How to Check a Contractor's License in Indiana

Indiana does not have a statewide general contractor license. If you are hiring someone for a home renovation, addition, or remodel, there is no single state database where you can look them up. Indiana only licenses specific specialty trades at the state level and leaves general contracting regulation to cities and counties.

That means verifying a contractor in Indiana requires checking multiple sources depending on the type of work. This guide walks through which databases to search, how to use them, and what to do when your contractor does not appear in any of them.

Does Indiana require a contractor license?

Indiana does not require a statewide general contractor license. However, plumbers, electricians, and HVAC contractors must hold a state license through the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency (IPLA). General contractors, roofers, painters, and most remodelers are regulated locally — your city or county sets the rules, and requirements vary widely. According to the IPLA, over 30 licensed professions are regulated at the state level, but general contracting is not one of them.

Indiana takes a decentralized approach to contractor licensing. Here is how the system breaks down:

• General contractors - no state license required. Licensing and registration are handled entirely by local municipalities.
• Plumbers - licensed statewide through the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency (IPLA). Plumbers must pass an exam and maintain an active license.
• Electricians - licensed statewide through the IPLA. Indiana issues journeyman and contractor-level electrical licenses.
• HVAC contractors - licensed statewide through the IPLA. Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning work requires a state-issued license.
• Other regulated trades - manufactured home installers, home inspectors, and liquid waste haulers also require state licensing through various Indiana agencies.

The key point is that if your contractor is doing plumbing, electrical, or HVAC work, you can verify their credentials at the state level. For general contracting, roofing, painting, siding, and most remodeling work, you need to check with your local jurisdiction.

What is Indiana's contractor licensing database?

The Indiana Professional Licensing Agency (IPLA) runs the state's official license lookup at mylicense.in.gov. This database covers plumbers, electricians, and HVAC contractors licensed statewide. You can search by license number, name, business name, or license type. General contractors will not appear here — for those trades, contact your local building department to find out what city-level registrations apply.

The Indiana Professional Licensing Agency (IPLA) manages licensing for plumbers, electricians, and HVAC contractors. Their online lookup tool is free and available to the public.

Go to the IPLA License Verification page to get started. You can search by:

• License number - the fastest and most accurate search method if the contractor has provided their number
• Last name and first name - works for individual license holders
• Business name - use this when you know the company but not the individual doing the work
• License type - select the appropriate profession (plumbing, electrical, or HVAC) to narrow your results

When you pull up a record, check the license status, expiration date, and license type. A valid license should show as "Active" with an expiration date that extends beyond your expected project completion. If the status shows "Expired," "Revoked," or "Suspended," that contractor should not be performing licensed work.

What do the IPLA license search results tell me?

The IPLA results show the license status (must be "Active"), the specific license type, the expiration date, and any disciplinary history. Pay close attention to license type: a licensed plumber cannot legally do electrical work under their plumbing license. If the expiration date falls before your project ends, ask the contractor to renew before work begins. Disciplinary notes — complaints, suspensions, or enforcement actions — are also visible and worth reading carefully.

When you find a contractor in the IPLA system, pay attention to these details:

• License status- must be "Active." Any other status means the contractor is not currently authorized to perform that type of work.
• License type - make sure it matches the work being done. A licensed plumber cannot legally perform electrical work under their plumbing license.
• Expiration date - confirm the license will remain active through the expected duration of your project.
• Disciplinary actions - the IPLA tracks complaints and enforcement actions. If there are disciplinary notes, read them carefully before making a hiring decision.

How do I check a general contractor's license in Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, or other Indiana cities?

General contractors in Indiana are licensed at the city or county level, not by the state. Indianapolis requires contractor registration through the Department of Business and Neighborhood Services. Fort Wayne and Evansville have their own building department registration processes. Hamilton County suburbs like Carmel and Fishers each set their own rules. Contact your local building department directly to confirm what is required and to verify a specific contractor.

Since Indiana does not license general contractors at the state level, many cities and counties have stepped in with their own requirements. If your project involves general construction, remodeling, roofing, or other non-specialty work, your contractor may need a local license or registration.

Some of the larger jurisdictions with their own requirements:

• Indianapolis / Marion County - requires contractor registration through the Indianapolis Department of Business and Neighborhood Services. Contractors need to register before pulling permits for work within the city.
• Fort Wayne- has its own contractor registration process through the city's building department. Contractors doing work in Fort Wayne must register and meet local insurance requirements.
• Evansville- requires contractor licensing for various trades through the city building commissioner's office.
• South Bend- contractors must register with the city's code enforcement division before performing work.
• Carmel, Fishers, Noblesville - these Hamilton County suburbs each have their own contractor registration requirements that vary by trade and project type.

If you are not sure whether your city requires contractor registration, call your local building department. They can tell you what licenses or registrations are needed for your specific type of project.

What should I verify when there is no state license requirement?

When Indiana doesn't require a state license for a trade, shift your verification to insurance, bonding, and business registration. Request a Certificate of Insurance showing at least $500,000 in general liability coverage and call the insurer to confirm it's active. Verify workers' compensation coverage. Check the Indiana Secretary of State's business entity search to confirm the contractor is a registered business. Ask for references from three recent comparable projects and call them.

