How do I look up a contractor's license?

Every state has a public contractor license database you can search for free. Go to your state's licensing board website and search by the contractor's name, business name, or license number. Always verify directly on the state website — not just from a certificate the contractor provides. CheckLicensed.com aggregates these state databases so you can verify in one place.

What should I check when I look up a contractor's license?

Confirm four things: the license status is Active (not expired or suspended), the license type covers the work you're hiring for, the expiration date is in the future, and there are no disciplinary actions or complaints on file. A license that was valid at some point in the past is not the same as a currently active license.

Can I hire a contractor without a license?

In most states, hiring an unlicensed contractor for work above the state's minimum threshold violates state law and voids homeowner's insurance coverage for related damage. Unlicensed work also often fails inspection, creating problems for future home sales. Always verify the license before signing any contract or making any payment.

Contractor License Lookup: How to Verify Any Contractor in All 50 States

Hiring an unlicensed contractor is one of the most common and costly mistakes homeowners make. According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, contractor fraud costs Americans over $1 billion annually. A simple license lookup before you sign anything can protect your home, your wallet, and your legal rights.

This guide covers exactly what a contractor license lookup is, how to do it in every state, and what to look for once you pull up the record.

What is a contractor license lookup?

A contractor license lookup is a search against your state's licensing board database to confirm that a contractor holds a valid, active license. Most state boards maintain a public online database where you can search by name, business name, or license number. The search is free and takes under two minutes.

Licensing requirements vary significantly by state. Some states license all contractors at the state level. Others leave licensing to counties or cities. A few states have no statewide residential contractor licensing at all.

Why does verifying a contractor license matter?

An active license means the contractor has met your state's education, examination, and insurance requirements. It also means there's a paper trail if something goes wrong. You can file a complaint with the licensing board, and many boards have recovery funds to compensate homeowners harmed by licensed contractors.

If a contractor is unlicensed and something goes wrong — structural damage, code violations, personal injury — you have almost no legal recourse. Your homeowner's insurance may also deny claims related to unpermitted or unlicensed work.

How do you look up a contractor license by state?

Each state has its own licensing board and lookup tool. Below is the complete list of all 50 states plus Washington D.C., with the licensing authority and official lookup URL for each.

Alabama — Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors: albgc.org

Alaska — Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing (DCBPL): corporations.alaska.gov

Arizona — Arizona Registrar of Contractors (ARC): roc.az.gov

Arkansas — Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board (ACLB): aclb.arkansas.gov

California — Contractors State License Board (CSLB): cslb.ca.gov

Colorado — Colorado DORA (check local municipalities for general contractor licensing): dora.colorado.gov

Connecticut — Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection: elicense.ct.gov

Delaware — Delaware Consumer Protection Unit (Home Improvement Contractor): dedo.delaware.gov

Florida — Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR): myfloridalicense.com/wl11.asp

Georgia — Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors: sos.ga.gov/plb/rclb

Hawaii — Hawaii DCCA Professional & Vocational Licensing: cca.hawaii.gov/pvl

Idaho — Idaho Division of Building Safety (contractor registration): dbs.idaho.gov

Illinois — No statewide general contractor license; check IDFPR for specialty trades and local municipalities.

Indiana — Indiana Professional Licensing Agency: pla.in.gov

Iowa — Iowa Division of Labor (contractor registration): iowadivisionoflabor.gov

Kansas — No statewide license for general contractors; check local jurisdictions.

Kentucky — Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction (HBC): dhbc.ky.gov

Louisiana — Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC): lslbc.louisiana.gov

Maine — Maine Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation (OPOR): pfr.maine.gov

Maryland — Maryland Home Improvement Commission (MHIC): dllr.state.md.us/license/hic.shtml

Massachusetts — Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation (HIC registration): mass.gov

Michigan — Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA): lara.michigan.gov

Minnesota — Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry: dli.mn.gov

Mississippi — Mississippi Board of Contractors (MSBC): msboc.us

Missouri — No statewide general contractor license; check local jurisdictions.

