Verify a Contractor or Home-Service Provider License
Directory last reviewed August 8, 2026 — 51 U.S. jurisdictions (50 states + Washington, DC)
Licensing rules vary by state, trade, project value, and local jurisdiction. This directory links to the main official state-government licensing or registration portal for every U.S. state and Washington, DC.
A state registration is not always the same as a trade license. Some states license general contractors statewide, some license only specific trades, and others leave contractor licensing primarily to cities or counties. Always confirm that the provider’s credential covers the exact work being proposed.
GroundBid safety note: Use only the official agency link shown below. GroundBid does not treat third-party contractor directories, review sites, business registrations, or screenshots supplied by a provider as independent proof of an active license.
State license directory
Agency names, addresses, and state-specific regulatory summaries remain in English to preserve their official-source terminology.
| State | Primary agency / board | Official lookup | Phone | Mailing address | Licensing structure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama (AL) | Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors (ALBGC) | Open official lookup | 334-272-5030 | 445 Dexter Ave., Suite 3060, Montgomery, AL 36104 | State general-contractor board; residential home builders are separately regulated. For residential building or remodeling, also check the Alabama Home Builders Licensure Board. Treat any portal outage as manual-review required. |
| Alaska (AK) | Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development — Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing | Open official lookup | 907-465-2550 | P.O. Box 110806, Juneau, AK 99811-0806 | Central professional-license search, including construction contractors and regulated trades. Verify the exact contractor or trade credential, status, and expiration. |
| Arizona (AZ) | Arizona Registrar of Contractors (AZ ROC) | Open official lookup | 602-542-1525; 877-692-9762 | P.O. Box 6748, Phoenix, AZ 85005-6748 | Comprehensive residential and commercial contractor licensing. Check license classification, status, qualifying party, bond, and discipline. |
| Arkansas (AR) | Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing — Contractors Licensing Board | Open official lookup | 501-372-4661 | 4100 Richards Road, North Little Rock, AR 72117 | State contractor licensing. Confirm license classification and current status. |
| California (CA) | Contractors State License Board (CSLB) | Open official lookup | 800-321-2752 | P.O. Box 26000, Sacramento, CA 95826 | Comprehensive statewide contractor licensing. Check status, classifications, bond, workers’ compensation, personnel, and discipline. |
| Colorado (CO) | Department of Regulatory Agencies — Division of Professions and Occupations | Open official lookup | 303-894-7800 | 1560 Broadway, Suite 1350, Denver, CO 80202 | Decentralized: no single statewide general-contractor or roofer license. Use DORA for state-regulated professions such as electrical and plumbing, then verify city or county licensing. |
| Connecticut (CT) | Department of Consumer Protection — Occupational and Professional Licensing Division | Open official lookup | 860-713-6100 | 450 Columbus Blvd., Suite 901, Hartford, CT 06103-1840 | State eLicense portal for contractor registrations and regulated trades. Distinguish home-improvement or new-home contractor registration from a technical trade license. |
| Delaware (DE) | Department of Labor — Office of Construction Enforcement, Contractor Registration | Open official lookup | 302-761-8200, option 5 | 4425 N. Market St., Wilmington, DE 19802 | Registration system, not a universal competency-based contractor license. Also verify electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and other regulated credentials through Delaware Professional Regulation. |
| District of Columbia (DC) | Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP) | Open official lookup | 202-671-4500 | 1100 4th St. SW, Washington, DC 20024 | Business-license verification portal; individual occupational credentials may use a separate DLCP verifier. DC licensing systems may transition between portals. Reconfirm the active official lookup before production use. |
| Florida (FL) | Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) | Open official lookup | 850-487-1395 | 2601 Blair Stone Road, Tallahassee, FL 32399 | Central lookup for certified and registered contractors and regulated construction trades. Verify credential type, status, expiration, qualifying agent, and discipline. |
| Georgia (GA) | Secretary of State — Professional Licensing Boards Division; State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors | Open official lookup | 404-424-9966 | 3920 Arkwright Road, Suite 195, Macon, GA 31210 | Statewide GOALS license search for residential/general contractors and regulated trades. Search the company and, where relevant, the qualifying individual. |
