Licensing is the one area with no single national answer — so this is a framework plus a state directory. The framework is true in every market; the directory points you to the right authority for yours.
A note on sources. Licensing has no federal authority — there is no federal contractor license. The authorities are each state licensing board and NASCLA. Treat the directory as a map to those authorities, not the final word.
The big picture: three layers, same everywhere
There is no federal contractor license. Requirements stack in up to three layers:
- State layer. Most states have a licensing board. Some license general contractors; some only trades; a few leave it to local government.
- Local layer. Cities and counties often add registration or permit rules on top — even where there's no statewide license.
- Trade layer. Electrical, plumbing, and HVAC are almost always separately state-licensed, even where general contracting isn't.
The vocabulary
- General vs. trade/specialty. A general license covers broad construction; a trade license covers one system.
- License vs. registration vs. certification. Different bars — a license usually means an exam and experience; a registration is often just signing up. Read what's required, not the label.
- The dollar threshold. Many states require a license only once a job crosses a set amount.
- Typical prerequisites. Exam, 2–5 years experience, proof of insurance, and a surety bond.
- Reciprocity. Some states honor the NASCLA Accredited Examination across state lines.
Don't memorize numbers — fees and thresholds change yearly. The skill is knowing which board to ask.
Your 6-step process for any market
- Classify your work (general / trade / home-improvement).
- Find your state board (directory below, or NASCLA).
- Check the state's dollar threshold.
- Check city and county rules on top.
- Confirm prerequisites: exam, experience, insurance, bond.
- Pull the license before advertising or bidding, then set a renewal reminder.
State directory (50 states + DC)
A structural map, not a rulebook: whether a state licenses contractors and which agency to ask. The status column is indicative — categories blur, and many "Trades / home-improvement" and "Local only" states still register residential contractors. Confirm with the board.
| State | Statewide license? | Primary agency to check |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Yes | Licensing Board for General Contractors |
| Alaska | Yes | Div. of Corporations, Business & Professional Licensing |
| Arizona | Yes | Registrar of Contractors (ROC) |
| Arkansas | Yes | Contractors Licensing Board |
| California | Yes | Contractors State License Board (CSLB) |
| Colorado | Local only | Local jurisdictions (state licenses electrical/plumbing) |
| Connecticut | Trades / home-improvement | Dept. of Consumer Protection |
| Delaware | Local only | Div. of Revenue business license (local + trades) |
| Florida | Yes | DBPR — Construction Industry Licensing Board |
| Georgia | Yes | State Licensing Board for Residential & General Contractors |
| Hawaii | Yes | DCCA — Contractors License Board |
| Idaho | Trades / home-improvement | Div. of Occupational & Professional Licenses |
| Illinois | Local only | Local jurisdictions (state licenses plumbing) |
| Indiana | Local only | Local jurisdictions |
| Iowa | Yes | Div. of Labor — Contractor Registration |
| Kansas | Local only | Local jurisdictions |
| Kentucky | Trades / home-improvement | Dept. of Housing, Buildings & Construction |
| Louisiana | Yes | State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC) |
| Maine | Local only | Local jurisdictions |
| Maryland | Yes | Home Improvement Commission |
| Massachusetts | Yes | Office of Public Safety & Inspections |
| Michigan | Yes | LARA — residential builder license |
| Minnesota | Yes | Dept. of Labor & Industry |
| Mississippi | Yes | State Board of Contractors |
| Missouri | Local only | Local jurisdictions |
| Montana | Yes | Dept. of Labor & Industry — Contractor Registration |
| Nebraska | Yes | Dept. of Labor — Contractor Registration |
| Nevada | Yes | State Contractors Board (NSCB) |
| New Hampshire | Local only | Local jurisdictions (state licenses trades) |
| New Jersey | Trades / home-improvement | Div. of Consumer Affairs |
| New Mexico | Yes | Construction Industries Division |
| New York | Local only | Local jurisdictions (e.g., NYC DCWP) |
| North Carolina | Yes | Licensing Board for General Contractors |
| North Dakota | Yes | Secretary of State — contractor license |
| Ohio | Trades / home-improvement | Construction Industry Licensing Board (trades) |
| Oklahoma | Trades / home-improvement | State licenses trades |
| Oregon | Yes | Construction Contractors Board (CCB) |
| Pennsylvania | Trades / home-improvement | Attorney General — Home Improvement registration |
| Rhode Island | Yes | Contractors' Registration & Licensing Board |
| South Carolina | Yes | LLR — Contractor's Licensing Board |
| South Dakota | Local only | Local jurisdictions |
| Tennessee | Yes | Board for Licensing Contractors |
| Texas | Local only | Local jurisdictions (trades via TDLR) |
| Utah | Yes | Div. of Professional Licensing (DOPL) |
| Vermont | Yes | Office of Professional Regulation |
| Virginia | Yes | DPOR — Board for Contractors |
| Washington | Yes | Dept. of Labor & Industries |
| West Virginia | Yes | Contractor Licensing Board |
| Wisconsin | Yes | DSPS — Dwelling Contractor certification |
| Wyoming | Local only | Local jurisdictions |
| Washington, D.C. | Yes | Dept. of Licensing & Consumer Protection |
How to use the directory
- It shows structure, not current rules — fees, thresholds, and bond amounts change yearly; look those up on the board's site.
- "Local only" never means "no rules" — it means check your city or county.
- The categories blur — the board is the authority, not this column.
- Master lookup: the NASCLA directory covers all 50 states, DC, Guam, and the Virgin Islands: nascla.org. For the federal, generic overview: sba.gov.
Quick-start checklist
- Classify your work (general / trade / home-improvement)
- Look up your state board (directory above or NASCLA)
- Check the state's dollar threshold
- Check city and county rules on top of the state
- Confirm prerequisites: exam, experience, insurance, bond
- Pull the license before advertising or bidding
- Set a renewal reminder so it never lapses mid-job