Montana — Montana Department of Labor & Industry: erd.dli.mt.gov

Nebraska — Nebraska Department of Labor (contractor registration): dol.nebraska.gov

Nevada — Nevada State Contractors Board (NSCB): nscb.nv.gov

New Hampshire — New Hampshire OPLC (Home Improvement Contractor registration): nh.gov/oplc

New Jersey — New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs (Home Improvement Contractor): njconsumeraffairs.gov/hic

New Mexico — New Mexico RLD Construction Industries Division: rld.nm.gov/construction-industries

New York — Primarily local licensing; NYC uses NYC Department of Buildings: dos.ny.gov

North Carolina — North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors: nclbgc.org

North Dakota — No statewide general contractor license; check Secretary of State and local jurisdictions.

Ohio — Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB): com.ohio.gov

Oklahoma — Oklahoma Construction Industries Board (CIB): cib.ok.gov

Oregon — Oregon Construction Contractors Board (CCB): ccb.oregon.gov

Pennsylvania — Pennsylvania Attorney General Home Improvement Contractor registration: attorneygeneral.gov

Rhode Island — Rhode Island Contractors' Registration and Licensing Board (CRLB): crb.ri.gov

South Carolina — South Carolina Contractor's Licensing Board: llr.sc.gov/clb

South Dakota — South Dakota Contractors Board: sdboc.sd.gov

Tennessee — Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors: tn.gov/commerce/regboards/contractors

Texas — No statewide general contractor license; specialty trades licensed through TDLR: tdlr.texas.gov

Utah — Utah Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL): dopl.utah.gov

Vermont — Vermont Office of Professional Regulation (OPR): sec.vermont.gov/professional-regulation

Virginia — Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR): dpor.virginia.gov

Washington — Washington Labor & Industries: lni.wa.gov/verify-contractors-electricians

Washington D.C. — DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP): mylicense.eglc.dc.gov

West Virginia — West Virginia Division of Labor: labor.wv.gov

Wisconsin — Wisconsin DSPS: dsps.wi.gov

Wyoming — No statewide general contractor license; check local county and city requirements.

What should you check once you find the license?

Finding a license number is only the first step. There are five things to verify on every contractor record before you hire.

First, confirm the license status is "Active." Expired or suspended licenses offer no protection. Second, check the license type matches your project — a roofing license does not cover electrical work. Third, review any disciplinary actions or complaints on file. Fourth, confirm the insurance and bond information is current. Fifth, make sure the name on the license matches the name on your contract.

What should you do if you can't find the contractor?

If a search returns no results, don't assume you typed the name wrong. Ask the contractor for their exact license number, then search by that number directly. Some contractors operate under a business name that differs from the licensed entity name.

If the contractor still can't produce a verifiable license, treat that as a serious red flag. Get at least two other bids from licensed contractors. In states where licensing is required for your project type, hiring an unlicensed contractor may also be illegal and could void your homeowner's insurance coverage.

What states don't require a general contractor license?

Several states — including Texas, Kansas, Missouri, Wyoming, and Illinois — have no statewide general contractor license. This doesn't mean anyone can work without accountability. In these states, specialty trades (electricians, plumbers, HVAC) are still licensed, local jurisdictions often have their own requirements, and building permits are still required for most significant work.

In states without a general contractor license, focus your verification on specialty trade licenses for any electrical, plumbing, or HVAC work included in the project, and confirm the contractor holds a valid business registration in the state.

How does CheckLicensed.com make this easier?

Visiting 50 different state websites — each with its own search interface, terminology, and data format — takes time most homeowners don't have. CheckLicensed.com aggregates license verification across all states into a single search. You enter the contractor's name or license number and get a clear, plain-English result: licensed, expired, or not found.

CheckLicensed.com also surfaces bond status, insurance verification, and complaint history where available, so you get the complete picture in one place. Whether you're hiring a general contractor for a full renovation or a specialty trade for a single job, CheckLicensed.com takes the guesswork out of verification for just $0.99 per check.