	August 19, 2026
Missouri	Statewide electrical 200 dollars initial application; Kansas City licenses trade and residential building contractors, not general contractors	Statewide electrical every three years expiring September 30, 100 dollars active (200 dollars inactive), no continuing education; Kansas City general contractor every four years at 181 dollars	Statewide electrical: proof of 500000 dollars liability insurance plus a bond posted with each political subdivision as it requires; no net worth test stated	August 24, 2026
Montana	70 dollars for the Construction Contractor License (125 dollars for the Independent Contractor Exemption Certificate)	Two year term; renewal fee 70 dollars, the same as the application fee	No bond and no net worth or financial statement; proof of Montana specific workers compensation coverage for every employee is required, out of state policies not accepted	August 22, 2026
Nebraska	40 dollars per business name per year for state registration (up from 25 dollars effective August 1, 2026); state electrical contractor application fee 180 dollars	Annual; 40 dollars per business name (statutory cap forty dollars); state electrical contractor license renews on a two year cycle at 375 dollars (187.50 dollars for each year); current licenses expire December 31, 2026	State: no bond, but any contractor with employees must carry workers compensation and keep an ACORD 25 certificate on file naming the Department of Labor; Omaha: 10,000 dollar license bond plus general liability of 1,000,000 dollars (Class A and B), 500,000 dollars (Class C), 300,000 dollars (Class D and E); Lincoln: 500,000 dollars liability per occurrence and a 5,000 dollar bond only for right of way work	September 4, 2026
Nevada	300 dollar application fee; PSI exam fee 95 dollars for one portion or 140 dollars for two portions scheduled together	Not stated	Surety bond or cash deposit of 1000 to 500000 dollars set by the board; a current financial statement is required from every applicant, with CPA compiled, reviewed, or audited statements required as the monetary limit rises (reviewed or audited at 1000000 dollars and above); B 7 restricted bond is 2000 dollars	August 27, 2026
New Hampshire	No state general contractor license; trade licenses only: Master Electrician 198 dollars, Electrical Corporation 137 dollars; Prov electrical exam 90 dollars	No state general contractor license; Master Electrician renewal 198 dollars, Electrical Corporation renewal 137 dollars	Not stated	August 20, 2026
New Jersey	110 dollars for HIC registration; 200 dollars for New Home Builder registration (electrical exams 180 dollars total; plumbing 100 dollars application plus 240 dollars exam plus 160 dollars license; HVACR 100 dollars application plus 160 dollars license)	HIC renews annually at 90 dollars by March 31, online only; renewals received April 1 through April 30 cost 115 dollars, and after April 30 reinstatement costs 140 dollars; New Home Builder renews every two years at 200 dollars; plumbing every two years at 160 dollars (expires June 30 of odd years); HVACR every two years (expires June 30 of even years); electrical business permit every three years (expires March 31 in 2024, 2027, and so on)	HIC: general liability of at least 500000 dollars per occurrence plus workers compensation unless exempt, plus a compliance bond, letter of credit, or other security of 10000 dollars for contracts under 10000 dollars or prior 12 month receipts under 150000 dollars; 25000 dollars for contracts from 10000 through 120000 dollars or prior 12 month receipts from 150000 through 750000 dollars; 50000 dollars for contracts over 120000 dollars or prior 12 month receipts over 750000 dollars (P.L.2023, c.237); electrical: 300000 dollars liability or a bank letter of credit plus a 1000 dollar surety bond; plumbing: 3000 dollar surety bond; HVACR: 500000 dollars liability plus a 3000 dollar surety bond; no net worth statement for any	July 14, 2026
New Mexico	QP application fee 36 dollars; company license application fee 36 dollars plus the license fee of 100 dollars a year for GB-98, GB-2 and the other general classifications, 50 dollars a year for all others (14.5.5.8 NMAC)	Two year renewal: 200 dollars for GB-98, GB-2 and the other general classifications, 100 dollars for all others (14.5.5.8 NMAC); a late renewal costs one dollar a day for the first 30 days, then twice the renewal fee; the license is cancelled if not renewed within three months (NMSA 60-13-18)	10,000 dollar surety bond at initial licensure and every renewal; workers compensation required; financial statement and CPA review claim not confirmed on any primary CID document	August 28, 2026
New York	DCWP Home Improvement Contractor license fee 100 dollars or 75 dollars depending on filing timing, plus 50 dollar exam; Suffolk County 200 dollars including exam; DOB registration fee not stated	DCWP Home Improvement Contractor license runs on a two year cycle at 100 dollars or 75 dollars; other renewal fees not stated	DCWP: 20,000 dollar bond or 200 dollar Trust Fund enrollment; DOB registration: more than 25,000 dollars operating capital and 1,000,000 dollars general liability per occurrence	July 14, 2026
North Carolina	Application fee 75 dollars Limited, 100 dollars Intermediate, 125 dollars Unlimited (G.S. 87-10); PSI exam fee 79 dollars per attempt; the NASCLA route adds a 65 dollar NASCLA application and the 130 dollar NASCLA exam	Annual, expires January 1; renewal 75 dollars Limited, 100 dollars Intermediate, 125 dollars Unlimited, plus 10 dollars for each month or part of a month late (G.S. 87-10)	Limited: 17000 dollars working capital or 80000 dollars net worth or 175000 dollar bond; Intermediate: 75000 dollars working capital or 500000 dollar bond; Unlimited: 150000 dollars working capital or 1000000 dollar bond	September 3, 2026
North Dakota	Class A $450, Class B $300, Class C $225, Class D $100	Annual, due by March 1; Class A $90, Class B $60, Class C $45, Class D $30; $50 penalty if renewed by June 1, expired after June 1	No bond (repealed 1995); certificate of liability insurance in the license name; Workforce Safety and Insurance certificate if ND resident employees; no net worth or credit requirement	September 5, 2026
Ohio	License issuance fee 25 dollars; PSI exam fee 69 dollars per attempt; reciprocity application 25 dollars per trade	Renewal costs 60 dollars per year: an annual renewal costs 60 dollars; a triennial renewal costs 180 dollars (OAC 4101:16-2-09); 10 classroom hours of approved continuing education each year (at least 5 in electrical code for electrical); missing CE triggers automatic suspension with one year to reactivate	At least 500000 dollars contractor liability insurance assigned to one named contracting company; no state bond stated (Columbus local GC license requires a 25000 dollar bond)	August 29, 2026
Oklahoma	Plumbing or mechanical contractor license 330 dollars (300 dollar license fee plus 30 dollar processing fee); PSI exam fee 92 dollars per portion	Electrical, mechanical, and plumbing contractor renewal 200 dollars; 300 dollars with the late fee after 30 days past expiration	Electrical, plumbing, mechanical: 5,000 dollar surety bond (or waiver affidavit) plus 50,000 dollars general liability; roofing: 500,000 dollars residential, 1,000,000 dollars commercial liability, no bond; no net worth or financial statement	September 2, 2026
Oregon	400 dollars for a two year license (since July 1, 2025); PSI exam fee 60 dollars	All licenses renew every two years at 400 dollars; commercial licenses also carry continuing education	Bond and liability by endorsement, effective January 1 2024: Residential General 25000 dollar bond and 500000 dollars liability; Commercial General Level 1 80000 dollar bond and 2000000 dollars aggregate; Commercial General Level 2 25000 dollar bond and 1000000 dollars; no net worth or financial statement	July 14, 2026
Pennsylvania	HICPA registration 100 dollars every two years	HICPA 100 dollars every two years; Philadelphia local license 126 dollars renewing annually; Pittsburgh 90 dollars renewing annually	HICPA: 50,000 dollars personal injury liability and 50,000 dollars property damage coverage; no bond or net worth	July 14, 2026
Rhode Island	$150 registration fee	Valid one year, renews annually at 150 dollars, plus a 50 dollar late fee if expired	General liability of at least $500,000 naming the CRLB; workers compensation if employees; no bond or net worth	July 14, 2026
South Carolina	License application fee not stated; PSI exam fees 75 dollars each for CLB law and technical exams, 116 dollars for NASCLA, 90 dollars for both residential portions	General Contractor licenses expire October 31 in even numbered years; Mechanical Contractor licenses expire October 31 in odd numbered years; renewal 135 dollars every two years, with a late fee of 100 dollars in November rising to 200 dollars in January	Net worth by group: GC Group 1 20000, Group 2 60000, Group 3 150000, Group 4 250000, Group 5 350000 dollars; Mechanical Group 1 7000 to Group 5 300000 dollars; surety bond in equivalent amount accepted instead; residential financial requirements not confirmed	July 14, 2026
South Dakota	60 dollars electrical application fee for every class; plumbing initial application capped at 60 dollars; no state GC fee	Electrical: 200 dollars electrical contractor, 100 dollars Class B, 80 dollars journeyman, two year cycle expiring June 30 of even numbered years. Plumbing: license or renewal capped at 300 dollars, expires annually December 31	No state GC bond, net worth, or liability requirement. Electrical contractor or Class B: 10,000 dollar undertaking plus liability insurance of 100,000 dollars per occurrence and 300,000 dollars aggregate plus a 50 dollar deposit	July 14, 2026
Tennessee	250 dollars, nonrefundable	Two year license term; 200 dollars renewal; late renewal penalty 20 dollars per month, up to 12 months	CPA prepared Reviewed or Audited financial statement, or since July 1, 2026 a continuous surety bond of at least 50 percent of the requested monetary limit (Public Chapter 1039), 1,500,000 dollars for an unlimited license; monetary limit is 10 times the lesser of working capital and net worth; Reviewed supports up to 3,000,000 dollars, Unlimited needs 300,000 dollars working capital and net worth plus Audited; GL insurance scaled to the limit; a supplemental Contractor's License Bond of 500,000 dollars (limits under 1,500,000 dollars) or 1,000,000 dollars (limits over 1,500,000 dollars) where the Board allows it	July 14, 2026
Texas	Electrical Contractor 110 dollars; ACR contractor 115 dollars; Responsible Master Plumber license 300 dollars; no GC fee	Electrical Contractor renewal 110 dollars every year; RMP renewal 300 dollars; plumbing licenses renew annually with initial expiration assigned 6 to 18 months after passing the exam	No state GC bond or net worth. Electrical Contractor: insurance 300000 dollars per occurrence and 600000 dollars aggregate plus workers comp proof or election of non coverage. RMP: 300000 dollars commercial liability. ACR: general liability insurance before the license issues	July 14, 2026
Utah	175 dollars primary classification	Licenses expire November 30 of odd numbered years regardless of issue date; renewal 128 dollars every two years	No flat net worth minimum; surety bond only if the financial responsibility standard is not met: 50000 dollars B100 or E100, 25000 dollars R100, 15000 dollars specialty. GL insurance 1000000 dollars per occurrence and 2000000 dollars aggregate from April 20, 2026, H100 included	July 14, 2026
Vermont	Residential registration: 75 dollars individual, 250 dollars business; trade license application fees not stated (Prov exam fee is 80 dollars per sitting)	Registration renews biennially by March 31 of odd numbered years; renewal 75 dollars individual, 250 dollars business	No bond, financial statement, or net worth; registration requires liability insurance of 1000000 dollars per occurrence and 2000000 dollars aggregate plus a written contract attestation	July 14, 2026
Virginia	Class A 400 dollars, Class B 380 dollars, Class C 235 dollars, plus a 25 dollar Recovery Fund assessment with each initial application	Class A 270 dollars, Class B 260 dollars, Class C 220 dollars, plus a 30 dollar Recovery Fund assessment with each renewal	Class A 45000 dollars minimum net worth or a 50000 dollar surety bond; Class B 15000 dollars net worth or the same 50000 dollar bond; Class C no net worth minimum but must disclose past due debts, judgments and bankruptcies from the prior four years	July 14, 2026
Washington	150.20 dollars	Every two years, 150.20 dollars	Continuous surety bond of 30000 dollars (general) or 15000 dollars (specialty), or an assigned savings account or CD in the same amount, effective July 1, 2024; general liability insurance of 200000 dollars public liability and 50000 dollars property damage, or 250000 dollars combined single limit	July 14, 2026
West Virginia	90 dollars annual license fee, paid with the application	Twelve month cycle from date of issuance; 90 dollar renewal fee; 25 dollar late fee if renewed more than 15 days late; a license lapsed 90 days or more cannot be renewed and requires reapplication	No net worth minimum and no general license bond; proof of workers compensation, unemployment compensation and general liability insurance plus a wage bond status affidavit; contractors with under one year of West Virginia payroll post a wage bond of four weeks of payroll plus 15 percent unless exempt	July 14, 2026
Wisconsin	Dwelling Contractor 25 dollars plus a 15 dollar application fee; Dwelling Contractor Qualifier 30 dollars plus a 15 dollar application fee	Dwelling Contractor (business) renews every 1 year on the issuance date for 25 dollars; Dwelling Contractor Qualifier renews every 2 years for 30 dollars with a 25 dollar late CE fee if applicable; a credential renewed more than one term after expiration carries a 200 dollar reinstatement fee	Bond of at least 25,000 dollars or general liability insurance of at least 250,000 dollars per occurrence, with 30 days cancellation notice to the department; a business carrying a bond under 25,000 dollars applies as Dwelling Contractor Restricted	July 14, 2026
Wyoming	No statewide fee; Casper Class I 300 dollars new; Cheyenne Class A 650 dollars, Class B 450, Class C and D 250; state Electrical Contractor license 400 dollars	No statewide renewal; Casper Class I renewal 150 dollars (Casper reciprocal license 25 dollars renewal); renewal cycle not stated	No statewide net worth, financial statement or bond; cities substitute general liability insurance and, for some classes, a bond; Cheyenne requires a GL certificate naming the city plus workers compensation registration; Casper requires 250000 dollars per person, 500000 per incident and 250000 property damage; all employers use the state workers compensation fund	July 14, 2026

