State by state

Contractor advice across all 50 states.

See what state licensing boards, attorneys general, insurance departments, and consumer agencies advise homeowners to check before hiring a contractor.

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What your state advises

Each row summarizes guidance from a state licensing board, attorney general, insurance department, consumer agency, or other government authority.

Some states license general contractors statewide. Others use registration, regulate only particular trades, or rely on city and county licensing. “Credentials” below means the license, registration, permit, or trade credential required for that job and location.

State	Government sources	What consumers are advised to check	Evidence
Alabama	Home Builders Licensure Board Consumer guidance	Verify the builder or remodeler license and request proof of workers' compensation and liability coverage.	Direct
Alaska	Attorney General Department of Commerce	Make sure the contractor is registered or licensed, bonded, and insured; request current proof.	Direct
Arizona	Department of Insurance Registrar of Contractors	Before signing, ensure the contractor is licensed and insured. A license alone does not generally prove liability coverage.	Direct
Arkansas	Insurance Department Attorney General	Verify the required contractor license; ask for an insurance certificate and call the insurer to confirm coverage.	Qualified
California	Contractors State License Board Attorney General	Verify the license, workers' compensation, and commercial general liability coverage; request a certificate.	Direct
Colorado	Division of Insurance Attorney General	Ensure contractors are properly licensed and insured under applicable local and trade requirements.	Direct
Connecticut	Department of Consumer Protection	Validate the registration card; ask for workers' compensation and liability policies and verify they are active.	Direct
Delaware	Department of Insurance	Obtain the business license and proof of liability and workers' compensation; verify coverage with the insurer.	Direct
Florida	Department of Financial Services Residential property FAQ	Verify the contractor license and workers' compensation status; ask for proof of general liability insurance.	Direct
Georgia	Attorney General Consumer Protection	Verify applicable state and local licenses; ask for proof of liability, workers' compensation, and property-damage insurance.	Direct
Hawaii	Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs	Verify the license. Hawaii explains that licensed contractors must carry workers' compensation and liability insurance.	Specific or linked
Idaho	Idaho Courts consumer guide Department of Insurance	Hire registered contractors; obtain proof of general liability and workers' compensation and verify coverage.	Direct
Illinois	Professional Regulation roofing guide State storm guidance	For roofing, verify the state license and current insurance, including workers' compensation.	Specific or linked
Indiana	Attorney General Department of Homeland Security	Check local licensing requirements and verify that the contractor is properly licensed, bonded, and insured.	Direct
Iowa	Insurance Division Contractor registration	Confirm the required credential; obtain proof of liability and workers' compensation and call the insurer.	Direct
Kansas	Department of Insurance	Research applicable licenses and certifications and verify insurance. General-contractor licensing is local.	Direct
Kentucky	Attorney General	Check registration where applicable; ask for proof of workers' compensation and general liability insurance.	Direct
Louisiana	Contractors Licensing Board Licensing FAQ	Verify the license or registration and require proof of active general liability and workers' compensation.	Direct
Maine	Attorney General Licensed arborist guidance	Maine does not license general home contractors. For licensed trades such as arborists, verify the credential and insurance certificate.	Qualified
Maryland	Home Improvement Commission Consumer guidance	Check the home-improvement license and obtain current liability and workers' compensation certificates.	Direct
Massachusetts	Consumer Affairs Post-disaster guide	Confirm registration and applicable licensing; obtain proof of liability and workers' compensation.	Direct
Michigan	Attorney General Insurance Department	Ensure the contractor is licensed and insured; ask both questions, demand proof, and verify the license.	Direct
Minnesota	Commerce contractor checklist Labor and Industry	Verify licensing and insurance, including general liability and workers' compensation. The combined checklist is solar-specific.	Specific or linked
Mississippi	Insurance Department State Board of Contractors	Ask for necessary licenses, permits, insurance, and bonding; verify the license and liability coverage.	Direct
Missouri	Department of Commerce and Insurance	Obtain applicable business or local credentials and proof of workers' compensation and liability insurance; verify with the insurer.	Direct
