How to Check a Contractor's License in New Hampshire

New Hampshire does not require a statewide general contractor license. If you are hiring someone for a home renovation, deck build, or kitchen remodel, there is no single state database where you can look up their credentials. The Granite State only licenses specific specialty trades at the state level and leaves general contracting regulation almost entirely to local municipalities.

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

How does contractor licensing actually work in New Hampshire?

New Hampshire takes one of the most hands-off approaches to contractor licensing in the country. General contractors need no state license, exam, or registration. Electricians, plumbers, and gas fitters are licensed through the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC). HVAC contractors have no state license requirement, though gas-related HVAC work falls under gas fitter licensing. Most New Hampshire towns also do not require a separate local general contractor license, relying instead on building permits to regulate construction quality.

New Hampshire takes one of the most hands-off approaches to contractor licensing in the country. Here is how the system breaks down:

• General contractors - no state license required. There is no state-level registration, exam, or credential for general contracting work. Most cities and towns in New Hampshire also do not require a local general contractor license.
• Electricians - licensed statewide through the New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC). An active license is required to work with 30 volts or higher. The state issues apprentice, journeyman, medium voltage, and master electrician licenses.
• Plumbers - licensed statewide through the OPLC. Apprentice plumbers must complete a minimum of 3,000 hours of on-the-job training and pass an exam to become eligible for a journeyman license.
• Gas fitters - licensed through the OPLC under the Mechanical Board. Gas fitting work requires a valid state license.
• HVAC contractors - New Hampshire does not require a state license for general HVAC work, though gas-related HVAC work falls under gas fitter licensing.
• Other regulated trades - asbestos abatement and lead abatement contractors require state licensing through specific regulatory programs.

The key takeaway is that if your contractor is doing electrical, plumbing, or gas fitting work, you can verify their credentials at the state level. For general contracting, roofing, painting, siding, and most remodeling work, there is no state database to check.

How do I search the New Hampshire OPLC license lookup?

Go to the OPLC License Lookup and select the profession type (electrician, plumber, or gas fitter), then search by name or license number. The results show license status, type and level, expiration date, and any disciplinary actions. Use the separate License Verification page when you need official confirmation for a contract or project.

The New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) manages licensing for electricians, plumbers, and gas fitters. Their online lookup tool is free and available to the public.

Go to the OPLC License Lookup page to get started. You can search by:

• Profession type - select the appropriate trade (electrician, plumber, gas fitter) to narrow your search
• Contractor's name- search by the individual's first or last name
• License number - the fastest and most accurate search method if the contractor has provided their number
• License type - distinguish between apprentice, journeyman, and master-level credentials

The OPLC also provides a separate License Verification page for formal verification requests. Use the standard lookup for quick checks and the verification page when you need official confirmation for a project or contract.

What do the OPLC search results actually tell me?

OPLC results show four critical pieces of information: license status (must show as active), license type and level (a journeyman electrician cannot legally do master electrician work), expiration date (confirm it covers your full project timeline), and any disciplinary actions on record. If the status is anything other than active, the contractor is not currently authorized to perform that type of work in New Hampshire.

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

• License status - must show as active. Any other status means the contractor is not currently authorized to perform that type of work in New Hampshire.
• License type and level - make sure it matches the work being done. A journeyman electrician has different scope than a master electrician. 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, including buffer time for delays.
• Disciplinary actions - the OPLC tracks complaints and enforcement actions against licensed professionals. If there are disciplinary notes on a record, read them carefully before making a hiring decision.

Does my New Hampshire city or town require contractors to register?

Most New Hampshire municipalities rely on building permits rather than contractor licensing, so a separate local contractor license is typically not required. However, requirements vary by town. Contact your local building department directly to confirm what permits are needed and whether your municipality has any contractor registration requirements. Larger cities like Manchester, Nashua, and Concord are more likely to have additional rules than smaller rural towns.

Since New Hampshire does not license general contractors at the state level, some municipalities have their own requirements. However, most New Hampshire towns and cities rely on permitting rather than contractor licensing. In practical terms, this means your contractor needs to pull the right building permits for a project, but may not need a separate local contractor license.

That said, requirements vary by municipality. Here is how to check what applies in your area:

• Contact your local building department- call or visit the building inspector's office in the town where the work will be performed. They can tell you what permits are needed and whether contractors must meet any local registration requirements.
• Check permit requirements - even without a licensing requirement, most towns in New Hampshire require building permits for structural work, electrical work, plumbing work, and significant renovations. Your contractor should be pulling these permits.
• Larger cities may have more rules - cities like Manchester, Nashua, and Concord are more likely to have specific contractor requirements than smaller rural towns. Always check with the municipality directly.

If your contractor tells you permits are not needed for a major renovation, that should raise a red flag. Most structural, electrical, and plumbing work in New Hampshire requires a permit regardless of whether the town licenses contractors.