The Short Answer

At a glance Who sets the fee: each state board or registrar; there is no national license and no national price. Smallest first time bill for a state license in our tables: $70 for a Montana Construction Contractor License, with no exam and no bond. Single fees can be smaller, such as Hawaii's $50 application, but the total depends on the exams, bonds and funds a state stacks on top. A common middle: California, $450 application plus $200 (sole owner) or $350 (other entity) initial license, with a $25,000 bond (CSLB). Near the top: Nevada, $300 application plus $600 for two years plus $140 in PSI exams, and a bond of $1,000 to $500,000 set by the board (NSCB). Time: licenses in the tables renew every one to three years, and the fees come due again each cycle.

Counting exams, state fees for one contractor license vary widely, from $70 for a Montana Construction Contractor License to more than $1,000 in Nevada before a single bond is posted. The real total is the sum of six things: the application fee, the exam fee, the license fee, a bond or financial statement, insurance, and any required education, and the board sets only some of them.

The low end is Montana, where the Department of Labor and Industry issues a Construction Contractor License for $70 with no exam and no bond, the smallest first time bill for a state license in our tables. Some single fees run lower, such as Hawaii's $50 application, but the total is what counts: a North Carolina Limited license is $75 plus a $79 PSI exam (G.S. 87-10), and a North Dakota Class D license is $100 with no exam (N.D.C.C. 43-07-07).

Nevada sits near the top: the State Contractors Board charges a $300 application fee and a $600 two year license fee, and PSI charges $140 for the two exams. California sits in between at a $450 application fee plus a $200 or $350 initial license fee (CSLB fee schedule). Add a bond or proof of net worth where the state requires one, and that requirement runs from a $1,000 bond at the bottom of Nevada's scale to a $1,000,000 bond option for a North Carolina Unlimited license.

There is no single national number because there is no national license: every figure on this page comes from the state board or statute named in the tables, not an average. For the full picture of how licensing works before you budget for it, start with our contractor license pillar page.

Twenty five of the fifty states issue no statewide general contractor license at all. In those states a contractor is licensed by a city or county, by a single trade board (electrical, plumbing, HVAC, or roofing), or registered rather than examined. The tables below name every one of them plainly in the "Who issues it" column, so you are not guessing at a number that does not exist.

