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Contractor license lookup

Iowa contractor license lookup

Where to check a contractor's license in Iowa, what the state licenses, and what to look for before a sub starts work.

Licensing agency
Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing (DIAL)
Licensing level
statewide registration (not a competency license)

We couldn't confirm an online lookup; contact the agency: dial.iowa.gov.

What's licensed in Iowa

Iowa requires construction contractors earning $2,000 or more a year from construction to register with DIAL; plumbing and mechanical contractors need a separate license.

Source: dial.iowa.gov · Checked on

How to verify a sub's license

  1. Search the exact business name the sub uses on your contract, LLC or Inc. included, or the license number they gave you.
  2. Check that the status is active, not expired, suspended or inactive.
  3. Check that the classification matches the work you're hiring them for.
  4. Check the expiry date, and note it so you can ask for the renewal in time.
  5. Local licenses may apply too. The city or county where the job is can have its own requirements.

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 If something here is wrong or out of date, email us and we'll fix it.