For general contractors and trades that Indiana does not license at the state level, you need to do more legwork to verify the person you are hiring is legitimate. Here is what to look for:

• General liability insurance - ask for a Certificate of Insurance (COI) showing at least $500,000 in general liability coverage. This protects you if the contractor damages your property or a third party is injured.
• Workers' compensation insurance- Indiana requires businesses with employees to carry workers' comp. If a contractor's employee gets hurt on your property without this coverage, you could be liable.
• Surety bond - some local jurisdictions in Indiana require contractors to be bonded. Even if not required, a bonded contractor provides an extra layer of financial protection.
• Better Business Bureau (BBB) - check the BBB website for complaints, reviews, and the contractor's rating. Pay attention to the pattern of complaints, not just the overall score.
• Indiana Secretary of State- verify the contractor's business is registered with the state. Search the Indiana Business Entity Search to confirm they are a legitimate, registered business.
• References - ask for at least three recent references from similar projects. Call them. Ask about timeline, budget, communication, and whether they would hire the contractor again.

How do I verify a contractor's insurance in Indiana?

Request a Certificate of Insurance (COI) directly from the contractor. Check that the coverage period extends through your entire project, including any buffer for delays. Then call the insurance company using the phone number printed on the certificate — not a number the contractor provides — to confirm the policy is active. For larger projects, ask to be added as an additional insured on the contractor's general liability policy.

Do not just take a contractor's word on insurance. Certificates of Insurance can be outdated or forged. Here is how to verify:

1. Request the COI directly. Any legitimate contractor should be able to provide a current Certificate of Insurance within a day or two.
2. Check the policy dates. Make sure the coverage period extends through your entire project timeline, including any buffer for delays.
3. Call the insurance company. Use the phone number on the certificate to call the insurer directly and confirm the policy is active. This is the only way to be sure.
4. Ask to be added as an additional insured.For larger projects, request that your name is added to the contractor's general liability policy as an additional insured. This gives you direct protection under their policy.

What if I can't find my Indiana contractor in any database?

If the contractor does general contracting, roofing, or painting, they won't be in the IPLA database — Indiana simply doesn't require a state license for those trades. Try the license under a different name (sole proprietors often register personally while doing business under a company name). If they claim a specialty trade license like plumbing or electrical and don't appear in the IPLA system, that is a serious red flag. Ask for their license number and search again, or call the IPLA directly to confirm.

If your search comes up empty, do not necessarily assume the worst. There are legitimate reasons a contractor might not appear in any database:

1. They do work that does not require a license. General contractors, roofers, painters, landscapers, and many remodeling contractors are not in the IPLA database because Indiana does not require a state license for those trades.
2. The license is under a different name. Sole proprietors often register under their personal name while doing business under a company name. Try searching both.
3. They are registered locally but not at the state level. A contractor might have a valid city registration but no state license, which is perfectly normal for general contracting work.
4. Spelling variations. Try partial name searches and different spellings. Online lookup tools can be sensitive to exact matches.

However, if a contractor claims to be a licensed plumber, electrician, or HVAC technician and does not appear in the IPLA database, that is a serious red flag. These are state-mandated credentials. A legitimate professional in these trades should be able to give you their license number on the spot.

Other warning signs to watch for:

• They refuse to provide a license number or give excuses about why it is not in the system
• They cannot produce proof of insurance or the certificate looks altered
• They want to skip permits to save you money or speed up the timeline
• They demand large upfront payments before any work begins, especially cash-only
• No physical business address - just a phone number and a truck

How do I file a complaint against a contractor in Indiana?

For licensed trades (plumbing, electrical, HVAC), file a complaint through the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency at in.gov/pla. The IPLA can fine, suspend, or revoke a contractor's license. For unlicensed contractors or local registration violations, file with your local building department. Consumer protection complaints go to the Indiana Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division. Small claims court handles disputes under $8,000 ($10,000 in Marion County).

If you have problems with a state-licensed contractor, you can file a complaint through the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency. The IPLA investigates complaints against licensed plumbers, electricians, and HVAC contractors and can take enforcement action including fines, suspension, or license revocation.

For unlicensed contractors or issues with locally registered contractors, your options include:

• Your local building department - if the contractor violated local registration requirements
• Indiana Attorney General - file a consumer complaint through the Consumer Protection Division
• Small claims court - for disputes under $8,000 in Indiana (or $10,000 in Marion County)

The bottom line

Checking a contractor's credentials in Indiana takes a few extra steps because the state does not have a single licensing system for all contractors. But the tools that exist are free and available online.

For plumbers, electricians, and HVAC contractors, search the IPLA License Verification. For general contractors and other trades, contact your local building department to find out what registrations are required in your area. For all contractors, verify insurance independently, check the BBB, and confirm they are a registered business with the Indiana Secretary of State.

Ask every contractor for their license number before signing anything. Look it up yourself. Confirm their insurance is active. It takes 15 minutes and can save you thousands of dollars and months of headaches.