The Six Costs That Make Up the Real Total

A board's fee page shows only part of the bill. Here is what each piece is, who sets it, and what the verified figures in our tables look like.

Application and registration fees

This is the fee paid directly to the state board, agency, or registrar to open a file. It is the one figure nearly every board publishes, for example $300 in Nevada, $250 in Tennessee, and $75 to $125 by license limitation in North Carolina (G.S. 87-10). Many boards keep it whether you are approved or not; Tennessee's fee page says every fee it lists is nonrefundable.

Exam fees

Most states require a trade exam, a Business and Law exam, or both, run through a third party testing vendor such as PSI, Prov, or Pearson VUE. Exam fees in the verified table below run from $40 for a single portion of Virginia's Business and Law exam to $295 for Florida's three part exam. A handful of states, among them North Dakota and Montana's general contractor license, require no exam at all.

The exam fee is usually paid to the vendor, not the board, and it is usually per attempt. California is the exception worth knowing: the CSLB application fee covers the Law and Business exam and the trade exam.

The license fee itself

Some boards charge a separate fee once you pass. Nevada collects a $600 biennial license fee only after approval, and California charges its $200 or $350 initial license fee after the exams. Other states fold application and license into one payment: Oregon's Construction Contractors Board charges $400 for a two year license, and Washington's Department of Labor and Industries charges $150.20 to register.

Bond or financial statement requirement

Most states that license contractors statewide require a surety bond, a minimum net worth shown on a financial statement, or both, usually scaled to the size of job the license allows. A minority of states, Colorado, Montana, and North Dakota among them, require neither a bond nor a financial statement for the state credential itself, though workers compensation and general liability insurance are usually still mandatory. Bond premiums and insurance rates are set by private sureties and carriers, not by any state board, so they are not part of the state fee tables below.

Insurance

Many boards set a floor for general liability coverage and require proof before they issue the license. Washington asks for $200,000 public liability and $50,000 property damage, or a $250,000 combined single limit. Minnesota asks for $100,000 per occurrence, $300,000 aggregate, and $25,000 property damage. Florida's General and Building categories carry $300,000 public liability and $50,000 property damage.

Renewal fees and cycle

Renewal cycles in the tables run from one year (North Dakota, Rhode Island, and Texas trade licenses) to three years for a state credential (Michigan, Missouri's statewide electrical license), and two years is a common cycle. A late renewal typically adds a flat penalty; North Dakota adds $50, and Wisconsin adds a $200 administrative fee to reinstate a credential more than one term past expiration. Tennessee adds $20 a month for up to 12 months.

What It Costs to Get Licensed and Bonded

"Licensed and bonded" means two separate payments. The license fees go to the state. The bond is a promise a surety company makes on your behalf, and the state sets only the face amount of that promise, not what the surety charges you for it.

So when a board says "$25,000 bond," it is telling you the coverage your bond must carry. Your premium is a smaller number set by the surety after it reviews your credit and your business, and no board publishes it. The worked examples below use only the state's own figures, so you can see the state side of the bill before you call a surety or an insurance agent.

State and license	State fees before the license issues	Bond or financial test	Insurance the board names
North Dakota Class D	$100 license fee; no exam	No bond (repealed 1995)	Certificate of liability insurance with the application
California, sole owner	$450 application plus $200 initial license; exams included	$25,000 contractor bond or cash deposit	Workers compensation if you have employees
Nevada, one trade	$300 application, $140 for both PSI exams, $600 license fee	Bond of $1,000 to $500,000 set by the board, plus a financial statement	Proof of workers compensation or an exemption affidavit
Washington, general	$150.20 registration; no competency exam	$30,000 continuous bond	$200,000 public liability and $50,000 property damage
Oregon, Residential General	$400 two year license plus the $60 PSI exam	$25,000 bond	$500,000 per occurrence
Virginia, Class A	$400 plus the $25 Recovery Fund assessment; PSI exams extra	$45,000 net worth or a $50,000 bond	Not set in the fee rule
Minnesota, residential	$180 base fee plus a $320 to $520 Recovery Fund fee	No bond; the Recovery Fund fee stands in its place	$100,000 per occurrence, $300,000 aggregate

The pattern holds across the country. The state's own fees for one license usually land in the low hundreds of dollars, and the bond, the insurance, and the time to qualify are what move the real total.

Contractor License Fees by State

Every row below names the issuing board, so you can verify it yourself. Where we could not confirm a figure at the board, the statute, or the exam vendor's bulletin, the table says "not stated" or the state note links to the board rather than guessing, and where a state has no statewide general contractor license, the "Who issues it" column says so directly. Each cell holds the headline figure, and the state notes under the table carry the detail, such as second license types, statute cites and board links.

Find your state

Pick your state above to see its details, or show all 50 states.

