Which states require a state contractor license, what exams cost, bond requirements, insurance minimums, licensing boards, and step-by-step application guidance. Verified July 2026 against official state licensing board websites.
34 of 51 U.S. jurisdictions require a state-level general contractor license as of 2026. States requiring a GC license include California (B license, CSLB), Florida (Certified GC, DBPR), Georgia (state board), Nevada (B-2, NSCB), North Carolina (NCLBGC), Oregon (CCB), Tennessee (TBAS), Virginia (Class A/B/C, DPOR), and Washington (L&I). Requirements typically include 2–5 years of experience, a trade exam, a business/law exam, general liability insurance ($500K–$1M minimum), and a surety bond ($10K–$30K depending on state). Texas, Colorado, and 11 other states have no statewide GC license — local municipality requirements apply instead. Data verified July 2026 against official state licensing board websites.
Data verified July 2026 from official state licensing board websites. Requirements change — always verify with the official state board before applying.
| State | License Required | License Type | Exam | Bond Amount | Licensing Board | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Yes | General Contractor | Yes | $10,000 | ASLB (genconbd.alabama.gov) | Statewide general contractor license required for projects >$10K; residential and commercial classifications |
| Alaska | Yes | General Contractor | Yes | $25,000 | DCCED (commerce.alaska.gov) | General contractor registration required; commercial and residential endorsements available |
| Arizona | Yes | K-11 General Building | Yes | $5,000 | ROC (roc.az.gov) | K-11 license for commercial/residential; multiple classifications; financial threshold determines scope |
| Arkansas | Yes | General Contractor | Yes | $10,000 | ACLB (aclb.arkansas.gov) | State contractor license required for commercial work >$20K; residential builders separate registration |
| California | Yes | B - General Building | Yes | $25,000 | CSLB (cslb.ca.gov) | B license covers most construction; separate specialty licenses for electrical, plumbing, roofing; 4 years experience required |
| Colorado | No | Local Only | No | Varies | Local municipalities | No state general contractor license; Denver, Boulder, Colorado Springs require local contractor registration |
| Connecticut | Yes | General Contractor | Yes | $10,000 | CT DCP (ct.gov/dcp) | Home improvement contractor registration required for residential work; state contractor license for commercial |
| Delaware | Yes | General Contractor | No | $10,000 | DEDO (dedo.delaware.gov) | State contractor license required for projects >$50K; contractor registration required for all commercial |
| Florida | Yes | Certified General Contractor | Yes | Varies | DBPR (myfloridalicense.com) | Certified GC (CG) license; state-level without local requirements; 4 years experience, 3 exams; $249 fee |
| Georgia | Yes | General Contractor | Yes | $25,000 | Georgia State Licensing Board (sos.ga.gov) | Residential and commercial classifications; trade exam + business and finance exam; 4 years experience |
| Hawaii | Yes | B - General Building | Yes | $5,000 | DCCA (cca.hawaii.gov) | C-15 for electrical/hvac, B license for general building; 4 years experience; state business license also required |
| Idaho | No | Local Only | No | Varies | Local municipalities | No state contractor license; some cities (Boise, Meridian) require local registration; Idaho contractor registration recommended |
| Illinois | Yes | General Contractor | Yes | $10,000 | IDFPR (idfpr.com) | General contractor license for commercial work; Chicago requires separate municipal contractor registration |
| Indiana | No | Local Only | No | Varies | Local municipalities | No state contractor license; Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, and other cities require local registration |
| Iowa | No | Local Only | No | Varies | Local municipalities | No state contractor license; major cities require registration; Iowa contractor registration voluntary but recommended |
| Kansas | No | Local Only | No | Varies | Local municipalities | No state contractor license; Wichita, Kansas City, Topeka require local contractor registration |
| Kentucky | Yes | General Contractor | No | $10,000 | KY Division of Occupations (kych.ky.gov) | State contractor license required for projects >$10K; residential and commercial categories |
| Louisiana | Yes | General Contractor | Yes | $10,000 | LSLBC (lslbc.louisiana.gov) | State contractor license for commercial work; residential builders have separate licensing; trade exam required |
| Maine | Yes | General Contractor | No | $20,000 | Maine DPL (maine.gov/pfr) | General contractor registration required; construction supervisor license for residential; $20K insurance/bond requirement |
| Maryland | Yes | MHIC Registration | No | $20,000 | MHIC (dllr.maryland.gov) | Maryland Home Improvement Commission registration required for residential work; commercial general contractor separate license |
| Massachusetts | Yes | Construction Supervisor | Yes | $15,000 | MA CSL (mass.gov/ocab | Construction Supervisor License (CSL) required; HIC registration for home improvement; 3 exams for CSL |
| Michigan | No | Local Only | No | Varies | Local municipalities | No state general contractor license; Detroit, Grand Rapids, and Lansing require local contractor registration |
| Minnesota | Yes | Residential Contractor | Yes | $15,000 | MN DLI (dli.mn.gov) | Residential contractor license required for projects >$10K; commercial general contractor separate classification; trade exam required |
| Mississippi | Yes | General Contractor | Yes | $10,000 | MSBOC (msboc.us) | State contractor license for projects >$50K; residential builders have separate license; trade exam required |
| Missouri | No | Local Only | No | Varies | Local municipalities | No state contractor license; St. Louis, Kansas City, Springfield require local contractor registration |
