Verify a Contractor License in Any State (2026 Lookup)

Verify a contractor in minutes: get the license number, search the official state lookup (linked for all 50 states and DC), then confirm status, classification, insurance and bond.

To verify a contractor, ask for the license number and search it on the official lookup run by the licensing board in the state where the work will happen. Confirm that the license is active, that its classification covers your job, and that the insurance and bond on file are current before you sign anything or pay a deposit.

At a glance There is no single national contractor database. Each state keeps its own records. Search the license number on the official lookup run by the licensing board in the state where the work will happen. In some states the license that matters is issued by a city or county. Confirm that the license is active, that its classification covers your job, and that the insurance and bond on file are current. A five minute search on the right board site costs nothing.

There is no single national contractor database. Each state keeps its own records, and in some states the license that matters is issued by a city or county, so the table below gives the official lookup for all 50 states and Washington, DC, along with what each one covers. For the bigger picture of how licensing works state by state, see our contractor license guide and the state vs local licensing explainer.

This page is written for homeowners about to hire, general contractors vetting a subcontractor, and property managers protecting a client. A five minute search on the right board site costs nothing and can save you thousands of dollars and months of headaches.

How to Verify a Contractor License in 7 Steps

Ask the contractor for the license number and the exact business name. A legitimate contractor gives both right away. Hesitation is a red flag.
Find the right board. Use the table below. If the state has no statewide license for the work, the city or county building department is the place to check.
Search by license number first, then by name. Oregon's Construction Contractors Board, for example, says the license number is the most accurate way to look up a license.
Check the status. It should read Active, Current or In Good Standing.
Match the license type to the work. A general building license may not cover electrical, plumbing or HVAC work, which many states license separately.
Check complaints and discipline. Many lookups show disciplinary actions or complaint disclosures on the record.
Confirm insurance, bond and workers' compensation. Some state tools show these directly; otherwise ask for certificates and confirm them with the insurer and the surety.

Contractor License Lookup by State

Every link below goes to the state agency's own site. Each row notes what that lookup covers, because in many states the statewide license only reaches certain trades or certain project sizes. Click the state name for our full licensing guide for that state.