State	Who issues it	Application and license fees	Exam fees
Alabama	ALBGC / HBLB	$300 prime, $150 subcontractor (ALBGC)	$96 per exam, Business and Law included (PSI)
Alaska	DCCED Construction Contractors Program	$350 ($100 application plus $250 registration)	$150 (PSI Residential Contractor Endorsement exam)
Arizona	Registrar of Contractors (ROC)	General residential: $180 application plus $320 license	$66 trade (PSI) plus $61 Statutes and Rules (Gmetrix)
Arkansas	Contractors Licensing Board (ACLB)	$100 filing fee, nonrefundable	$84 (PSI Business and Law exam)
California	Contractors State License Board (CSLB)	$450 application plus $200 or $350 initial license	Included in the $450 application fee
Colorado	No statewide board; local (Denver, Colorado Springs)	None statewide; Denver Class A, B, C, D: $250 each	Not applicable statewide
Connecticut	No statewide GC license; Dept. of Consumer Protection	HIC registration $220, nonrefundable	Not applicable; trade contractors take PSI Business and Law
Delaware	No state GC board; Division of Revenue / Dept. of Labor	Business license $75; Dept. of Labor $200 a year	Paid to the vendor (ProV, plumbing and HVACR)
Florida	Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB)	Certified General Contractor application $245	$295 for the three part exam
Georgia	State Licensing Board	$200 exam application plus $10 processing	$60 Business and Law, $72 Residential Basic (PSI)
Hawaii	Contractors License Board (DCCA)	$50 per application	$80 Business and Law and most trade exams (PSI)
Idaho	Idaho Contractors Board and Public Works (DOPL)	Registration $120; Public Works capped at $50 to $550	$75 per attempt (PSI Public Works exam)
Illinois	No statewide GC license; IDFPR (roofing) / IDPH (plumbing)	Roofing $125; plumbing exam application $175	Plumbing: included in the $175 application; roofing $248 per category
Indiana	No state GC license; Indiana Plumbing Commission (IPLA)	Plumbing Contractor $50 plus an issuance fee	$100 Contractor exam, $75 Journeyman exam (PROV)
Iowa	No statewide GC license; DIAL runs Chapter 91C registration	91C registration capped at $50 a year	Trade exams only (PMSB, electrical)
Kansas	No state board; local (Johnson County, Sedgwick County)	Johnson County: $100 application plus $225 license	$115 (statewide ICC bulletin via Pearson VUE)
Kentucky	No statewide GC license (trades only)	Electrical Contractor $400 per two year term	$80 for electrical and HVAC (Prov)
Louisiana	State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC)	Not stated (license application)	Per classification plus Business and Law (PSI)
Maine	No state GC license; trade boards (OPOR)	Totals: Master Electrician $171, Master Plumber $221	$90 Master Electrician, $65 Master Plumber (Prov)
Maryland	No statewide GC license; Home Improvement Commission (MHIC)	MHIC two year Contractor license $403.75	$63 (PSI MHIC exam)
Massachusetts	No state GC license; BBRS (CSL) / OCABR (HIC)	CSL $150; HIC $150 plus Guaranty Fund	$23 application plus $75 exam fee (PSI CSL exam)
Michigan	LARA, Residential Builders and M&A Contractors Board	$195 application, covering the first three year license	$117 (PSI Residential Builder exam)
Minnesota	Dept. of Labor and Industry (DLI)	$50 exam application; $180 base fee plus Recovery Fund	$50 (DLI proctors its own exam, not PSI)
Mississippi	State Board of Contractors (MSBOC)	$400 commercial, $50 residential, nonrefundable	$120 per exam portion (PSI)
Missouri	No statewide GC board; statewide electrical (OSEC)	Statewide electrical $200; Kansas City issues no general contractor license	$80 Master Electrician (Prov)
Montana	Dept. of Labor and Industry, Business Standards Division	$70 Construction Contractor License; no exam	None for the GC license; electrical exams via PSI
Nebraska	No state GC license; Dept. of Labor registration	Registration $40 per business name per year	Electrical exam fee set by the vendor
Nevada	State Contractors Board (NSCB)	$300 application plus $600 two year license	$95 per portion; $140 for both together (PSI)
New Hampshire	No board for GCs; trade boards (OPLC)	Master Electrician $198; Electrical Corporation $137	$90 per electrical exam, Journeyman or Master (Prov)
New Jersey	No state GC license; Consumer Affairs / Community Affairs	HIC $110; New Home Builder $200	Electrical, plumbing, HVACR exams paid to PSI
New Mexico	Construction Industries Division (CID)	$36 application plus $100 a year (general classes)	$68.88 Business and Law (PSI)
New York	No statewide GC license; local (NYC DOB / DCWP)	NYC DCWP HIC $200; NYC DOB GC registration $300	Two DCWP attempts included; $50 buys two more
North Carolina	Licensing Board for General Contractors (NCLBGC)	$75 Limited, $100 Intermediate, $125 Unlimited (G.S. 87-10)	$79 PSI exam
North Dakota	Secretary of State (registrar)	Class A $450, B $300, C $225, D $100; no exam	Not applicable, no exam
Ohio	No statewide GC license; OCILB (trades only)	$25 exam application plus $25 license (trades)	$69 per attempt (PSI)
Oklahoma	No statewide GC license; CIB (trades only)	Plumbing Contractor $330	$92 per portion (PSI)
Oregon	Construction Contractors Board (CCB)	$400 for a two year license	$60 (PSI)
Pennsylvania	No state GC license; Attorney General (HICPA)	HICPA registration $100 every two years	Not applicable statewide; trades are licensed locally
Rhode Island	No statewide GC license; CRLB registration	$150 registration (core contractor category)	Trade specialties, such as Commercial Roofing $180 (PSI)
South Carolina	Contractor's Licensing Board (LLR)	$350 initial, General or Mechanical (CLB fee page)	Paid to PSI
South Dakota	No state GC board; Electrical / Plumbing Commissions	Electrical $60, every class; plumbing initial capped at $60	$115 (ICC via PearsonVUE, electrical)
Tennessee	Board for Licensing Contractors	$250, nonrefundable	Per attempt, set by Prov (vendor since July 1, 2026)
Texas	No state GC license; TDLR (electrical/ACR), TSBPE (plumbing)	Electrical Contractor $110; ACR $115; RMP $300	$78 Master Electrician (PSI); $128.50 plumbing
Utah	Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL)	$175 primary classification	$85 Business and Law exam (Prov)
Vermont	No state GC license; Office of Professional Regulation	Registry $75 individual, $250 business	$80 per sitting, trade exams (Prov)
Virginia	Board for Contractors (DPOR)	Class A $400, B $380, C $235, plus $25 Recovery Fund	Trade exam $85 flat; Business and Law by portion (PSI)
Washington	Dept. of Labor and Industries (L and I)	$150.20 (registration state, not a competency exam license)	None for general registration
West Virginia	Contractor Licensing Board	$90 annual license fee (28CSR2)	$59.95 per sitting (Prov) plus a trade exam
Wisconsin	No state GC license; DSPS	Dwelling Contractor $25 plus a $15 application fee	$95 HVAC Qualifier exam (Pearson VUE)
Wyoming	No state board; local, plus State Fire Marshal (electrical)	Master Electrician $200; Casper Class I $300 new	$115 ICC National Standard exam (Pearson VUE)

State notes on fees

Alabama. The HBLB roofer license is $100 processing plus a $150 annual license fee. PSI charges $106 for Building Construction (Commercial) and three heavy classifications (ALBGC). HBLB exams through Prov are $130 for both exams on one day or $80 each.

Alaska. The $100 application portion of the $350 total is nonrefundable.

Arizona. An original two year license is an application fee plus a license fee: general residential $180 plus $320, general commercial $200 plus $580, specialty residential $80 plus $270, and specialty commercial $100 plus $480 (ROC fee table). Residential and dual licenses add a $370 Recovery Fund assessment.

California. The initial license fee is $200 for a sole owner or $350 for any other entity, and the $450 original application fee covers both PSI exams, Law and Business plus the trade exam.

Colorado. There is no statewide general contractor license. For the state plumbing contractor registration fee, see the State Plumbing Board.

Connecticut. There is no general contractor board or license; the Dept. of Consumer Protection registers home improvement contractors. The $220 application fee is $120 registration plus $100 Guaranty Fund under C.G.S. 20-432. New Home Construction Contractor is $360 ($120 registration plus a $240 guaranty fund fee under C.G.S. 20-417b and 20-417i), and Major Contractor renews at $500.

Delaware. There is no state general contractor board or exam; the $75 contractor business license is under 30 Del. C. 2502. Department of Labor contractor registration is $200 a year, or $300 with a state contract (19 Del. C. ch. 36). A Master Plumber or HVACR application is $173 (DPR); for trade exams, see the Division of Professional Regulation.

Florida. The application is $145 when filed from September 1 of an odd year through April 30 of an even year (DBPR CILB 5-A), and NASCLA exam applicants also pay NASCLA a $65 application fee. The $295 is $135 registration to Professional Testing plus $160 to Pearson VUE: $80 Business and Finance, $40 Contract Administration, and $40 Project Management.

Georgia. The State Licensing Board for Residential and Commercial General Contractors sets the $200 and $10 fees in its board fee schedule. PSI charges $72 for Residential Light Commercial and $106 for NASCLA.

Hawaii. The application is filed separately per entity and per RME. The A General Engineering and B General Building exams are $85.

Idaho. The Public Works Contractors License Board's initial license fee is capped at $50 (Class D) to $550 (Unlimited) by IDAPA 24.39.50. Basic registration is $120 initial, renewed at $60 a year or $120 every two years.

Illinois. Only roofing and plumbing are licensed statewide. The plumbing exam application is $225 for plumbers licensed in Chicago or out of state, and the $125 roofing application is set by 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1460.80. The roofing exam is given by Continental Testing Services.

Indiana. General contractors are licensed by the city or county only. The State Plumbing Contractor issuance fee is $100 in an even year or $50 in an odd year (IPLA fee schedule).

Iowa. The 91C contractor registration is statewide registration, not a competency license. PMSB exams run through Kirkwood Community College and electrical exams through PSI.

Kansas. There is no state board or state general contractor license. Johnson County charges its fees per license type.

Kentucky. The Dept. of Housing, Buildings and Construction licenses trades; general contractors are licensed at the city and county level. A Master Plumber pays a $150 exam fee plus a $250 license fee, and a Master HVAC a $250 application plus a $150 exam fee.

Louisiana. Each classification carries its own exam fee, paid to PSI; see the LSLBC exam page.

Maine. The Electricians' and Plumbers' Examining Boards (OPOR) license the trades; there is no state general contractor license or board. The Master Electrician license is $150 plus a $21 background check, and the Master Plumber $200 plus $21.

Maryland. There is no statewide general contractor license; the original $403.75 is $281.25 application, $100 Guaranty Fund, and $22.50 processing.

Massachusetts. No state general contractor license exists; the Construction Supervisor License (CSL) is an individual license. Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) registration adds a $100 to $500 Guaranty Fund surcharge by employee count.

Michigan. The board is LARA's Residential Builders and Maintenance and Alteration Contractors Board, and the license fee is set by MCL 338.2239. Commercial contracting is city or county level only.