How do I verify a New Hampshire contractor's business registration?

Go to the NH QuickStart Business Lookup and search by company name or business ID. A legitimate contractor should appear as an active, registered entity with a real principal office address. If a contractor gives you a company name that does not appear in the Secretary of State database, treat it as a serious concern. This search is free and does not require an account.

While New Hampshire does not license general contractors, every business operating in the state must register with the New Hampshire Secretary of State's office. You can verify this registration for free.

Go to the NH QuickStart Business Lookup and search by the contractor's business name or business ID. A legitimate contractor should appear as an active, registered entity. This search is free and does not require an account.

A business registration search tells you:

• Whether the business exists - if a contractor gives you a company name that does not appear in the Secretary of State database, that is a concern
• The business status - look for an active status. An inactive or dissolved business could indicate problems.
• Principal office address - a legitimate business should have a real address on file
• Registered agent information - this is the person designated to receive legal documents on behalf of the business

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

For unlicensed trades in New Hampshire, verify general liability insurance (ask for a Certificate of Insurance showing at least $500,000 in coverage), workers' compensation (required for businesses with one or more employees), and optionally a surety bond for larger projects. Check the Better Business Bureau for complaint patterns, confirm Secretary of State registration, and call at least three references from similar projects.

For general contractors and trades that New Hampshire 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 on the job site.
• Workers' compensation insurance- New Hampshire requires businesses with one or more employees to carry workers' comp insurance. If a contractor's employee gets hurt on your property without this coverage, you could be held liable.
• Surety bond - while not universally required in New Hampshire, a bonded contractor provides an extra layer of financial protection if they fail to complete the work or do not meet contract terms.
• Better Business Bureau (BBB) - check the BBB website for complaints, reviews, and the contractor's rating. Pay attention to the pattern of complaints rather than just the overall score.
• Secretary of State registration- verify the contractor's business is registered through the NH QuickStart Business Lookup.
• 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 New Hampshire?

Do not rely on a certificate alone — certificates can be outdated or forged. Request the COI directly, check that the policy dates cover your full project timeline, then call the insurance company at the number listed on the certificate to confirm the policy is active. For larger projects, ask to be added as an additional insured on the contractor's general liability policy, which gives you direct protection under their coverage.

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 reliable way to verify coverage.
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 the contractor in any New Hampshire database?

For general contractors, roofers, painters, and most remodeling trades, absence from the OPLC database is expected — New Hampshire does not require state licenses for those trades. Try searching the Secretary of State database under both the business name and the owner's personal name. However, if a contractor claims to be a licensed electrician, plumber, or gas fitter and does not appear in the OPLC system, that is a serious red flag. Any legitimate professional in those trades should provide their license number on the spot.

If your search comes up empty across all the databases mentioned above, do not necessarily assume the worst. There are legitimate reasons a contractor might not appear:

1. They do work that does not require a license. General contractors, roofers, painters, landscapers, and most remodeling contractors are not in the OPLC database because New Hampshire does not require a state license for those trades.
2. The business is under a different name. Sole proprietors often register under their personal name while doing business under a company name. Try searching both the individual and business name.
3. They are a sole proprietor. In New Hampshire, sole proprietors operating under their legal name may not need to register a separate business name with the Secretary of State.
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 electrician, plumber, or gas fitter and does not appear in the OPLC 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 or outdated
• 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 vehicle

How do I file a complaint against a contractor in New Hampshire?

For licensed electricians, plumbers, or gas fitters, file a complaint through the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification, which can impose fines, suspend, or revoke licenses. For general contractors or disputes involving fraud or deceptive practices, file with the New Hampshire Attorney General's Consumer Protection Bureau. Small claims court handles disputes up to $10,000 in New Hampshire.

If you have problems with a state-licensed contractor, you can file a complaint through the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification. The OPLC investigates complaints against licensed electricians, plumbers, and gas fitters and can take enforcement action including fines, suspension, or license revocation.

For unlicensed contractors or issues with general contractors, your options include:

• Your local building department - if the contractor performed work without required permits or violated local codes
• New Hampshire Attorney General - file a consumer complaint through the Consumer Protection Bureau for issues involving fraud, deceptive business practices, or contract violations
• Small claims court - for disputes under $10,000 in New Hampshire

The bottom line

Checking a contractor's credentials in New Hampshire takes extra effort because the state does not have a centralized licensing system for general contractors. But the tools that exist are free and available online.

For electricians, plumbers, and gas fitters, search the OPLC License Lookup. For general contractors and other trades, verify their business registration through the NH QuickStart Business Lookup, confirm insurance independently, check the BBB, and contact your local building department to confirm permit requirements.

The lack of a statewide general contractor license in New Hampshire means the responsibility falls on you to do your due diligence. Ask for license numbers, insurance certificates, and references before signing anything. Look them up yourself. It takes 15 minutes and can save you thousands of dollars and months of frustration.