Find your state

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

State	Official lookup	What it covers
Alabama	General Contractors Board license search	Work where the cost of the undertaking is $100,000 or more, under Act 2024-277. Home builders and remodelers answer to the separate Home Builders Licensure Board.
Alaska	Professional License Search	Construction contractor licenses and endorsements from the Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing.
Arizona	Registrar of Contractors search	Search by contractor name or license number and review complaint history.
Arkansas	Contractors Licensing Board	The board page links its Find a Licensed Contractor search by name, number or city.
California	CSLB Check a License	License status and classification, including complaint disclosure, plus Home Improvement Salesperson registrations.
Colorado	Division of Professions and Occupations	No statewide general contractor license. Electricians and plumbers are state licensed through DORA.
Connecticut	eLicense lookup	Home improvement contractor registrations and trade licenses from the Department of Consumer Protection.
Delaware	DELPROS license look up	Professional and trade licenses with a discipline column. Business licenses are searched through the Division of Revenue.
District of Columbia	Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection	Verify a business license or an occupational and professional license.
Florida	DBPR license search	State certified and state registered contractors. Search by name, license number, city or county, or license type.
Georgia	Secretary of State verification	Residential and general contractors. A license is required for work over $2,500.
Hawaii	PVL public license search	Licensees of the Contractors License Board.
Idaho	Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses	Contractor registration through the Idaho Contractors Board, public works contractor licenses, and electrical, plumbing and HVAC licenses.
Illinois	IDFPR license lookup	No statewide general contractor license. Roofing contractors are licensed statewide under the Roofing Industry Licensing Act.
Indiana	PLA eVerification	Plumbers through the Professional Licensing Agency. Check the city or county for other contractor licenses.
Iowa	DIAL contractor registration	Registration for anyone earning at least $2,000 a year from construction.
Kansas	Attorney General roofing registration directory	Roofing contractor registration. Check the city or county for other trades.
Kentucky	HBC license search and verification	Electrical, HVAC, plumbing, fire and building inspector licenses from the Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction.
Louisiana	LSLBC contractor search	Commercial work and new homes of $50,000 or more, plus home improvement registration for jobs of at least $7,500 but less than $50,000. Search by name, number, parish or qualifying party.
Maine	OPOR licensee search	Electricians, plumbers and other licensed occupations.
Maryland	Home Improvement Commission	Home improvement contractor licenses. HVACR contractors are licensed by the HVACR board.
Massachusetts	HIC registration lookup	Home improvement contractor registrations. Construction supervisor licenses are checked separately.
Michigan	LARA find or verify a licensee	Residential builder and maintenance and alteration contractor licenses.
Minnesota	DLI license and registration lookup	Residential building contractor and remodeler licenses and trade licenses. DLI also posts enforcement actions.
Mississippi	State Board of Contractors	Commercial work unless the contract is less than $50,000, new homes over $50,000 and remodeling over $10,000.
Missouri	MOPRO license search	The statewide electrical contractor license from the Office of Statewide Electrical Contractors. Check the city or county for other trades.
Montana	DLI license search	Construction contractor licenses and independent contractor exemption certificates.
Nebraska	Contractor registration search	Department of Labor contractor registration.
Nevada	NSCB license search	Search by license number, company name, or principal or qualified individual name.
New Hampshire	OPLC license lookup	Electricians, plumbers and other licensed trades.
New Jersey	Consumer Affairs license verification	Home improvement contractor registrations. A new state board and future license were created by P.L.2023, c.237.
New Mexico	PSI license search	Construction Industries Division licenses. The division points consumers to this search.
New York	NYC DOB license search	No statewide general contractor license. New York City checks trades through DOB and home improvement contractors through DCWP.
North Carolina	NCLBGC verify license search	General contractors on projects of $40,000 or more.
North Dakota	Secretary of State contractor search	A contractor license when a job exceeds $4,000, searched through FirstStop.
Ohio	OCILB license verification	Commercial electrical, HVAC, plumbing, hydronics and refrigeration contractors licensed by the Construction Industry Licensing Board.
Oklahoma	Construction Industries Board license search	Electrical, mechanical and plumbing licenses, inspectors and registered roofers.
Oregon	CCB license search	Every CCB license. The license number gives the most accurate result.
Pennsylvania	Attorney General HIC search	Home improvement contractor registrations.
Rhode Island	CRLB registrant and licensee search	Contractor registrations and licenses from the Contractors' Registration and Licensing Board.
South Carolina	Contractor's Licensing Board lookup	General and mechanical contractors, construction managers, and alarm and sprinkler contractors.
South Dakota	Electrical Commission	Electrical licenses. Plumbers are licensed by the state Plumbing Commission.
Tennessee	Verify a License	Contractors bidding projects of $25,000 or more, licensed by the Board for Licensing Contractors.
Texas	TDLR license search	No statewide general contractor license. Electricians and air conditioning contractors through TDLR, plumbers through the TSBPE.
Utah	License lookup and verification	Contractor and trade licenses.
Vermont	OPR find a professional	Residential contractor registration for homeowner jobs over $10,000, plus licensed trades.
Virginia	DPOR license lookup	Class A, Class B and Class C contractor licenses and tradesman licenses.
Washington	L&I Verify	Registration, bond lawsuits, workers' comp account, citations and owner names.
West Virginia	Contractor Licensing Board public search	Contractor licenses.
Wisconsin	DSPS license look up	The Dwelling Contractor credential for the company and the Dwelling Contractor Qualifier credential for an individual.
Wyoming	State Fire Marshal public portal	Electrical licenses. Check the city or county for other trades.

When a State License Is Required: Dollar Thresholds

A license lookup only answers half the question. The other half is whether your job is big enough to need that license in the first place. These are the thresholds we confirmed at the board or in the statute. Read more in our guide to contractor license monetary limits.