Mississippi. Each fee covers one trade classification, plus $100 per added classification. The Law and Business Management exam is required of everyone.

Missouri. The Office of Statewide Electrical Contractors (OSEC) licenses electrical, and general contractors are licensed at the city and county level. Kansas City licenses trade contractors and residential building contractors through a Certificate of Qualification and a contractor license, and does not issue a general contractor license.

Montana. The Independent Contractor Exemption Certificate is $125, and the license needs no board hearing. Electrical Journeyman and Master applications are $190 each, with the exam paid to PSI (State Electrical Board).

Nebraska. Statewide registration through the Dept. of Labor, Labor Standards Division, rose from $25 effective August 1, 2026. A State Electrical Contractor application is $180, plus a license fee of $187.50 in an even year or $375 in an odd year. For the electrical exam, see the State Electrical Division.

Nevada. Residential contractors add a Residential Recovery Fund assessment of $200, $500, or $1,000 by monetary limit. The $140 applies when the Business and Law exam and a trade exam are scheduled together.

New Hampshire. The Electricians' Board and the Mechanical Safety and Licensing Board (OPLC) license trades; there is no board for general contractors.

New Jersey. Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) registration is with the Division of Consumer Affairs and New Home Builder registration with the Dept. of Community Affairs. Electrical is a $100 application plus a $150 business permit, Master Plumber a $100 application, and HVACR a $100 application plus the license fee. For exam details, see the Division of Consumer Affairs boards.

New Mexico. The $100 per year ($200 for two years) covers GB-98, GB-2 and the other general classifications; other classifications pay $50 per year (14.5.5.8 NMAC). PSI charges $269.06 for the GB-98 combination exam and $134.53 for GB-2.

New York. There is no statewide general contractor license (local licensing); licenses come from NYC DOB / DCWP and local jurisdictions. The DCWP Home Improvement Contractor license is $200 for a full two year term, prorated to $150, $100, or $50 by filing date.

North Carolina. The NASCLA exam route adds a $65 NASCLA application plus the PSI sitting fee (see NCLBGC).

Ohio. General contractors are licensed locally; the Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board licenses Electrical, HVAC, Plumbing, Hydronics, and Refrigeration statewide for commercial work.

Oklahoma. The Construction Industries Board licenses electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and roofing only. The $330 Plumbing Contractor license is $300 license plus $30 processing.

Pennsylvania. Registration runs through the Attorney General Bureau of Consumer Protection; there is no state board or state general contractor license.

Rhode Island. The CRLB issues a registration, not an exam based license. DLT trade license exam applications carry a $75 nonrefundable processing fee, and a two year Electrical Contractor license is $240.

South Carolina. LLR also houses the Residential Builders Commission. For exams, see the Contractor's Licensing Board exam page.

South Dakota. There is no state board for general contractors (city or county level).

Texas. There is no state general contractor license or board (city level only), and RMP is the Responsible Master Plumber license. The $78 covers both portions of the Master Electrician exam, and the $128.50 TSBPE plumbing exam is at Pearson VUE.

Utah. A passed NASCLA exam is accepted as an alternative route.

Vermont. The Residential Contractor Registry is a registration, not a competency exam. The $80 trade exams are for the Division of Fire Safety.

Virginia. License fees are set by 18VAC50-22-100. The Business and Law exam is $40 for one portion, $72 for two, and $85 for all three.

Washington. The plumber journey level exam is closed book through PSI, with a $202.10 exam fee paid to L and I.

West Virginia. The $59.95 sitting is for the Contractor Licensing Act exam; the classification trade exam is separate.

Wisconsin. The Dept. of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) regulates only one and two family dwellings statewide, no commercial. The Dwelling Contractor Qualifier takes a 12 hour approved course, with the provider's tests, instead of a state exam.

Wyoming. General contracting is licensed at the city or county level, in Cheyenne, Casper, and others; the State Fire Marshal licenses electricians. The $115 exam is one of the tests Casper accepts.

Bond, Financial Test and Renewal by State

This second table carries the rest of each row: the bond, net worth, or insurance the state requires, and what renewal costs and how often. Every row was checked against its primary source on September 27, 2026. Detail such as tiers by class, insurance minimums and expiry dates sits in the state notes under the table.

Find your state

Pick your state above to see its details, or show all 50 states.

State	Bond or financial requirement	Renewal
Alabama	$10,000 minimum net worth and working capital (ALBGC)	ALBGC renews every year: $200 prime, $100 subcontractor
Alaska	$25,000 bond (General Contractor)	$250 every two years (12 AAC 02.180)
Arizona	Continuous surety bond or cash deposit	Two years; general residential $320 plus $270 Recovery Fund
Arkansas	$5,000 to $50,000 net worth; $10,000 commercial bond	$50; $100 if filed within 30 days after expiration
California	$25,000 contractor bond or cash deposit	Every two years: $450 sole owner, $700 other entity
Colorado	GC: no state net worth, bond, or financial statement	Denver: $250, three year cycle
Connecticut	$20,000 general liability minimum; no surety bond	HIC $220 annually; Major Contractor $500
Delaware	Non resident: 6 percent bond on contracts of $20,000 or more	Business license $75 annually; registration annual
Florida	FICO 660 or better, or a 14 hour course	Fee not stated; 14 hours of continuing education
Georgia	Net worth $150,000 unlimited, $25,000 Limited Tier	$100; expires June 30 of even numbered years; $200 late
Hawaii	Credit reports; CPA statement for entities	$338.00 biennial; $208 for an RME
Idaho	None for basic registration; Public Works by class	Registration $120 biennial or $60 annual
Illinois	Roofing: $10,000 Limited or $25,000 Unlimited bond	Roofing: $62.50 per year, two year cycle
Indiana	None statewide; Indianapolis GC: $10,000 surety bond	State Plumbing Contractor: $100
Iowa	No net worth or bond in state; $25,000 out of state	PMSB contractor licenses: three year cycle, expires June 30
Kansas	No net worth statement or bond; insurance required	Johnson County: $225 annually; $75 late after February 1
Kentucky	No bond or net worth stated	Electrical $400 per two years; plumbing, HVAC $250 annually
Louisiana	$50,000 net worth (Commercial and Residential)	Not stated
Maine	No net worth statement, bank reference, or bond	Two year: Master Electrician $150, Master Plumber $200
Maryland	Solvency, or a $30,000 surety bond; $500,000 liability	$456.25 every two years
Massachusetts	No bond, credit, or net worth test for the CSL	CSL and HIC: $100 every two years
Michigan	None set in statute for the RB or M&A license	$50 per year of the three year cycle (MCL 338.2239)
Minnesota	No bond; Recovery Fund fee of $320, $420, or $520	Every two years, with the Recovery Fund fee again
Mississippi	Commercial: $50,000 or $20,000 net worth	Annual: $400 commercial, $100 residential
Missouri	Electrical: $500,000 liability plus local bonds	Electrical $100 every three years ($100 inactive)
Montana	No bond and no net worth or financial statement	$70, the same as the application fee
Nebraska	No bond for state registration	Registration $40 per business name, annual
Nevada	Bond or cash deposit, $1,000 to $500,000, set by the board	Two year license; $600 biennial license fee
New Hampshire	Not stated	Master Electrician $198; Electrical Corporation $137
New Jersey	HIC: $500,000 liability per occurrence plus a $10,000, $25,000, or $50,000 compliance bond or letter of credit by contract value	HIC $90 annually; New Home Builder $200 per two years
New Mexico	$10,000 surety bond; workers compensation	Same fees: $100 a year general, $50 a year others
New York	DCWP: $20,000 bond or $200 Trust Fund enrollment	DCWP $200 per two years; DOB every three years at $240
North Carolina	$17,000 to $150,000 working capital, or a bond	Annual: $75 Limited, $100 Intermediate, $125 Unlimited
North Dakota	No bond (repealed 1995); liability insurance required	Annual by March 1: Class A $90, B $60, C $45, D $30
Ohio	$500,000 contractor liability; no state bond stated	$60 a year or $180 for three years
Oklahoma	Trades: $5,000 bond or waiver, $50,000 liability	Contractor renewal $200; $300 with late fee after 30 days
Oregon	Residential General: $25,000 bond, $500,000 liability	Every two years at $400
Pennsylvania	$50,000 personal injury, $50,000 property damage	HICPA $100 every two years
Rhode Island	$500,000 general liability; no bond or net worth	Valid one year, renews annually at $150, plus $50 if expired
South Carolina	Net worth by group, $20,000 to $350,000	$135 biennial; late fees from $100
South Dakota	No state GC bond, net worth, or liability requirement	Electrical $200, two year cycle; plumbing capped at $300
Tennessee	CPA prepared Reviewed or Audited financial statement, or since July 1, 2026 a surety bond of at least 50 percent of the monetary limit	Two year license term; $200 renewal
Texas	No state GC bond or net worth	Electrical Contractor $110 every year; RMP $300
Utah	No flat net worth minimum; bond if standard not met	$128 every two years
Vermont	No bond, financial statement, or net worth	Every two years: $75 individual, $250 business
Virginia	Class A $45,000, B $15,000 net worth, or $50,000 bond	Class A $270, B $260, C $220, plus $30 Recovery Fund
Washington	$30,000 general or $15,000 specialty bond	Every two years, $150.20 (RCW 18.27.060)
West Virginia	No net worth minimum and no general license bond	$90 every year; no renewal once lapsed 90 days
Wisconsin	$25,000 bond or $250,000 general liability per occurrence	$25 every year (business); $30 every two years (qualifier)
Wyoming	No statewide net worth, financial statement, or bond	None statewide; Casper Class I renews at $150

