Where to Apply for Your Contractor License
Every U.S. state and D.C., with the official board that issues (or registers) a general/building contractor license — and a direct link to where you start your application. Some states have no statewide GC license; there, contractors are licensed locally or only specific trades are licensed at the state level.
⚠️ Licensing rules and application links change often. Always confirm the current requirements, thresholds, and forms directly with the state board before you apply.
Showing 51 of 51 jurisdictions
AL Alabama
Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors
Statewide licenseNASCLAStatewide GC license; commercial projects $50k+ require a license.
AK Alaska
Alaska Div. of Corporations, Business & Professional Licensing
Statewide licenseRegister as a construction contractor before bidding.
AZ Arizona
Arizona Registrar of Contractors (ROC)
Statewide licenseNASCLAApply by license classification (commercial / residential).
AR Arkansas
Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board
Statewide licenseNASCLACommercial license required for projects $50k+.
CA California
California Contractors State License Board (CSLB)
Statewide licenseNASCLAApply for the 'B' General Building classification.
CO Colorado
Colorado — regulated locally
Local / tradesNo statewide GC license; apply through the city/county. State licenses electrical & plumbing only.
CT Connecticut
Connecticut Dept. of Consumer Protection
RegistrationHome Improvement / New Home Construction registration; major state work uses DAS prequalification.
DE Delaware
Delaware One Stop (Business License)
RegistrationContractors need a state business license; some trades licensed separately.
DC District of Columbia
D.C. Dept. of Licensing & Consumer Protection (DLCP)
Statewide licenseGeneral Contractor / Construction Manager license via DLCP.
FL Florida
Florida DBPR — Construction Industry Licensing Board
Statewide licenseNASCLAApply for Certified General Contractor (statewide).
GA Georgia
Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential & General Contractors
Statewide licenseNASCLAGeneral Contractor license for projects over the state threshold.
HI Hawaii
Hawaii Contractors License Board (DCCA)
Statewide licenseApply for the 'B' General Building Contractor license.
ID Idaho
Idaho Div. of Occupational & Professional Licenses
RegistrationRegister as an Idaho contractor before performing work.
IL Illinois
Illinois — regulated locally
Local / tradesNo statewide GC license; apply through the municipality. State licenses roofing & plumbing.
IN Indiana
Indiana — regulated locally
Local / tradesNo statewide GC license; register with the city/county where you build.
IA Iowa
Iowa Dept. of Inspections, Appeals & Licensing (DIAL)
RegistrationRegister if you earn $2,000+/yr in construction.
KS Kansas
Kansas — regulated locally
Local / tradesNo statewide GC license; register with the local jurisdiction.
KY Kentucky
Kentucky — regulated locally / trades
Local / tradesNo statewide GC license; HVAC, electrical & plumbing licensed at the state level.
LA Louisiana
Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors
Statewide licenseNASCLACommercial license required for projects $50k+; residential $75k+.
ME Maine
Maine — no statewide GC license
Local / tradesNo statewide GC license; certain trades licensed. Check the local code office.
MD Maryland
Maryland Home Improvement Commission (MHIC)
Specialty onlyResidential home improvement licensing; commercial GC is not state-licensed.
MA Massachusetts
Massachusetts — Construction Supervisor License (CSL)
Statewide licenseCSL to supervise construction; separate Home Improvement Contractor registration.
MI Michigan
Michigan LARA — Residential Builders
Statewide licenseResidential Builder license; commercial GC is not state-licensed.
MN Minnesota
Minnesota Dept. of Labor & Industry
Statewide licenseResidential Building Contractor license.
MS Mississippi
Mississippi State Board of Contractors
Statewide licenseNASCLACommercial certificate for projects $50k+; residential separately.
MO Missouri
Missouri — regulated locally
Local / tradesNo statewide GC license; apply through the city/county.
MT Montana
Montana Dept. of Labor & Industry — Contractor Registration
RegistrationRegister if you have employees; independent-contractor exemption available.
NE Nebraska
Nebraska Dept. of Labor — Contractor Registration
RegistrationRegister as a contractor before bidding.
NV Nevada
Nevada State Contractors Board
Statewide licenseNASCLAApply by classification with a monetary limit / bond.
NH New Hampshire
New Hampshire — no statewide GC license
Local / tradesNo statewide GC license; specific trades licensed. Check the local code office.
NJ New Jersey
New Jersey Div. of Consumer Affairs — Home Improvement
RegistrationHome Improvement Contractor registration; commercial GC not state-licensed.
NM New Mexico
New Mexico Construction Industries Division (RLD)
Statewide licenseNASCLAApply for the GB-98 general building classification.
NY New York
New York — regulated locally
Local / tradesNo statewide GC license; NYC and many counties license/register locally.
NC North Carolina
North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors
Statewide licenseNASCLARequired for projects $40k+; apply by classification and limit.
ND North Dakota
North Dakota Secretary of State — Contractor License
Statewide licenseLicense required for work $4,000+; four classes by dollar limit.
OH Ohio
Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB)
Local / tradesState licenses commercial trades (HVAC, electrical, plumbing, etc.); GC is local.
OK Oklahoma
Oklahoma Construction Industries Board (CIB)
Local / tradesState licenses trades (electrical, plumbing, mechanical, roofing); GC is local.
OR Oregon
Oregon Construction Contractors Board (CCB)
Statewide licenseNASCLARegister as a residential or commercial contractor.
PA Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Attorney General — Home Improvement
RegistrationHome Improvement Contractor registration; commercial GC not state-licensed.
RI Rhode Island
Rhode Island Contractors' Registration & Licensing Board
RegistrationRegister as a contractor before performing work.
SC South Carolina
South Carolina Contractor's Licensing Board (LLR)
Statewide licenseNASCLAGeneral/Mechanical license for commercial projects $5k+.
SD South Dakota
South Dakota — no statewide GC license
Local / tradesNo statewide GC license; a state contractor's excise-tax license is required.
TN Tennessee
Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors
Statewide licenseNASCLALicense required for projects $25k+ before bidding.
TX Texas
Texas Dept. of Licensing & Regulation (TDLR)
Local / tradesNo statewide GC license; TDLR licenses electrical, HVAC & plumbing. GC is local.
UT Utah
Utah Div. of Professional Licensing (DOPL)
Statewide licenseNASCLAApply for the B-100 General Building Contractor license.
VT Vermont
Vermont — Residential Contractor Registration (OPR)
RegistrationRegister for residential work $10k+; no commercial GC license.
VA Virginia
Virginia DPOR — Board for Contractors
Statewide licenseNASCLAApply for Class A/B/C by project value; requires a licensed qualifier.
WA Washington
Washington Dept. of Labor & Industries
RegistrationRegister as a general or specialty contractor (bond + insurance).
WV West Virginia
West Virginia Division of Labor — Contractor Licensing Board
Statewide licenseNASCLALicense required for projects $2,500+.
WI Wisconsin
Wisconsin Dept. of Safety & Professional Services (DSPS)
Statewide licenseDwelling Contractor credential for one/two-family construction.
WY Wyoming
Wyoming — regulated locally
Local / tradesNo statewide GC license; apply through the city/county.