State	When the state license or registration applies	Source
Alabama	General contractor work of $100,000 or more (raised from $50,000 by Act 2024-277, effective October 1, 2024).	Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors
Georgia	Residential or general contractor work over $2,500 in labor, materials or both.	O.C.G.A. Title 43, Chapter 41, as published by Fayetteville and Greene County, GA
Iowa	Contractor registration once you earn at least $2,000 a year from construction.	Iowa DIAL
Louisiana	Commercial work of $50,000 or more. New residential structures of $50,000 or more. Home improvement registration for jobs of at least $7,500 but less than $50,000.	La. R.S. 37:2150.1 and the LSLBC FAQ
Mississippi	Commercial work unless the contract is less than $50,000. New homes over $50,000. Remodeling an existing home over $10,000.	MSBOC commercial and residential laws
North Carolina	General contractor license when the undertaking costs $40,000 or more.	N.C.G.S. 87-1
North Dakota	Contractor license when the job exceeds $4,000.	ND Secretary of State, NDCC ch. 43-07
Tennessee	Contractor license before bidding projects of $25,000 or more.	Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors
Vermont	Residential contractor registration for homeowner contracts over $10,000, labor and materials included.	26 V.S.A. 5501

Trade licenses (electrical, plumbing, HVAC) usually apply at any job size, so a small repair can still need a licensed tradesperson even below a general contractor threshold.

States Without a Statewide General Contractor License

Several states leave general building licensure to cities and counties while still licensing some trades at the state level:

Colorado: no statewide general contractor license. Check the local building department. Electricians and plumbers are licensed through DORA's Division of Professions and Occupations.
Illinois: no statewide general contractor license. Check the municipality. Roofing contractors must hold a state roofing license from IDFPR.
New York: no statewide general contractor license. Check with the county or city. New York City runs its own Department of Buildings license search and a DCWP check for home improvement contractors.
Texas: no statewide general contractor license. Verify electricians and air conditioning contractors with TDLR, plumbers with the TSBPE, and check local city requirements.

In these states, the absence of a state record does not mean the contractor is unlicensed. It means you need to check the city or county too. Our state vs local licensing guide explains how to find the right office.

What to Look for on the License Record

License status

The license should show as Active, Current or In Good Standing. Any other status (Expired, Suspended, Revoked, Inactive) means the contractor is not legally authorized to perform the work.

License classification

Make sure the license covers the work being proposed. A general contractor license may not authorize electrical or plumbing work. In states like California, each trade classification is separate, and Virginia splits contractors into Class A, B and C.

The qualifier or responsible person

Many records name the individual whose experience and exam support the license. Nevada lets you search by the principal or qualifier name, and Louisiana by qualifying party. If that person has left the company, ask who holds the role now.

Insurance and bonding

Many state systems show whether the contractor has current liability insurance and a surety bond. If the information is not online, ask for certificates of insurance and verify them directly with the insurance company.

Complaint history

Some states show complaint and disciplinary history on the lookup itself. California's CSLB search includes complaint disclosure, and Delaware's DELPROS look up shows a discipline column. A complaint or two over a long career is not necessarily disqualifying, but patterns of complaints or recent disciplinary actions are serious red flags.

Workers' compensation

If the contractor has employees, they should carry workers' compensation insurance. Without it, you could be exposed for injuries that happen on your property.

How to Check Insurance and Bond Online

Washington's L&I Verify tool is a good model of what to look for anywhere. It shows whether a business has an active contractor registration and an active, paid to date workers' comp account covering its employees, plus safety or construction citations, lawsuits against the contractor's surety bond, and the names of the business owners. The data updates Monday through Friday by 5 a.m. Pacific time.

Where your state's lookup does not show insurance, do three things:

Ask for a certificate of insurance naming you as the certificate holder.
Call the insurance agency listed on the certificate to confirm the policy is active and the dates are right.
Ask for the bond number and confirm it with the surety company.

Red Flags That Should Stop You

Refuses to provide a license number. Walk away immediately.
License is expired or suspended. They are not authorized to work.
License type does not match the work. A painting contractor cannot do electrical work.
No insurance on file. You are taking on all the liability.
Multiple recent complaints. A pattern points to systemic problems.
Asks for full payment upfront. Licensed contractors understand progress billing.
No physical business address. Legitimate contractors have a real office or shop.
Pressure to skip permits. This is illegal and leaves you exposed.