State notes on bonds and renewals

Alabama. ALBGC also requires a CPA statement, and HBLB Roofers post a $10,000 license and permit bond.

Alaska. Bonds are $20,000 for a residential only endorsement, $10,000 for Mechanical, Specialty, and Home Inspector, and $5,000 for Handyman. The two year cycle expires December 31 of even numbered years.

Arizona. The bond is set by classification and annual volume, and residential contractors also pay into the Recovery Fund. Renewal is $580 for general commercial, $270 plus $270 for specialty residential, and $480 for specialty commercial (ROC fee table). The statutory renewal caps are $320, $1,000, $270 and $900 (A.R.S. 32-1126).

Arkansas. Net worth is $50,000 for Building, Heavy, Highway or Railroad or Airport, and Municipal and Utility; $20,000 for Light Building, Mechanical, and Electrical; and $5,000 for Specialty. Commercial contractors post the $10,000 Contractors Surety Bond. A license expires the day before the anniversary of issue (A.C.A. 17-25-307 and board rules).

California. A second $25,000 Bond of Qualifying Individual applies if the qualifier owns under 10 percent. Active renewals are $470 or $720 with C10, and inactive licenses renew at $300 or $500.

Colorado. Workers compensation is required for all employers. State plumbing contractor registrations expire the last day of February in odd numbered years.

Connecticut. The $20,000 minimum covers HIC and New Home Construction Contractor. Every HIC and New Home Construction Contractor registration expires March 31, and Major Contractor registrations expire June 30.

Delaware. Workers compensation is required with employees. After two clean years, Department of Labor registration can be a two year registration for $300 ($500 with a state contract).

Florida. The 14 hour course is a financial responsibility course, and General and Building categories carry $300,000 public liability and $50,000 property damage. Certified licenses renew by August 31 of even numbered years and Registered by August 31 of odd numbered years, with the education due each biennium (F.S. 489.115).

Georgia. The $150,000 net worth is for Commercial General unlimited. General liability is $500,000 for Commercial General and Residential Light Commercial and $300,000 for Residential Basic.

Hawaii. A credit report comes from every officer, partner, manager, or member, and entity applicants submit a CPA financial statement no more than a year old; a surety bond is required only at Board discretion. The $338.00 is for an active entity or sole proprietor, and all licenses expire September 30 of even numbered years.

Idaho. Public Works license class is set by net worth and working capital, from Class D ($10,000 net worth, $3,000 working capital) to Unlimited ($1,000,000 net worth, $600,000 working capital). Public Works renewal is capped at $40 (Class D) to $440 (Unlimited) by IDAPA 24.39.50.

Illinois. The roofing bond is continuous, and roofers also carry $500,000 personal injury and $250,000 property damage insurance per occurrence. The cycle expires December 31 of odd numbered years.

Indiana. Indianapolis also requires $500,000 general liability. State Plumbing Contractor licenses expire December 31 of odd numbered years.

Iowa. Out of state contractors post the $25,000 surety bond or prequalify for DOT projects.

Kansas. General liability and workers compensation insurance are required, and Sedgwick County requires a minimum of $300,000 general liability.

Kentucky. An Electrical Contractor must carry general liability plus workers compensation and unemployment insurance proof.

Louisiana. Home Improvement, Mold Remediation, and Labor Only need $25,000, on a financial statement prepared by a CPA, bookkeeper, or accountant within the last 12 months. Residential, Home Improvement, and Mold carry a $500,000 general liability minimum as of August 1, 2026.

Maine. Workers compensation coverage is mandatory for any employer with one or more employees. A late renewal adds a $50 late fee up to 90 days.

Maryland. Financial solvency is shown with a credit report and bank statements, and an applicant not solvent by $30,000 posts the bond (or an indemnitor). The $500,000 general liability applies since October 1, 2024, and the renewal is $281.25 application plus $175 Guaranty Fund.

Massachusetts. HIC uses a tiered Guaranty Fund surcharge instead of a bond. The first CSL runs three years, and each CSL renewal requires 12 hours of continuing education.

Minnesota. There is no financial statement or net worth test; general liability is $100,000 per occurrence, $300,000 aggregate, and $25,000 property damage. The Contractor Recovery Fund fee is paid with each license application and renewal, in place of a bond, and is set by gross annual receipts.

Mississippi. The $50,000 applies to a commercial major classification and $20,000 to all other commercial applicants, on an accountant's financial statement from the last 12 months; compilations are not accepted. Commercial contractors carry $300,000 per occurrence and $600,000 aggregate general liability.

Missouri. Statewide electrical requires proof of the $500,000 liability insurance plus a bond posted with each political subdivision as required; no net worth test is stated.

Montana. Proof of Montana specific workers compensation coverage is required for every employee. Registration became a license on January 1, 2026 under HB 239.

Nebraska. Contractors with employees must carry workers compensation, and city licenses such as Omaha's set their own bond and insurance; see the Omaha permits office. The state electrical contractor license renews on a two year cycle at $187.50 for each year, and every license expires December 31, 2026.

Nevada. A current financial statement is required at every monetary limit, with CPA reviewed or audited statements required as the monetary limit rises. The Residential Recovery Fund assessment is paid again every two years.

New Jersey. Electrical requires $300,000 liability plus a $1,000 surety bond, plumbing a $3,000 surety bond, and HVACR $500,000 liability plus a $3,000 surety bond. Plumbing and HVACR renew every two years at $160, and the electrical business permit every three years at $150.

New Mexico. The bond is due at initial licensure and every renewal. Two year renewals are $200 for the general classifications and $100 for others (14.5.5.8 NMAC).

New York. DOB registration needs three months of business bank statements with at least a $25,000 balance and $1,000,000 minimum general liability. DCWP Home Improvement Contractor licenses expire February 28 of odd numbered years.

North Carolina. Limited needs $17,000 working capital or $80,000 net worth or a $175,000 bond; Intermediate $75,000 working capital or a $500,000 bond; Unlimited $150,000 working capital or a $1,000,000 bond. A renewal filed after January 1 adds $10 a month (G.S. 87-10).

North Dakota. The certificate of liability insurance must be in the license name. Renewing after March 1 and by June 1 adds a $50 penalty.

Ohio. The minimum $500,000 contractor liability insurance is assigned to one named contracting company. Renewal requires 10 hours of continuing education each year.

Oklahoma. Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical contractors post the $5,000 surety bond or a waiver affidavit plus $50,000 general liability. Roofing carries $500,000 residential or $1,000,000 commercial liability and no bond. The renewal fees apply to electrical, mechanical, and plumbing contractors.

