The disclaimer at the bottom of every page on this site says it plainly: checking that a contractor has the license and insurance the work requires is the homeowner's job. It takes a few minutes, and the agencies that issue licenses publish the lookups.
Five checks before you sign
- The license or registration number, and the agency that issued it. Look the number up on that agency's own site, and check that the name and the status match the company in front of you.
- Proof of liability insurance, and of workers' compensation if they have employees. Ask for the certificate to be sent to you by the insurer.
- Who takes out the permit, and which inspections the job will need. See Permits.
- Lead-safe certification, if the house was built before 1978. See Lead-safe remodeling.
- A written scope, price and payment schedule. See The contract.
What eight states require
Read at the source on October 11 and 12, 2026.
| State | Who licenses or registers | When it applies | Lookup |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | Contractors State License Board | work of $1,000 or more in labor and materials, or smaller work that needs a permit or a hired helper | CSLB |
| Nevada | State Contractors Board | almost any kitchen remodel: only repair or maintenance under $1,000 is exempt, and not when it needs a permit or is part of a project of $500 or more | NSCB |
| Arizona | Registrar of Contractors | a job of $1,000 or more, or a smaller one that needs a permit | statute: A.R.S. 32-1121 |
| Utah | Division of Professional Licensing | remodeling of $7,000 or more; plumbing and electrical parts always by licensed contractors | Utah lookup |
| Minnesota | Department of Labor and Industry | contracting with a homeowner for more than one special skill | DLI |
| Florida | Dept. of Business and Professional Regulation | structural, plumbing, electrical and mechanical work; local governments may not license cabinetry, flooring, painting or tile and stone installation | DBPR |
| Pennsylvania | Office of Attorney General | registration for contractors doing $5,000 or more of home improvements a year | HIC search |
| Virginia | Dept. of Professional and Occupational Regulation | Class C over $1,000 and under $30,000; Class B to $150,000; Class A above | DPOR |
Other states differ: some license only plumbers, electricians and HVAC contractors, and leave remodelers to cities and counties. Ask the contractor which license or registration they hold and who issued it, and look it up there.
When something goes wrong
In Nevada, if a licensed residential contractor breaks the law and you lose money, the Residential Recovery Fund can pay your actual damages up to $40,000. It does not pay owners who took out the building permit themselves as owner-builders. Each state page on this site has the rules for that state that have been read at the source.
Updated 2026-10-12.