What If Your Contractor Is Not Licensed?

If your search shows the contractor is not licensed, or does not hold the right type of license, do not hire them. The risks include:

No warranty protection on their work
Liability for injuries on your property
Building code violations that can affect your ability to sell
No recourse through the contractor licensing board
Permit and code problems that stay with the property and land on you as the owner, including possible penalties for unpermitted work

Our guide to working without a contractor license covers the penalties on the contractor's side.

For Contractors: Why the Qualifier Matters on Every Lookup

Look closely at these search tools and a pattern appears: the license rests on a qualified person, not just a company name. Nevada searches by qualifier, Louisiana by qualifying party, Wisconsin issues a Dwelling Contractor credential to the company and a separate Dwelling Contractor Qualifier credential to an individual, and Wyoming's electrical program uses a Master of Record acknowledgment. If your company has the crews and the work but not the person whose experience and exam the board requires, a customer's lookup will come up empty.

That is the problem The Licensing Company solves. Led by founders Marshall Schofield and Jeremiah Jaskulski, industry authorities on contractor licensing, we place a qualifying agent who qualifies your company as a full time W-2 employee who actually supervises the work, so your license, your record and your customers' searches all line up. Learn how it works on our hire a qualifying agent page.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I verify a contractor's license?

Get the license number and exact business name, then search it on the official lookup for the state where the work will be done (see the table above). Confirm the status is active, the classification matches your job, and insurance and bond are current. If the state has no license for that work, check the city or county.

Is there a national contractor license lookup?

No. Licensing is set by each state, and in some states by cities and counties, so there is no single national database. Use the state board's own lookup rather than a third party site, because the board's record is the one that counts.

How can I check if a contractor is licensed and insured online?

Search the license on the state lookup first. Some tools, like Washington's L&I Verify, show bond lawsuits and the workers' comp account directly. Elsewhere, ask for a certificate of insurance and confirm it with the insurer.

How do I look up a Missouri electrical license?

Missouri's statewide electrical contractor license is issued by the Office of Statewide Electrical Contractors within the Division of Professional Registration, and you can search it in the MOPRO license search. Check the city or county building department as well, since local permit and license rules can apply to the same job.

What is the NSCB license search?

It is the Nevada State Contractors Board's public search. You can search by license number, company name, or the name of a principal or qualified individual, so you can confirm who stands behind a Nevada license and not just the company name.

What happened to the IBOL license search in Idaho?

The Idaho Bureau of Occupational Licenses is now the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL), and the old ibol.idaho.gov address redirects there. Contractor registrations, public works licenses and trade licenses are all searched through DOPL's online services.

How do I do an HIC license lookup?

HIC means home improvement contractor. Pennsylvania's Attorney General, New Jersey's Division of Consumer Affairs, Connecticut's eLicense system, Massachusetts, Maryland's Home Improvement Commission and New York City's DCWP each run their own HIC lookup, linked in the table. In New Jersey, P.L.2023, c.237 created a new board and a future license, but its licensing sections do not start until six months after the board adopts its rules, so check the registration today.

Is "SC CSLB" the right search for South Carolina?

CSLB is California's Contractors State License Board. South Carolina's contractors are licensed by the Contractor's Licensing Board at the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, and its licensee lookup for contractors is on the llr.sc.gov/clb page.

How do I look up a Maryland HVAC license or a plumbing license in other states?

Maryland licenses HVACR contractors through its Board of Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors at labor.maryland.gov. For plumbing, use the board in the table: TSBPE in Texas, DORA in Colorado, the PLA in Indiana, DOPL in Idaho, and so on. For specialty work like trenchless sewer lining, confirm the contractor's plumbing or sewer license with the state board and confirm the permit with your local building department.

Sources

All retrieved 2026-09-26.

Talk to The Licensing Company

If you are a contractor and a customer's license search should be turning up your company but does not yet, we can help you get licensed in any state. Call 615-219-2110 to talk with our team, or start with our qualifying agent service. If you want a planning session first, schedule a strategy call.

How to Verify a Contractor License: Official Lookup for All 50 States