Montana	Disaster and Emergency Services Labor and Industry	Verify active registration and proof of liability insurance and bonding; confirm workers' compensation status.	Direct
Nebraska	Attorney General Department of Labor	Verify registration and applicable local licensing; request proof of insurance.	Direct
Nevada	State Contractors Board Consumer checklist	Check the license classification and status. Licensed contractors must maintain required workers' compensation and a bond.	Specific or linked
New Hampshire	Consumer and Antitrust Bureau guidance	General home contractors are not licensed statewide. Ask for proof of bonding or insurance and check local permit requirements.	Qualified
New Jersey	Attorney General Post-disaster warning	Check required registration and professional licensing; demand the liability policy and validate it with the insurer.	Direct
New Mexico	Homeland Security and Emergency Management State Engineer irrigation guidance	State program guidance says to check the contractor license and insurance; similar advice applies to irrigation professionals.	Specific or linked
New York	Attorney General Department of Financial Services	Check licenses where required and get proof of insurance. General home-improvement licensing is local.	Direct
North Carolina	Department of Administration Historic Preservation Office	Check licensing when the project requires it and request an insurance certificate, including liability and workers' compensation.	Direct
North Dakota	Attorney General Secretary of State	Verify required licensing; refusal to provide proof of insurance or licensing is a warning sign.	Direct
Ohio	Attorney General Department of Commerce	Have the contractor show proof of licenses, insurance, and bonding; verify local or trade credentials and active coverage.	Direct
Oklahoma	Insurance Department Construction Industries Board	Check the required license or registration and do not hire without proof of insurance; verify the coverage.	Direct
Oregon	Construction Contractors Board Consumer guidance	Verify the active license and review bond, liability insurance, and workers' compensation status.	Direct
Pennsylvania	Attorney General Registration program	Check home-improvement registration. Registration requires proof of commercial general liability insurance.	Specific or linked
Rhode Island	Contractors' Registration Board Attorney General	Obtain proof that the contractor is registered or licensed and insured; ask for general liability and workers' compensation.	Direct
South Carolina	Department of Consumer Affairs Residential Builders Commission	Ask for applicable business and professional licenses and proof of insurance.	Direct
South Dakota	Attorney General consumer guidance Consumer handbook	Use appropriately licensed contractors and ask for proof of liability and workers' compensation. Licensing is generally local.	Direct
Tennessee	Contractor Board consumer tips Current consumer resources	Verify licensing where required; obtain proof of valid insurance and ensure it remains active.	Direct
Texas	Department of Insurance Licensing and Regulation	Verify required trade licenses; ask for an insurance certificate and call to confirm it. General-contractor licensing is local.	Direct
Utah	Consumer Protection Professional Licensing	Verify the contractor license; require proof of insurance and confirm liability coverage.	Direct
Vermont	Attorney General Secretary of State	Ask the contractor to show active registration and the insurance policy.	Direct
Virginia	Virginia Cooperative Extension State contractor guidance	Virginia advises checking contractor licensing. Combined license-and-insurance verification guidance is explicit for regulated trades such as pest control.	Qualified
Washington	Labor and Industries Hire Smart	Verify active registration, bond, liability insurance, and workers' compensation status.	Direct
West Virginia	Attorney General Insurance Commissioner	Check the contractor license; obtain proof of workers' compensation and liability insurance and verify coverage.	Qualified
Wisconsin	Consumer Protection Storm-damage guidance	Check required dwelling-contractor certifications and ask for an insurance certificate showing an active policy.	Direct
Wyoming	Department of Insurance Department public-service notice	Licensing may be local or trade-specific. Check required credentials and ask for proof of bonding or liability insurance.	Qualified

Direct The government guidance expressly supports both checks.

Specific or linked The advice is trade-specific or insurance is tied to the credential.

Qualified The advice is split across sources or statewide licensing does not apply broadly.

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Requirements vary by state, locality, trade, project, and employer status. Government pages may change. Review current documentation before work begins.