| Hawaii (HI) | Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs — Professional and Vocational Licensing Division, Contractors License Board | Open official lookup | 844-808-3222, option 1 | DCCA-PVL, P.O. Box 3469, Honolulu, HI 96801 | Statewide public-license search for contractors and regulated trades. Verify license classification, status, and expiration. |
| Idaho (ID) | Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses — Contractors Board | Open official lookup | 208-334-3233 | 11341 W. Chinden Blvd., Building 4, Boise, ID 83714 | General contractor credential is primarily a registration; specialty trades may require separate licenses. Verify electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and other specialty credentials separately when applicable. |
| Illinois (IL) | Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) | Open official lookup | 888-473-4858 | 320 W. Washington St., 3rd Floor, Springfield, IL 62786 | Decentralized: no single statewide general-contractor lookup. IDFPR covers professions such as roofing; plumbing is administered through the Department of Public Health, and general-contractor licensing is generally local. |
| Indiana (IN) | Indiana Professional Licensing Agency (PLA) | Open official lookup | 317-232-2960 | Indiana Government Center South, Room W072, 402 W. Washington St., Indianapolis, IN 46204 | Mostly local: no comprehensive statewide general-contractor license. Use PLA for state-regulated credentials, including plumbing, and verify local contractor licensing. |
| Iowa (IA) | Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing — Contractor Registration Program | Open official lookup | 515-242-5871 | 6200 Park Ave., Suite 100, Des Moines, IA 50321 | Contractor registration system, not a universal competency-based trade license. Plumbing, mechanical, HVAC, and related professional credentials require separate verification. |
| Kansas (KS) | Office of the Attorney General — Roofing Registration Unit | Open official lookup | 785-368-6644 | 120 SW 10th Ave., 2nd Floor, Topeka, KS 66612-1597 | Decentralized: no comprehensive statewide general-contractor licensing portal. The statewide directory covers roofing-contractor registration; other contractor and trade requirements are generally local. |
| Kentucky (KY) | Public Protection Cabinet — Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction | Open official lookup | 502-573-0365 | 500 Mero St., Frankfort, KY 40601 | Trade-specific: no statewide general-contractor license. Portal covers electrical, plumbing, HVAC, fire-protection, manufactured-housing, and related credentials. Local requirements may also apply. |
| Louisiana (LA) | Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC) | Open official lookup | 225-765-2301 | 600 North St., Baton Rouge, LA 70802 | Comprehensive state contractor licensing. Search by company, qualifying party, license number, classification, and status as applicable. |
| Maine (ME) | Department of Professional and Financial Regulation — Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation | Open official lookup | 207-624-8603 | 35 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0035 | No state general-contractor license for many common construction services. Use the portal for electricians, plumbers, and other regulated specialties; verify local requirements for general contractors, roofers, and framers. |
| Maryland (MD) | Department of Labor — Maryland Home Improvement Commission (MHIC) | Open official lookup | 410-230-6231; 888-218-5925 | 100 S. Charles St., Tower I, Baltimore, MD 21201 | Primary statewide portal for residential home-improvement contractors. Electrical, HVACR, plumbing, and other regulated trades have separate Maryland boards and should also be verified. |
| Massachusetts (MA) | Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation — Home Improvement Contractor Program | Open official lookup | 617-973-8787 | 1 Federal St., Suite 0720, Boston, MA 02110-2012 | Home Improvement Contractor registration; separate Construction Supervisor License may also be required. Do not treat HIC registration and a Construction Supervisor License as interchangeable. |
| Michigan (MI) | Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs — Bureau of Construction Codes | Open official lookup | 517-241-9316 | P.O. Box 30254, Lansing, MI 48909 | State licensing for residential builders, maintenance and alteration contractors, and regulated construction trades. Verify the company and any required individual license or qualifier. |
| Minnesota (MN) | Department of Labor and Industry — Construction Codes and Licensing Division | Open official lookup | 651-284-5034 | 443 Lafayette Road N., St. Paul, MN 55155 | Statewide lookup for residential building contractors, remodelers, roofers, and regulated construction trades. Check license type, status, expiration, and enforcement history where available. |
| Mississippi (MS) | Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC) | Open official lookup | 601-354-6161 | P.O. Box 320279, Jackson, MS 39232 | State commercial and residential contractor licensing. Verify license status and classification. |
| Missouri (MO) | Division of Professional Registration | Open official lookup | 573-751-0293 | P.O. Box 1335, Jefferson City, MO 65102-1335 | Decentralized: no comprehensive statewide general-contractor license. Use the portal for state-regulated professions and check local contractor requirements. A statewide electrical-contractor credential does not necessarily replace local requirements. |
