Contractor Licensing by State
State licensing requirements, oversight bodies, and top contractor issues for all 50 states.
Alabama
AL
State Licensed
Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors
Avg project: $28,000
Alaska
AK
State Licensed
Alaska Department of Commerce, Division of Corporations
Avg project: $48,000
Arizona
AZ
State Licensed
Arizona Registrar of Contractors (ROC)
Avg project: $32,000
Arkansas
AR
State Licensed
Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board
Avg project: $24,000
California
CA
State Licensed
California Contractors State License Board (CSLB)
Avg project: $52,000
Colorado
CO
Local Only
City/county level only — Denver, Aurora, etc. have local licensing
Avg project: $38,000
Connecticut
CT
State Licensed
Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection
Avg project: $42,000
Delaware
DE
State Licensed
Delaware Division of Revenue (home improvement registration)
Avg project: $34,000
Florida
FL
State Licensed
Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR)
Avg project: $36,000
Georgia
GA
State Licensed
Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors
Avg project: $31,000
Hawaii
HI
State Licensed
Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA)
Avg project: $65,000
Idaho
ID
State Licensed
Idaho Division of Building Safety
Avg project: $29,000
Illinois
IL
Local Only
Local licensing only (Chicago requires registration; other municipalities vary)
Avg project: $39,000
Indiana
IN
Local Only
No statewide license — local jurisdictions regulate
Avg project: $27,000
Iowa
IA
Local Only
No statewide license — electrical and plumbing licensed separately
Avg project: $26,000
Kansas
KS
Local Only
No statewide license — local municipalities regulate
Avg project: $27,000
Kentucky
KY
State Licensed
Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings & Construction
Avg project: $27,000
Louisiana
LA
State Licensed
Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors
Avg project: $33,000
Maine
ME
Local Only
No statewide license for general contractors
Avg project: $35,000
Maryland
MD
State Licensed
Maryland Home Improvement Commission (MHIC)
Avg project: $42,000
Massachusetts
MA
State Licensed
Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation (OCABR)
Avg project: $48,000
Michigan
MI
State Licensed
Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA)
Avg project: $33,000
Minnesota
MN
State Licensed
Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry
Avg project: $38,000
Mississippi
MS
State Licensed
Mississippi State Board of Contractors
Avg project: $25,000
Missouri
MO
Local Only
No statewide license — local municipalities regulate
Avg project: $31,000
Montana
MT
Local Only
No statewide general contractor license
Avg project: $35,000
Nebraska
NE
Local Only
No statewide license — Omaha and Lincoln have local registration
Avg project: $27,000
Nevada
NV
State Licensed
Nevada State Contractors Board (NSCB)
Avg project: $37,000
New Hampshire
NH
Local Only
No statewide general contractor license
Avg project: $38,000
New Jersey
NJ
State Licensed
New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs (DCA)
Avg project: $47,000
New Mexico
NM
State Licensed
New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department
Avg project: $30,000
New York
NY
Local Only
Local licensing only (NYC, Long Island, Westchester require registration)
Avg project: $55,000
North Carolina
NC
State Licensed
North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors
Avg project: $33,000
North Dakota
ND
Local Only
No statewide general contractor license
Avg project: $28,000
Ohio
OH
Local Only
No statewide license — cities and counties regulate
Avg project: $31,000
Oklahoma
OK
State Licensed
Oklahoma Construction Industries Board (CIB)
Avg project: $28,000
Oregon
OR
State Licensed
Oregon Construction Contractors Board (CCB)
Avg project: $42,000
Pennsylvania
PA
Local Only
No statewide license — Philadelphia and Allegheny County require registration
Avg project: $38,000
Rhode Island
RI
State Licensed
Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation
Avg project: $46,000
South Carolina
SC
State Licensed
South Carolina Contractors Licensing Board
Avg project: $31,000
South Dakota
SD
Local Only
No statewide general contractor license
Avg project: $26,000
Tennessee
TN
State Licensed
Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors
Avg project: $31,000
Texas
TX
Local Only
No statewide general contractor license (some cities require local registration)
Avg project: $38,000
Utah
UT
State Licensed
Utah Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL)
Avg project: $34,000
Vermont
VT
Local Only
No statewide general contractor license
Avg project: $39,000
Virginia
VA
State Licensed
Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR)
Avg project: $40,000
Washington
WA
State Licensed
Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I)
Avg project: $46,000
West Virginia
WV
State Licensed
West Virginia Contractors Licensing Board
Avg project: $24,000
Wisconsin
WI
Local Only
No statewide general contractor license
Avg project: $34,000
Wyoming
WY
Local Only
No statewide general contractor license
Avg project: $29,000