You need to choose the license classification you want to be licensed for, most specifically Commercial Building Contractor or Residential Building Contractor.
There are three license classes A, B or C , depending on the scope of the work you plan to do:. For all classes of licenses, you must complete a pre-license education course approved by the Board of Contractors and then pass an exam. Learn more about Virginia contractor license requirements. You also must pass an exam. Learn more about general contractor requirements in Washington. The license is issued by the West Virginia Division of Labor.
There are multiple classifications of licenses, including general building and general engineering. This includes construction, alterations, and improvements on residential, commercial, and public works projects. You must complete a hour education course approved by the board and pass a test, and you must show proof of insurance. To obtain building permits, your business must hold a Dwelling Contractor license. General contractors do not need to hold a state license to work in Wyoming.
Licensing is done at the local level so check with your city or county before you begin work. This information has been provided as a service. It is correct and up-to-date to the best of our knowledge; however, it is in no way intended to offer legal advice and you must always consult with local authorities before you make any business decisions. Regulations and requirements may change at any time. Login Get Instant Quote. Business License General contractor license requirements by state: Next Insurance guide.
Jan 7, min read. Alaska General contractors must hold a state license to work in Alaska. No exam is required. Arizona Any general contractor who builds, alters, repairs, adds to, subtracts from, improves, moves, wrecks or demolishes any structure must hold a state contractor license to work in Arizona. They include: General Residential Contractors License General Commercial Contractor License General Dual License Contracting - includes both residential and commercial contracting license To receive a general contractor license, you must pass the trade exam, as well as the business management exam.
This allows you to also do residential work in the same classification as your commercial license. Residential Remodeler Unlimited License - You can do any size home improvement projects. There are three types of contractor licenses in California: Class A General Engineering Contractor : The license for specialized engineering projects Class B General Building Contractor : The license for managing projects involving two or more unrelated trades Class C Specialty Contractor : The license for performing different types of construction work or particular trades.
Colorado General contractors do not need a state license to work in Colorado. The most common types of licenses are: Class A license : This license allows contractors to work on any building project, no matter how big or small.
Class B license : This license allows contractors to work on most residential and commercial building projects. Class C license : This license limits contractors to working on residential buildings for single-family dwellings or multi-family dwellings. Connecticut Connecticut does not require general contractors to hold a state license. Delaware General contractors in Delaware do not require a trade license, but you will need to obtain a business license and register with the Delaware Division of Revenue.
Florida As a general contractor, you must have a state license to work in Florida. You will need to show at least one year of experience constructing structures four stories or higher. You must have experience in four of seven specific categories. You'll also have to meet minimum insurance requirements, as well as education or work experience requirements: A diploma or transcript in engineering, architecture, project management, or building construction.
A diploma or transcript showing college-level coursework and work experience commensurate with at least four years of university experience. At least four years of work experience in construction, of which two were working for a general contractor. Residential-Basic Contractor: This license is limited to projects with detached one-family and two-family residences and one-family townhouses not over three-stories and adjacent structures.
Residential-Light Commercial Contractor: This license is the same as residential-basic, with the addition of projects related to multifamily and multi-use light commercial buildings and adjacent structures. Illinois Illinois does not have a state license requirement for general contractors. Iowa There are no state licensing requirements for general contractors in Iowa.
Kentucky You don't need a state general contractor license to work in Kentucky. Louisiana General contractors must have a state license to work in Louisiana. Maryland As a general contractor, you may or may not need a state license, depending on the work you do. Massachusetts As a general residential contractor in Massachusetts, you must be registered and licensed. Minnesota A general commercial contractor does not need a state license to work in Minnesota. Missouri There is no state licensing requirement for general contractors in Missouri, but there may be general contractor license requirements on a local level that you need to check before you begin work.
Montana There are no licensing requirements for general contractors in Montana. New Hampshire General contractors do not need a state license to work in New Hampshire. New Jersey There are no state licensing requirements for general contractors in New Jersey; however you will need to register for a home building license with the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs or for a home improvement license with the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs. New Mexico General contractors must be licensed by the state to work in New Mexico.
New York A general contractor is not required to hold a state license in New York; however, local governments within the state do have licensing requirements and you need to check these before you begin work.
Oklahoma General contractors do not need a state license to work in Oklahoma. Oregon A general contractor must hold a state license to work in Oregon. Pennsylvania General contractors and commercial contractors do not need a state license to work in Pennsylvania. Rhode Island There is no licensing requirement for general contractors in Rhode Island; however, there is a comprehensive registration process.
South Dakota General contractors are not licensed at the state level in South Dakota. Learn more about general contractor license and insurance requirements in Tennessee Texas Texas does not require a general contractor license at the state level. Plumber: You must complete a minimum number of hours of experience, courses, and pass the exam. After you pass you can apply online for your license with the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners. Vermont General contractors do not need a state license to work in Vermont; however there may be local requirements, so you'll want to make sure to check these before you begin work.
Virginia General contractors must have a state license, issued by the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation , in order to work in Virginia.
