State contractor and tradesmen licensing laws, and the agencies responsible for issuing and regulating these licensees, vary across the nation. In California, the California Contractors State License Board issues licenses to general engineering contractors, general building contractors and specialty classifications for trades that require a license, including, by way of example only, electrical, warm-air heating, ventilating & air-conditioning (aka HVAC or HVACR), and plumbing. In some states, plumbing, electrical, and HVAC trades are licensed and regulated by separate agencies. Others states only require contractors to register. In other states, municipalities issue and regulate any required contractor's licenses.
Below is a list of regulatory agencies across the nation that issue licenses (or require registration) with a link to their webpage(s) identifying the license classifications and trades subject to licensure (or registration). It does not identify all of the municipalities responsible for issuing and regulating contractors and tradesmen. It also does not include certification requirements, including for example, asbestos abatement certification, hazardous substance removal certification, electrician's certification, or lead-safety certification, or permit requirements. If you are aware of additional state contractor and tradesmen regulatory agencies, please email me and I will update the list.
Alabama Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors
- Alabama Board of Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Contractors Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development, Regulation of Construction Contractors
Arizona Registrar of Contractors
Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board
California Contractors State License Board
Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies
- City of Boulder Planning and Development Services Center
- City of Englewood Building Division
- Denver Community Planning and Development
- Electrical Board Apprentice Registration
- Electrical Board Electricians
- Electrical Board Registration Services, Electrical Contractors
- State Plumbing Board
Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection
- Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection Electrical
- Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection Heating, Cooling and Sheet Metal Work
- Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection Home Improvement Contractor
- Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection Major Contractor
- Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection Plumbing, Pipefitting and Well Drilling
Delaware Department of Finance: Division of Revenue
District of Columbia Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs
- District of Columbia Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs General Contractor/Construction Manager
- District of Columbia Board of Industrial Trades Plumbers, Electricians, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanics, Steam and Other Operating Engineers, Asbestos Workers, Elevator Mechanics, Elevator Inspectors
Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board
Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors
Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Professional & Vocational Licensing
Idaho Division of Building Safety
- Forms & Applications Electrical
- Forms & Applications HVAC
- Forms & Applications Manufactured Housing
- Forms & Applications Plumbing
- Forms & Applications Public Works Contractors
Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation (List of Professions Regulated)
- Aurora Contractor License Application (General Contractor, Sign Contractor, HVAC, Commercial Electrical, Residential Only Electrical, Roofing Contractor, Fire Suppression Contractor)
- Chicago License Classifications for General Contractors
- Cook County Government Contractor Registration
- County of Dupage Contractor Registration Information
- Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation Roofing
- Illinois Department of Public Health Plumbing Program
- Village of Orland Park Contractor Licenses
Indiana Department of Code Enforcement (The DCE is responsible for licensing persons and business organizations engaged in construction activity in the Consolidated City of Indianapolis, Marion County. The Consolidated City of Indianapolis does not include the excluded cities of Lawrence, Beech Grove, Speedway and Southport. Licensing for craft contractors in the fields of electrical, heating and air conditioning or refrigeration or high pressure steam (HVACR) and wrecking is at the discretion of the local municipality in the State of Indiana.)
Iowa Division of Labor Services (The State of Iowa requires that "construction contractors" register with the Iowa Division of Labor.)
- Iowa Department of Public Safety Electrical Licensing and Inspection Program
- Iowa Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board (The Iowa Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board was established to license those working in the plumbing, hydronic, HVAC and refrigeration fields. The Board also issues specialty licenses and medical gas piping installation certification.)
Kansas (Kansas does not issue Contractors License at the state level.)
