Contractor License Requirements by State

Contractor licensing requirements vary significantly by state. Some states (like California and Florida) have strict statewide licensing. Others (like Texas and New York for GCs) operate primarily at the county or city level with minimal state requirements. Specialty trades — electrical, plumbing, HVAC — are almost always licensed at the state level regardless of GC rules.

States with statewide GC licensing

These states require general contractors to hold a statewide license before performing work above certain dollar thresholds: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin.

States with local/county GC licensing

Some states rely primarily on city or county-level licensing rather than a uniform statewide system: New York, Texas, Colorado, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Pennsylvania.

How to verify a license

Search your state's contractor licensing board website directly. Most have free online license lookup tools. Search for "[state name] contractor license lookup" to find your state's tool.

Specialty trade licensing

Even in states with minimal GC licensing, electrical contractors, plumbers, and HVAC mechanics are almost universally required to hold state-issued specialty licenses. Always verify specialty trade licenses separately.