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Contractor license lookup by state

Before a sub starts work, look their license up on the state's own website. A license number on a bid or a photo of a card shows what was true once; the official lookup is where you check that the license is real and still active today.

Rules vary by state, and often by city or county too. Some states license general contractors statewide, some license only certain work (such as residential jobs or specialty trades), some only require contractors to register, and some leave licensing to local governments. Pick a state for its licensing agency, the official lookup, what the state licenses, and a short checklist for verifying a sub.

51 of 51 shown

  • Alabama
    Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors
    statewide general contractor license source
  • Alaska
    Alaska Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing (Dept. of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development)
    statewide registration (not a competency license) source
  • Arizona
    Arizona Registrar of Contractors (ROC)
    statewide general contractor license source
  • Arkansas
    Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board (Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing)
    statewide general contractor license source
  • California
    Contractors State License Board (CSLB)
    statewide general contractor license source
  • Colorado
    Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), Division of Professions and Occupations
    statewide license for some work (e.g. residential, or specialty trades) source
  • Connecticut
    Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection
    statewide registration (not a competency license) source
  • Delaware
    Delaware Department of Labor, Division of Industrial Affairs (Office of Contractor Registration)
    statewide registration (not a competency license) source
  • District of Columbia
    DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP)
    statewide general contractor license source
  • Florida
    Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), Construction Industry Licensing Board
    statewide general contractor license source
  • Georgia
    Georgia Secretary of State, State Licensing Board for Residential and Commercial General Contractors
    statewide general contractor license source
  • Hawaii
    Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA), Contractors License Board
    statewide general contractor license source
  • Idaho
    Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL), Idaho Contractors Board
    statewide registration (not a competency license) source
  • Illinois
    Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR)
    statewide license for some work (e.g. residential, or specialty trades) source
  • Indiana
    Indiana Professional Licensing Agency (Indiana Plumbing Commission)
    statewide license for some work (e.g. residential, or specialty trades) source
  • Iowa
    Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing (DIAL)
    statewide registration (not a competency license) source
  • Kansas
    No statewide agency; licensing is local
    no statewide general contractor license (local licensing) source
  • Kentucky
    Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction (DHBC)
    statewide license for some work (e.g. residential, or specialty trades) source
  • Louisiana
    Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC)
    statewide general contractor license source
  • Maine
    Maine Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation (trades only)
    no statewide general contractor license (local licensing) source
  • Maryland
    Maryland Department of Labor, Maryland Home Improvement Commission (MHIC)
    statewide license for some work (e.g. residential, or specialty trades) source
  • Massachusetts
    Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation (OCABR), Home Improvement Contractor Program
    statewide license for some work (e.g. residential, or specialty trades) source
  • Michigan
    Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Bureau of Construction Codes
    statewide license for some work (e.g. residential, or specialty trades) source
  • Minnesota
    Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI)
    statewide license for some work (e.g. residential, or specialty trades) source
  • Mississippi
    Mississippi State Board of Contractors
    statewide general contractor license source
  • Missouri
    We haven't verified this state yet.
  • Montana
    Montana Department of Labor & Industry
    statewide general contractor license source
  • Nebraska
    Nebraska Department of Labor, Contractor Registration
    statewide registration (not a competency license) source
  • Nevada
    Nevada State Contractors Board
    statewide general contractor license source
  • New Hampshire
    New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC), trades only
    no statewide general contractor license (local licensing) source
  • New Jersey
    New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs (Home Improvement Contractor registration; State Board of Home Improvement and Home Elevation Contractors)
    statewide registration (not a competency license) source
  • New Mexico
    We haven't verified this state yet.
  • New York
    No statewide agency; licensing is local
    no statewide general contractor license (local licensing) source
  • North Carolina
    North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors
    statewide general contractor license source
  • North Dakota
    North Dakota Secretary of State, Contractor Licensing
    statewide general contractor license source
  • Ohio
    Ohio Department of Commerce, Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB)
    statewide license for some work (e.g. residential, or specialty trades) source
  • Oklahoma
    Oklahoma Construction Industries Board (CIB)
    statewide license for some work (e.g. residential, or specialty trades) source
  • Oregon
    Oregon Construction Contractors Board (CCB)
    statewide general contractor license source
  • Pennsylvania
    Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Home Improvement Contractor Registration
    statewide registration (not a competency license) source
  • Rhode Island
    Rhode Island Contractors' Registration and Licensing Board (CRLB)
    statewide registration (not a competency license) source
  • South Carolina
    South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR), Contractors' Licensing Board and Residential Builders Commission
    statewide general contractor license source
  • South Dakota
    South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation (Plumbing Commission); Department of Revenue issues the contractor's excise tax license
    statewide license for some work (e.g. residential, or specialty trades) source
  • Tennessee
    Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (Dept. of Commerce and Insurance)
    statewide general contractor license source
  • Texas
    Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR)
    statewide license for some work (e.g. residential, or specialty trades) source
  • Utah
    Utah Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL)
    statewide general contractor license source
  • Vermont
    Vermont Secretary of State, Office of Professional Regulation (OPR)
    statewide registration (not a competency license) source
  • Virginia
    Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR), Board for Contractors
    statewide general contractor license source
  • Washington
    Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I)
    statewide registration (not a competency license) source
  • West Virginia
    West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board (WV Division of Labor)
    statewide general contractor license source
  • Wisconsin
    Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS)
    statewide license for some work (e.g. residential, or specialty trades) source
  • Wyoming
    No statewide agency; licensing is local
    no statewide general contractor license (local licensing) source

Agencies, lookup links and summaries checked on Nov 5, 2026. Each state's page links to the official page we read. A "source" link next to a licensing level goes to that page.

Track your subs' license expiry dates

GreenlightSubs keeps each sub's contractor license and its expiry date on file, next to their certificates of insurance and W-9. Before a license expires, the sub gets an email with a no-login link to upload the renewed one, and you review and approve it. Free for up to 5 vendors, no card.

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Not legal advice. This page is general information to help you find the right place to check a license. Licensing rules change, and cities and counties can have their own requirements, so always confirm with the licensing agency. If something here is wrong or out of date, email us and we'll fix it.