- City of Lawrence Planning & Development Services
- City of Salina (Contractor Education, Testing & Licensing Tab)
- Johnson County Contractor Licensing (License Types Tab)
- Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction (Licenses Tab)
- Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction, Division of HVAC
- Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction, Division of Plumbing
- Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction, Electrical Division
- Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors
- Office of the Main Attorney General (Contractors Are Not Licensed)
- Maine Electricians' Examining Board
- Mechanical S.P. 54, 127th Maine Legislature, 1st Reg. Sess. 2015, Resolve, Directing the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation To Conduct a Sunrise Review of the Proposal To License Certain Mechanical Trades
- Plumber's Examining Board
- Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing
- Marylandy Home Improvement Commission
- Maryland Board of Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors
- Maryland State Board of Master Electricians
- Maryland Board of Plumbing
- Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, Consumer Protection & Business Licensing
- Construction Supervisor License
- Refrigeration
- Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs
- Electrical Division
- Mechanical Examination, Licensing Information and Applications
- Plumbing Division
- Minnesota Department of Labor & Industry
- Electrical Licensing and Continuing Education
- Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning (While there is no state license requirement for mechanical contractors, they are required to file a $25,000 mechanical contractor bond with Minnesota Department of Labor & Industry in order to contract to perform gas, heating, ventilation, cooling, air conditioning, fuel burning or refrigeration work in Minnesota.
- Plumbing
Mississippi State Board of Contractors
Missouri (Missouri does not issue Contractors License at the state level.)
- Electricians & Electrical Contractors (Certain cities third class may license and regulate--exceptions--examination and inspection requirements.)
- Independence Contractor License Renewal
- City of Kansas City Contractor Licensing & Certification Requirements
- Saint Louis County Licensing & Code Committees
- Montana Department of Labor & Industry
- Montana State Electrical Board
- Montana Board of Plumbers
Nebraska Department of Labor (Nebraska Contractor Registration Information)
State of New Hampshire Professional Licensing
New Jersey Department of Law & Public Safety, Division of Consumer Affairs (Licensed Professions and Occupations)
- Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors
- State Board of Examiners of Heating, Ventilating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVACR) Contractors
- Division of Consumer Affairs, Home Improvement Contractor
New Mexico Regulation & Licensing Department (Construction Industries & Manufactured Housing and Classifications)
North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors
- North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors
- North Dakota Secretary of State (Classifications)
- North Dakota State Electrical Board
- North Dakota State Plumbing Board (Sewer and Water and Water Conditioning)
OklahomaConstruction Industries Board
Oregon Construction Contractors Board
Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry, Contractor Licensing
- Home Improvement Contractor Registration
- Business Services, City of Philadelphia, Contractor's License
Rhode Island Contractors' Registration and Licensing Board
- Rhode Island Contractors' Registration and Licensing Board, Commercial Roofer
- Rhode Island Contractors' Registration and Licensing Board, Residential Contractors
- Rhode Island Contractors' Registration and Licensing Board, Underground Utility Contractor
South Carolina Contractors' Licensing Board (Classifications)
South Dakota (South Dakota certifies or licenses only asbestos abatement, electrical and plumbing contractors.)
- City of Rapid City Building Inspection Division, Contractor License Application
- City of Sioux Falls, Planning & Building Services, Becoming a Contractor
- City of Sioux Falls, Planning & Building Services, Becoming a Building Contractor
- City of Sioux Falls, Planning & Building Services, Becoming a Master Mechanical Contractor
- City of Sioux Falls, Planning & Building Services, Becoming a Master Plumber Contractor South Dakota Electrical Commission
- South Dakota Plumbing Commission
Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors
Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation
- Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors
- Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation, Electrician Licensing
- Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation, Water Well Drillers and Pump Installers
Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing (Classifications)
Vermont Government, Building and Construction
Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, Board for Contractors
Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (Register as a Contractor; Specialty Contractor Classifications)
West Virginia Division of Labor Contractor Licensing
- West Virginia Division of Labor Plumber Certification
- West Virginia Fire Commission, Office of the State Fire Marshal, Electrical Licensing
Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services, Trades Professions
Wyoming Association of Municipalities (The Wyoming Trades Certification Program offers state-wide testing in the areas of: Roofing, Concrete, Plumbing, Gas Pipe Fitting, Mechanical HVAC, Building Contracting, Residential Contracting and General Contracting, Framing, Drywall and Masonry and Electrical. Contractor licensing (except electrical) is not done by the State of Wyoming. Rather, the option to license contractors is deferred to the local jurisdiction where the construction activity is to take place.)
- City of Cheyenne Contractor License Information, Fees, and Applications
- City of Sheridan (The City of Sheridan requires all persons who engage in the business of contracting or subcontracting to be a duly licensed contractor with the City.)
- Cody, WY, Obtaining a Contractor's License
- Wyoming Department of Fire Prevention and Electrical Safety, Electrical Licenses and Applications