You must have two years of experience. You must have three years of experience. Class C licenses : unlimited. You must have five years of experience. There are several licensing bodies and registries in Massachusetts, and their requirements may seem confusing. A CSL is a requirement on all construction 1—2 family home construction projects.
For projects exceeding 35, cubic feet of enclosed space, the overseeing party must be a registered design professional RDP , like an engineer or architect: A CSL will not suffice. Specialty contractors will need to register with the Home Improvement Program in most cases.
Electricians will require a license from the Board of State Examiners of Electricians. That said, there are no specific licensing requirements according to Massachusetts mechanics lien rules. Just be aware that the licensing and registry bodies may penalize you for failing to hold the proper vetting. Along with almost every other profession in the state, it oversees licensing for general contractors and specialty trades.
Read the full guide to contractor licensing in Michigan. General contractors in Michigan require either a Residential Builders license or a Maintenance and Alterations Contractors license. Commercial contractors will need to check with the local municipality to determine which licenses they may need to carry. Almost all subs and specialty trades need to carry a license in Michigan as well. Electrical contractors need to pursue a license through the Bureau of Construction Codes, Electrical Division.
Any subsequent offense is punishable by the same fine, but jail time extends to two years. If a death or injury occurs while operating unlicensed, the fines remain, but the jail sentence extends up to four years. However, some unlicensed contractors on commercial projects do retain lien rights.
The main licensing requirements are fairly unique. For instance, commercial contractors need to register with the Contractor Registration Program , but do not need licenses.
Read the guide to contractor licenses in Minnesota. Subcontractors must have a Residential Building Contracting License if they are performing work in two or more of the following areas :. They also have to register their business with the Contract Registration Program.
Electrical and plumbing contractors need to pursue separate licenses from the DLI, while HVAC mechanics are not regulated at the state level.
Unlicensed contractors working without the proper licenses are subject to a misdemeanor charge in Minnesota. While the exact penalties are unclear, one thing is clear: Working unlicensed when the state requires one means forfeiting your rights to a mechanics lien or lawsuit. Contracting licenses are a function of the Mississippi State Board of Contractors.
The ten-member board regulates licensing, enforces licensing laws, and educates consumers. Read the guide to contractor licenses in Mississippi. The Board breaks down licensing classifications into the following classes:. There are no state-mandated requirements for general contractor licenses in Missouri. Instead, most licensing regulation is a function of counties and municipalities.
In fact, only recently has there even been a statewide electrical license recognized in Missouri. Read the guide to contractor licenses in Missouri. Locla municipalities are responsible for the regulation of contractors and penalties for unlicensed work.
For instance, contractors interested in working in Kansas City will have to contact the City Planning and Development office. The city has different requirements for several trade classes, including fire protection, plumbers, HVAC, and more. Montana is one of the more relaxed states when it comes to contracting licenses. Plumbing and electrical contractors will need to contact the DLI for licensing.
Read the full guide to Montana contractor licenses. It requires registration of anyone who adds to or takes away from a structure, project, development, or improvement attached to real estate. There are no explicit licensing requirements for contractors to file a claim under Montana mechanics lien law , so unlicensed contractors do have rights in payment disputes.
Most regulation at the state level in Nebraska pertains to registration as opposed to licensing. Read the guide to contractor licenses in Nebraska. Electrical contractors are required to get state-issued licenses with the Nebraska State Electrical Division. Plumbers, HVAC contractors, and other subcontractors will have to check with local municipalities for licensing requirements: For instance, Omaha requires licensing for building, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing contractors.
Lincoln has similar requirements. They then have the opportunity to contest the citation. If the contractor has never registered, they have up to 60 days to do so, at which point the registry will waive the penalty fee. There are no explicit requirements for licensing in Nebraska mechanics lien law. Unlicensed contractors are generally allowed to file a lien as a result of a payment dispute. The board regulates trade licenses within the state.
Nevada requires all contractors to carry state-issued licenses. Residential general contractors should pursue Class B licenses , while Class C licenses apply to specialty trades and subcontractors. The first offense is a minor misdemeanor. The second offense constitutes a gross misdemeanor. A third offense becomes a Class E Felony. On top of getting hit with a possible felony charge, your payments may be at risk. Most licensing requirements fall on local municipalities and counties.
Electrical contractor licensing is the responsibility of the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification. In fact, many cities prefer to manage contractors through permits.
Nashua, for instance, requires contacting the Building Safety Department. The same applies to Concord. Read the complete guide to contractor licenses in New Hampshire. Operating as an unlicensed electrical contractor in New Hampshire is a misdemeanor. The same is true for unlicensed plumbing contractors. Contractor licensing is not a requirement for filing a mechanics lien in New Hampshire. New Jersey does not require general contractors to hold licenses, though they do need to register their businesses with particular state offices.
Home improvement contractors need to register their business with the New Jersey Division of Consumer affairs. Commercial contractors do not have to register. If a contractor deals in financed home repair contracts, they must have a home repair contractor license issued by the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance. There can also be criminal charges and additional fees. There are no licensing requirements for filing a mechanics lien under New Jersey law , so an unlicensed contractor can file a lien for a payment dispute.