Oregon. Commercial General Level 1 carries an $80,000 bond and $2,000,000 aggregate, and Commercial General Level 2 a $25,000 bond and $1,000,000. Commercial licenses also carry continuing education.

Pennsylvania. HICPA requires no bond or net worth. Philadelphia's local license is $126 annually and Pittsburgh's $90 annually.

Rhode Island. The general liability policy names the CRLB, and workers compensation applies if there are employees.

South Carolina. Net worth is Group 1 $20,000, Group 2 $60,000, Group 3 $150,000, Group 4 $250,000, and Group 5 $350,000; working capital, or a surety bond in its place, is accepted instead (S.C. Code 40-11-260 and 40-11-262). General Contractor licenses expire October 31 of even numbered years and Mechanical Contractor licenses October 31 of odd numbered years.

South Dakota. An electrical contractor posts a $10,000 undertaking plus $100,000 per occurrence and $300,000 aggregate liability. Electrical licenses expire June 30 of even numbered years, and plumbing license and renewal fees are capped by statute (SDCL 36-25-19).

Tennessee. The monetary limit is 10 times the lesser of working capital and net worth. A contractor short on working capital or net worth may add a line of credit, a guaranty agreement, or a license bond of $500,000 (limits under $1,500,000) or $1,000,000 (limits over $1,500,000). A late renewal carries a penalty of $20 per month for up to 12 months.

Texas. An Electrical Contractor needs $300,000 per occurrence and $600,000 aggregate insurance plus workers comp proof or election of non coverage. ACR contractor licenses are valid one year.

Utah. The surety bond, due only if the financial responsibility standard is not met, is $50,000 (B100 or E100), $25,000 (R100), or $15,000 (specialty); general liability of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate applies since April 20, 2026. Licenses expire November 30 of odd numbered years regardless of issue date.

Vermont. Registration requires $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate liability insurance, and renews at the same fee (26 V.S.A. chapter 106).

Virginia. Class C has no net worth minimum but must disclose debts, judgments, and bankruptcies. Renewal fees are set by 18VAC50-22-140.

Washington. The continuous bond amounts, or an assigned savings account or CD in the same amount, are effective July 1, 2024. Insurance is $200,000 public liability and $50,000 property damage, or a $250,000 combined single limit, and reinstating a suspended registration is $70.90.

West Virginia. Applicants show proof of workers compensation, unemployment compensation, and general liability insurance plus a wage bond status affidavit. A license not renewed on time lapses, and one lapsed 90 days or more cannot be renewed (W. Va. Code 30-42-13).

Wisconsin. A bond of $5,000 to $25,000 gives a restricted certification (Wis. Stat. 101.654). A credential renewed more than one term late adds a $200 administrative fee (SPS 305.07).

Wyoming. Cities substitute general liability insurance, such as Casper's $250,000/$500,000 personal injury and $250,000 property damage minimum. A Master Electrician renews every three years at $100.

States With No Statewide General Contractor License

Twenty five states leave general contracting to cities, counties, or a single trade board rather than issuing one statewide general contractor license: Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

Inside that list the pattern varies. Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Wyoming each license specific trades, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, or roofing, statewide while leaving general contracting itself to the city or county. Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Vermont each run a statewide registration for contractors that, by the state's own description, is not a competency exam based license.

The rest of the list, Colorado, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Wisconsin, leaves general contracting entirely to local jurisdictions or to a narrower home improvement or residential only credential. If your state is not on this list, check the "Who issues it" column above; it names the board that does issue one.

A state with no statewide license is not a state with no cost. In Pennsylvania, anyone doing at least $5,000 of home improvement work a year registers with the Attorney General for $100 every two years. In Nebraska, every contractor registers with the Department of Labor, and the annual fee rose to $40 on August 1, 2026. City licenses in places like Denver, Philadelphia, and Kansas City add their own fees on top.

How Much Is a General Contractor License Compared With a Trade License?

A general contractor license usually costs more than a single trade license for one reason: the financial test. Boards scale net worth, working capital, or bond amounts to the size of job the license allows, and general contractors bid the biggest jobs.

South Carolina shows the scale clearly. Its statute sets Group 1 at $20,000 net worth or $10,000 working capital for jobs up to $100,000, and Group 5 at $350,000 net worth or $250,000 working capital for unlimited jobs. North Dakota does the same thing with fees instead of net worth: Class D ($100) caps a single job at $100,000, Class C ($225) at $300,000, Class B ($300) at $500,000, and Class A ($450) has no cap.

Trade licenses often move the cost to the individual. A master electrician or master plumber pays an exam fee and a personal license fee, as the Maine, Kentucky, and New Jersey rows and state notes show, and the contracting business may then need its own license or registration on top.

A carpenter license is rarely its own credential. Most states treat carpentry as general or specialty contracting, so a carpenter pays the same board fees as any other contractor in that classification; in California, framing and rough carpentry is the C-5 classification, and it carries the same $450 application and $200 or $350 initial license fee as every other CSLB classification.

How to Budget for Your License, Step by Step

Confirm who issues the license where you will work. Use the "Who issues it" column. If your state has no statewide license, call the city or county building department for the jobs you plan to take.
Pick the classification and the job size you need. The limit you request drives the financial test in states like North Carolina, South Carolina, Nevada, and Tennessee.
Add the board's fees. Application fee plus any separate license fee, from the "Application and license fees" column.
Add the exam fees for every person who must test. Business and Law plus the trade exam, paid to the vendor, and plan for a retake.
Price the bond or prepare the financial statement. Get the face amount from the bond table, then ask a surety for the premium; if the state wants a CPA reviewed or audited statement, add the accountant's fee.
Price the insurance the board names. General liability at the stated minimum, plus workers compensation if you have employees.
Add the recovery or guaranty fund and any education. Arizona, Connecticut, Minnesota, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, and Virginia collect fund payments; Florida, Ohio, Minnesota, and Massachusetts require continuing education.
Put the renewal on your calendar. Licenses in the tables cost you again every one to three years, and late penalties start soon after the deadline.

What the Tables Do Not Include

A handful of costs sit outside any state's core license fee and are easy to miss when budgeting:

Recovery or guaranty funds. Several states add a mandatory fund contribution on top of the license fee itself: Minnesota's Contractor Recovery Fund fee runs $320 to $520 with each application and two year renewal, in place of a bond. Connecticut's $220 home improvement registration fee includes $100 for the Home Improvement Guaranty Fund, paid at application and at each annual renewal (C.G.S. 20-432). Maryland's Guaranty Fund adds $100 at initial licensure and $175 at each two year renewal to the MHIC fee, and Massachusetts layers a $100 to $500 Guaranty Fund surcharge onto Home Improvement Contractor registration by employee count. Nevada's residential contractors pay a Residential Recovery Fund assessment of $200, $500, or $1,000 by monetary limit, before the license issues and every two years.
Continuing education. Florida requires 14 hours of continuing education per renewal, Ohio requires 10 hours every year, Minnesota's qualifying person needs 14 hours per two year cycle, and Massachusetts' Construction Supervisor License requires 12 units per cycle. Course providers, not the state, set the price of the class.
Background and fingerprint checks. Maine's Master Electrician and Master Plumber applications each add a $21 background check. Utah's Division of Professional Licensing will require a fingerprint based background check for contractor applicants starting January 1, 2027.
Late and reinstatement fees. North Dakota adds a $50 penalty for a renewal filed after the March 1 deadline and no later than June 1, after which the contractor must apply for a new license. Kansas adds a $75 late fee in Johnson County after February 1. West Virginia bars renewal entirely once a license has lapsed 90 days. Wisconsin adds a $200 administrative fee to reinstate a credential more than one term past expiration, and Washington charges $70.90 to reinstate a suspended registration.
Bond premiums and insurance. The bond and financial statement amounts in the tables are the coverage a state requires, not what an applicant pays for it. The premium on a bond and the cost of general liability and workers compensation insurance are set by private sureties and carriers based on credit and claims history, not by any board, so they are not part of the fee tables above.