| Montana (MT) | Department of Labor and Industry — Construction Contractor Licensing Program | Open official lookup | 406-444-7734 | P.O. Box 8011, Helena, MT 59604-8011 | State construction-contractor licensing/registration program. Program terminology and records may reflect a recent transition from registration to licensing. Verify current credential type and status. |
| Nebraska (NE) | Department of Labor — Contractor Registration | Open official lookup | 402-471-2239 | P.O. Box 94600, Lincoln, NE 68509-4600 | Registration system, not an endorsement of workmanship or competence. Check local and trade-specific licensing separately. |
| Nevada (NV) | Nevada State Contractors Board | Open official lookup | 702-486-1100 | 8400 W. Sunset Road, Suite 150, Las Vegas, NV 89113 | Comprehensive state contractor licensing. Confirm status, classification, monetary limit, and discipline. |
| New Hampshire (NH) | Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) | Open official lookup | 603-271-2152 | 7 Eagle Square, Concord, NH 03301 | No comprehensive statewide general-contractor registry. Use OPLC for state-licensed specialty professions and trades; verify local or permit-based requirements for general contractors. |
| New Jersey (NJ) | Division of Consumer Affairs — Home Improvement Contractor program / State Board rollout | Open official lookup | 973-424-8150 | Division of Consumer Affairs, Home Improvement Unit, P.O. Box 46016, Newark, NJ 07101 | State-authorized home-improvement contractor verification. The regulatory structure and portal may be transitioning. Reconfirm the active official board/program and portal before production deployment. |
| New Mexico (NM) | Regulation and Licensing Department — Construction Industries Division | Open official lookup | 505-476-4700 | 2550 Cerrillos Road, 3rd Floor, Santa Fe, NM 87505 | State verification gateway for contractor and qualifying-party licenses. Confirm contractor entity, qualifying party, classification, status, and expiration. |
| New York (NY) | Department of State — Division of Licensing Services | Open official lookup | 518-474-4429 | One Commerce Plaza, 99 Washington Ave., Albany, NY 12231-0001 | Primarily local for home-improvement and general-contractor licensing. Use the state portal for state-regulated occupations, then verify New York City, county, or municipal home-improvement licensing where applicable. |
| North Carolina (NC) | North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors (NCLBGC) | Open official lookup | 919-571-4183 | 5400 Creedmoor Road, Raleigh, NC 27612 | State general-contractor licensing. Electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and other trades have separate state boards and require separate verification. |
| North Dakota (ND) | Secretary of State — Contractor Licensing | Open official lookup | 701-328-2900 | 600 E. Boulevard Ave., Dept. 108, Bismarck, ND 58505-0500 | State contractor-license search through FirstStop. Verify the contractor license separately from the entity’s business-registration record. |
| Ohio (OH) | Department of Commerce — Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB) | Open official lookup | 614-644-3493 | P.O. Box 4009, Reynoldsburg, OH 43068-9009 | Trade-specific: commercial electrical, HVAC, hydronics, plumbing, and refrigeration contractors. General and residential contractor licensing is ordinarily local. |
| Oklahoma (OK) | Construction Industries Board (CIB) | Open official lookup | 405-521-6550 | 2401 NW 23rd St., Suite 2F, Oklahoma City, OK 73107 | Trade-specific: no comprehensive statewide general-contractor license. Verify electrical, plumbing, mechanical, roofing, and other credentials within CIB jurisdiction, plus municipal requirements. |
| Oregon (OR) | Construction Contractors Board (CCB) | Open official lookup | 503-378-4621 | P.O. Box 14140, Salem, OR 97309-5052 | Comprehensive contractor licensing. Check status, endorsement, bond, insurance, and enforcement information. |
| Pennsylvania (PA) | Office of Attorney General — Home Improvement Contractor Registration Program | Open official lookup | 888-520-6680 | Bureau of Consumer Protection, Attn: HIC Registration, 349 Walnut St., 15th Floor, Strawberry Square, Harrisburg, PA 17120 | Home-improvement contractor registration, not a finding of technical competence. Do not represent registration as a state endorsement. |
| Rhode Island (RI) | Department of Business Regulation — Contractors’ Registration and Licensing Board | Open official lookup | 401-921-1590 | 560 Jefferson Blvd., Suite 100, Warwick, RI 02886 | Primary contractor registration and licensing search. Electricians, plumbers, and certain other trades may require separate Department of Labor and Training credentials. |
| South Carolina (SC) | Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation — Residential Builders Commission | Open official lookup | 803-896-4696 | 110 Centerview Drive, Columbia, SC 29210 | State residential-builder and professional-license verification. Commercial contractors are regulated through a separate board, but both are searchable through LLR. |