Specifically, the Construction Industry and Manufactured Housing Division controls licensing for contractors and subs. Read the guide to contractor licenses in New Mexico. New Mexico requires just about every contractor to carry a license. General contractors and subcontractors can find their classification in the NM Administrative Code, Title 14, Chapter 6.
Unlicensed contracting in New Mexico is illegal , and the consequences depend on the value of the project. In fact, in some cases, the homeowner can event request their money back. New York leaves most licensing requirements up to its cities and counties. The only construction-related licenses issued at the state level are asbestos abatement contractors and crane operators. Both of these licenses fall under the control of the Department of Safety and Health.
Read the full guide to contractor licensing in New York. General contractors, subs, and specialty trades need to check their local municipalities for licensing requirements. In New York City, Home Improvement Contractor Licenses are required for any contractor to build, repair, remodel, or make other improvements to residential land or building.
Rochester has its own licensing as well. Work in and around Yonkers will require a Home Improvement Contractor license. Fees and penalties are also a function of the individual municipalities. However, operating a crane without a license is a state misdemeanor , varying between Class A and B, depending on the circumstances. You also cannot file a lawsuit. The board consists of nine members, five of which are general contractors representing each of the classifications, as well as a structural engineer, and three citizens without ties to the construction industry.
Read the full contractor licensing rules in North Carolina. There are five classifications for general contractors : building , residential , highway , public utilities , and specialty contractors. Subs and specialty contractors both fall under the final category.
Each has increasingly stringent requirements. Electrical , plumbing, HVAC, and fire sprinkler contractors require separate licenses as well. Subcontractors outside of those trades in contract with a licensed general contractor do not need licenses. The penalties could include civil fines, criminal charges, and even an order barring the general contractor from acting as a contractor moving forward.
However, there are no license requirements according to mechanics lien statute in North Carolina. General contracting licensing in North Dakota is under the control of the Secretary of State.
Read the full contractor licensing rules in North Dakota. In addition, plumbing and electrical contractors require separate licenses. As far as penalties go, North Dakota considers contracting without a license as a Class A misdemeanor.
Licensing for professionals is a matter handled by cities and counties. Commercial electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and hydronics professionals need to carry a state-issued license , however. Read the full guide to contractor licensing in Ohio.
General contractors, home improvement contractors, and subs will have to check with local municipalities to determine their licensing requirements. Contractors in Columbus need to check with the Building and Zoning Department. In Oklahoma, electrical , mechanical , plumbing , and roofing contractors have to carry state-issued licenses from the Oklahoma Construction Industries Board.
Oklahoma does not require general contractors to carry state-issued licenses. Read the full contractor licensing rules in Oklahoma.
Penalties and fines are, for the most part, the responsibility of the individual municipalities. However, contracting without a license in Oklahoma is a misdemeanor. There are no licensing requirements for filing a mechanics lien in Oklahoma , so unlicensed contractors do have rights in a payment dispute. The Oregon Construction Contractors Board is pretty clear about who requires a license : Anyone who works for compensation in any construction activity involving improvements to real property needs a license.
This includes carpentry, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC contractors, as well as handyman services and home inspectors. Licenses are available in residential, commercial, or residential and commercial. Specialty contractors need to choose an endorsement when applying for their license. On top of fines, unlicensed contractors in Oregon are not allowed to file a mechanics lien. The only licenses that the state of Pennsylvania requires for contractors are for asbestos and lead removal with the Department of Labor and Industry , as well as crane operators with the State Board of Crane Operators.
Read more about Pennsylvania contractor licensing. All other home improvement contractors need to register with the State Attorney General Office. Beyond those licenses and registry, contractors need to check with local municipalities to determine licensing requirements. Philadelphia requires all contractors involved in construction, demolition, or repair to carry a license. Penalties and fines for unlicensed work are the responsibility of the municipalities and will vary from location to location.
It requires all contractors to register with the Contractors Registration and Licensing Board. The board also requires you to complete five hours of Continuing Education. Read the full guide to contractor licensing in Rhode Island. Rhode Island does require actual licenses for commercial roofing contractors, well-drillers, and home inspectors through the Contractors Registration and Licensing Board.
The Department of Workforce Regulation and Safety issues licenses for electrical contractors. Worse yet, an unregistered contractor has no right to a lien claim under mechanics lien law in Rhode Island in the event of a payment dispute. Read the full guide to contractor licensing in South Carolina. This license class can work on residential, commercial, and industrial projects.
Contractors performing only residential work can contact the Residential Builders Commission for licensing and registration. Contracting without a license is a bad idea in South Carolina. Electrical and plumbing contractors, however, receive licenses from the Department of Labor and Regulation. General building contractors usually oversee projects and coordinate the specific licensed subcontractors for a job. Specialty or subcontractors are usually hired to perform a single job.
For example, if you want only roofing or plumbing work, you may want to hire a contractor licensed in that particular specialty.
A general building contractor may also contract for specialty work, but must hold a specialty license for that work or actually have a specialty contractor do the work. The only exception is if the job requires more than two types of work on a building.
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