How This Fee Table Was Verified

Every row above traces to the board, division, or statute named in the "Who issues it" column, not to a secondary aggregator. Where we could not confirm a figure with the board, the statute, or the exam vendor, the cell says "not stated" or the state note links to the board rather than filling in an estimate.

The rows were first built from July 14, 2026 to September 5, 2026, and on September 27, 2026 every row was reopened at its board, its statute, or the exam vendor's current bulletin. Figures we could not confirm that day came out of the cells, and many rows gained figures the boards publish, such as renewal fees.

Connecticut's Department of Consumer Protection publishes a single $220 nonrefundable application fee for home improvement registration, and the statute behind it, C.G.S. 20-432, builds that figure from a $120 registration fee and a $100 annual Guaranty Fund fee, so the row shows both. Arizona's Registrar publishes its actual fees, which sit inside the ceilings in A.R.S. 32-1126: up to $500 for an original general residential license, $1,500 general commercial, $2,000 general dual, $350 specialty residential, $1,000 specialty commercial, and $1,350 specialty dual.

Who Qualifies the License for Your Company

Once you know what a state's license actually costs, the harder question is usually who on your team can qualify it. Most states that issue a statewide contractor license require a named individual, called an RMO (Responsible Managing Officer), RME (Responsible Managing Employee), qualifying party, qualifying individual, or designated employee depending on the state, to pass the exam and carry the experience that gets your company's license issued. Minnesota, for example, will not let a qualifying person serve a second company's license unless the companies share at least 25 percent common ownership.

If nobody on staff meets that bar yet, The Licensing Company places a licensed qualifying agent with your company as a real W-2 employee who actually supervises the work, so your company can qualify for its license and start bidding while you build your own team's credentials. See what a qualifying agent does on What Is a Qualifying Agent, or go straight to hire a qualifying agent.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is a contractors license?

It depends on the state, because each state board sets its own fees. Counting exams, the first time state fees for one license in our tables run from $70 in Montana, with no exam, to over $1,000 in Nevada once the $300 application, $600 license fee, and $140 in exams are added. The bond, insurance, and any recovery fund come on top.

How much does it cost to get licensed and bonded?

Add the state fees from the first table to the bond premium and insurance. The state sets the bond amount, such as $25,000 in California or $30,000 for a Washington general contractor, but the surety sets the premium based on your credit. Ask a surety for a quote once you know the face amount.

How much is a general contractor license?

In states that license general contractors statewide, the board fees in our table start under $100, such as $50 for a Mississippi residential license (one classification, plus a $120 PSI exam per portion) or $75 for a North Carolina Limited license (G.S. 87-10). They run through $400 for a Virginia Class A license plus the $25 Recovery Fund assessment, and Nevada charges $900 ($300 application plus the $600 license fee) before exams. The bigger cost is the financial test, which grows with the job size the license allows. Twenty five states issue no statewide general contractor license at all.

How much does a carpenter license cost?

Most states do not issue a separate carpenter license; carpentry falls under general or specialty contracting. In California, framing and rough carpentry is the C-5 classification, and it costs the same $450 application fee plus $200 or $350 initial license fee as any other classification. In a state with no statewide license, the city or county sets the fee.

Which state has the lowest contractor license fee?

It depends on what you count, because boards split the cost differently. Counting exams, the smallest first time bill for a state license in our tables is Montana's Construction Contractor License at $70, with no exam and no bond. Single fees can be smaller: Hawaii's application is $50 with the license fee and an $80 PSI exam on top, and Mississippi's residential license is $50 per classification plus a $120 PSI exam per portion.

A North Carolina Limited license is $75 plus a $79 PSI exam (G.S. 87-10), and a North Dakota Class D license is $100 with no exam but caps a single job at $100,000 (N.D.C.C. 43-07-07). Exams, bonds and recovery funds often cost more than the fee itself. Several registration states charge less, such as Nebraska at $40 a year, but a registration is not an exam based license.

Is the exam fee included in the application fee?

Usually not. Most states pay the testing vendor separately, such as PSI, Prov, or Pearson VUE, and charge per attempt. California is the main exception: the CSLB application fee covers the exams.

How often do I pay again?

Many licenses renew every two years, and the renewal fee is often close to the original license fee. North Dakota, Rhode Island, and Texas trade licenses renew every year, and Michigan and Missouri's statewide electrical license run three year cycles. A late renewal adds a penalty in most states.

Do I have to pay into a recovery or guaranty fund?

In some states, yes. Minnesota charges a Contractor Recovery Fund fee of $320, $420, or $520 by gross annual receipts, Maryland collects $100 at licensure and $175 at renewal, Virginia adds a $25 Recovery Fund assessment, and Nevada's residential contractors pay $200, $500, or $1,000 by monetary limit. These are paid on top of the license fee.

Talk to The Licensing Company

Marshall Schofield and Jeremiah Jaskulski built The Licensing Company around one question contractors ask every day: who can qualify this license so the company can start working? If the fees make sense but the experience or exam requirement does not, we can talk through your state, your trade, and the job size you want to bid.

Browse every state's requirements on our state licensing guides, or read the full picture of contractor licensing on our contractor license pillar page. When you are ready, hire a qualifying agent or call 615-219-2110.

Sources

All pages below were opened on 2026-09-27. Rows in the tables dated earlier carry the board or statute named in the row, checked on the date shown.

California Contractors State License Board, list of all CSLB fees, retrieved 2026-09-27
Nevada State Contractors Board, general requirements FAQ, retrieved 2026-09-27
Nevada State Contractors Board, license requirements, retrieved 2026-09-27
North Dakota Century Code chapter 43-07, including 43-07-07 and 43-07-10, retrieved 2026-09-27
North Carolina General Statutes 87-10, retrieved 2026-09-27
Virginia Administrative Code 18VAC50-22-100, Board for Contractors fees, retrieved 2026-09-27
Washington Department of Labor and Industries, register as a contractor, retrieved 2026-09-27
Revised Code of Washington 18.27.040, contractor bond, retrieved 2026-09-27
Oregon Construction Contractors Board, CCB license, retrieved 2026-09-27
Oregon Construction Contractors Board, endorsement chart, retrieved 2026-09-27
Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors, fees, retrieved 2026-09-27
Arizona Revised Statutes 32-1126, contractor fees, retrieved 2026-09-27
Arizona Registrar of Contractors, license and renewal fees, retrieved 2026-09-27
Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, residential contractor licensing, retrieved 2026-09-27
Florida Statutes 489.115, renewals and continuing education, retrieved 2026-09-27
Florida DBPR, Construction Industry Licensing Board, retrieved 2026-09-27
Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, home improvement contractor registration, retrieved 2026-09-27
Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, contractor frequently asked questions, retrieved 2026-09-27
Nebraska Department of Labor, contractor registration, retrieved 2026-09-27
Maryland Home Improvement Commission, forms and fees, retrieved 2026-09-27
Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, home improvement contractor applications, retrieved 2026-09-27
New Mexico Administrative Code 14.5.5, Construction Industries Division fees, retrieved 2026-09-27
South Carolina Code of Laws, Title 40 Chapter 11, including 40-11-260, retrieved 2026-09-27
Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors, retrieved 2026-09-27
Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors, retrieved 2026-09-27
Minnesota Statutes 326B.89, Contractor Recovery Fund, retrieved 2026-09-27
Connecticut General Statutes chapter 400, including 20-432, retrieved 2026-09-27
North Carolina 21 NCAC 12A .0204, license limitations and financial requirements, retrieved 2026-09-27
Alaska 12 AAC 02.180 and AS 08.18.071, contractor fees and bonds, retrieved 2026-09-27
Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors, retrieved 2026-09-27
Hawaii Contractors License Board, retrieved 2026-09-27
Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors, guaranty agreement and bond information, retrieved 2026-09-27
Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners, administrative rules, retrieved 2026-09-27
NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, home improvement contractor license checklist, retrieved 2026-09-27
Utah Construction Trades Licensing Act Rule R156-55a, retrieved 2026-09-27

How Much Does a Contractor License Cost? 2026 State Fees

Contractor license fees by state