| South Dakota (SD) | Department of Labor and Regulation — Electrical Commission / Plumbing Commission | Open official lookup | 605-773-3573 | 217 W. Missouri Ave., Pierre, SD 57501 | Decentralized: no single statewide general-contractor portal. Electrical and plumbing are separately regulated. If the online lookup is unavailable, route to manual verification with the applicable commission. |
| Tennessee (TN) | Department of Commerce and Insurance — Board for Licensing Contractors | Open official lookup | 615-741-8307 | 500 James Robertson Parkway, Nashville, TN 37243-0565 | Statewide contractor-license verification. Confirm license status, classification, monetary limit, and qualifying agent where shown. |
| Texas (TX) | Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) | Open official lookup | 512-463-6599; 800-803-9202 | P.O. Box 12157, Austin, TX 78711 | Decentralized: no statewide general-contractor license. Use TDLR for state-regulated trades such as air conditioning, electrical, and water-well services, and verify local requirements. |
| Utah (UT) | Department of Commerce — Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL); Construction Services Commission | Open official lookup | 801-530-6628 | P.O. Box 146741, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-6741 | Statewide contractor and regulated-trade licensing. Verify entity, qualifier, classification, status, and expiration. |
| Vermont (VT) | Secretary of State — Office of Professional Regulation, Residential Contractors | Open official lookup | 802-828-1505 | 89 Main St., 3rd Floor, Montpelier, VT 05620-3402 | Residential-contractor registration plus separate regulated specialty credentials. Verify electricians, plumbers, and other regulated specialists under their own credential types. |
| Virginia (VA) | Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation — Board for Contractors | Open official lookup | 804-367-8511 | 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 400, Richmond, VA 23233 | State contractor licensing. Verify class, specialty classifications, expiration, responsible management, and discipline. |
| Washington (WA) | Department of Labor and Industries — Contractor Registration | Open official lookup | 800-647-0982 | Contractor Registration Section, P.O. Box 44450, Olympia, WA 98504-4450 | Contractor registration with bond, insurance, workers’ compensation, and enforcement information. Registration does not establish technical competence. Verify electrical and plumbing credentials separately when applicable. |
| West Virginia (WV) | Division of Labor — Contractor Licensing Board | Open official lookup | 304-558-7890 | 1900 Kanawha Blvd. E., State Capitol Complex, Building 3, Room 200, Charleston, WV 25305 | State contractor-license verification. Confirm classification, status, and expiration. |
| Wisconsin (WI) | Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) | Open official lookup | 608-266-2112 | P.O. Box 8366, Madison, WI 53708-8366 | State credentials for dwelling contractors, qualifiers, and regulated trades. A company credential and an individual qualifier credential may both be required. |
| Wyoming (WY) | Department of Fire Prevention and Electrical Safety — Electrical Licensing | Open official lookup | 307-777-7288 | 320 W. 25th St., 3rd Floor, Cheyenne, WY 82002 | Decentralized: no single statewide general-building-contractor portal. Use the state portal for electrical credentials and verify city or county general-contractor requirements. |
What to check in the official record
Before hiring or awarding a job, compare the official record with the provider’s GroundBid profile:
- Exact legal business or individual name.
- License or registration number.
- Credential type and permitted work classification.
- Active status and expiration date.
- Qualifying individual, when required.
- Bond, insurance, workers’ compensation, monetary limit, or project limit when displayed.
- Suspension, revocation, discipline, complaint, or enforcement information.
- Separate electrical, plumbing, HVAC, roofing, or other specialty credentials.
- City or county requirements in states identified as decentralized or local.
Understanding the result
- Active license: The official record shows an active credential, but you must still confirm that its classification covers the job.
- Registration only: The provider is registered with the state, but the state may not have tested or endorsed technical competence.
- Local verification required: The state does not issue the needed general-contractor license, or a city/county license is also required.
- Not found, expired, inactive, suspended, or revoked: Do not treat the provider as verified. Ask GroundBid Support for manual review.
- Portal unavailable or unclear: Do not guess. Contact the agency using the phone number shown or request manual verification.
Provider verification disclaimer
This directory is an informational routing tool and does not determine whether a license is legally required for every project. Agency records can change at any time. A provider should be rechecked close to bid award or job start, particularly when a license is near expiration or the work scope changes.