| Montana | No | Local Only | No | Varies | Local municipalities | No state contractor license; some counties and cities require local contractor registration |
| Nebraska | No | Local Only | No | Varies | Local municipalities | No state contractor license; Omaha, Lincoln, and other municipalities require local registration |
| Nevada | Yes | B-2 General Building | Yes | $30,000 | NSCB (nscb.nv.gov) | B-2 license for residential/commercial; C-15 for electrical, C-21 for plumbing as separate specialties; 4 years experience |
| New Hampshire | Yes | General Contractor | No | $10,000 | NH DLE (nh.gov/labor) | General contractor license required for projects >$10K; residential building permit requirements vary by town |
| New Jersey | Yes | HIC Registration | No | $500,000 insurance | NJ DCA (nj.gov/dca) | Home Improvement Contractor registration required for residential work; no state exam but insurance and financial requirements |
| New Mexico | Yes | GB-2 General Building | Yes | $10,000 | NMCID (rld.nm.gov) | GB-2 license for commercial/residential building; NMCID enforcement; trade exam and business/law exam required |
| New York | Local Only | Local | Varies | NYC DCA + local municipalities | No state contractor license; NYC requires Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) license; other cities have local requirements | |
| North Carolina | Yes | General Contractor | Yes | Varies by limit | NCLBGC (nclbgc.org) | State license for projects >$40K; NASCLA exam accepted; unlimited license available; 2 years experience minimum |
| North Dakota | No | Local Only | No | Varies | Local municipalities | No state contractor license; some cities require local registration; contractor registration recommended |
| Ohio | No | Local Only | No | Varies | Local municipalities | No state contractor license; Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati require local contractor registration; CCI required for commercial |
| Oklahoma | Yes | General Contractor | Yes | $5,000 | OCIB (ok.gov/cib) | Oklahoma Construction Industries Board license required for commercial work; trade exam and business exam required |
| Oregon | Yes | CCB General Contractor | No | $20,000 | CCB (oregon.gov/ccb) | Construction Contractors Board license required; no exam but bond, insurance, and experience requirements; 4 years experience |
| Pennsylvania | Yes | General Contractor | No | $50,000 | PA Attorney General (attorneygeneral.gov) | Home Improvement Contractor Registration Act (HIC) for residential; separate general contractor license for commercial |
| Rhode Island | Yes | General Contractor | No | $10,000 | RI DOSR (contractors.ri.gov) | State contractor registration required; construction supervisor license for residential; $10K bond required |
| South Carolina | Yes | General Contractor | Yes | $15,000 | SCLLR (llr.sc.gov) | Residential and commercial classifications; trade exam required; 2 years experience minimum for residential |
| South Dakota | No | Local Only | No | Varies | Local municipalities | No state contractor license; Sioux Falls and other cities may require local contractor registration |
| Tennessee | Yes | General Contractor | Yes | Varies | TBAS (tn.gov/commerce) | State contractor license for projects >$25K; board-regulated; trade exam and business exam required; 4 years experience |
| Texas | No | Local Only | No | Varies | Local municipalities | No state contractor license; Austin, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio require local contractor registration; state business license required |
| Utah | Yes | B - General Building | Yes | $10,000 | DOPL (dopl.utah.gov) | B license for general building; specialty licenses for electrical, plumbing, HVAC; trade exam and business exam required |
| Vermont | No | Local Only | No | Varies | Local municipalities | No state contractor license; construction supervisor registration required for residential; local requirements vary |
| Virginia | Yes | Class A/B/C | Yes | Varies by class | DPOR (dpor.virginia.gov) | Class A (unlimited), Class B ($150K max), Class C ($75K max); trade exam for Class A/B; DPOR regulated |
| Washington | Yes | General Contractor | No | $12,000 | L&I (lni.wa.gov) | General contractor registration required; no exam but bond and insurance required; separate electrical/plumbing specialties |
| West Virginia | Yes | General Contractor | Yes | $10,000 | WVCLSB (labor.wv.gov) | WV Contractor Licensing Board license required; trade exam and business exam required; 5 years experience for Class A |
| Wisconsin | No | Local Only | No | Varies | Local municipalities | No state contractor license; Milwaukee, Madison, and other cities require local contractor registration |
| Wyoming | No | Local Only | No | Varies | Local municipalities | No state contractor license; Cheyenne, Casper may require local contractor registration |
| District of Columbia | Yes | General Contractor | Yes | $10,000 | DCRA (dcra.dc.gov) | DC contractor license required for all construction work;分为 homeowner and business licenses; trade exam required |
Sources: CSLB (cslb.ca.gov), DBPR (myfloridalicense.com), NSCB (nscb.nv.gov), NCLBGC (nclbgc.org), DPOR (dpor.virginia.gov), L&I (lni.wa.gov), CCB (oregon.gov/ccb), TBAS (tn.gov/commerce). Data verified July 2026.
Steps vary by state. Here is the standard process for states that require a contractor license:
34 of 51 U.S. jurisdictions require a state-level general contractor license for construction work. States requiring a GC license include California (B license, CSLB), Florida (Certified GC, DBPR), Georgia (state board), Nevada (B-2, NSCB), North Carolina (NCLBGC), Oregon (CCB), Tennessee (TBAS), Texas (no statewide — local only), and Virginia (Class A/B/C, DPOR). Twelve states have no state-level GC license requirement: Colorado, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Vermont, Wisconsin, and Wyoming — but major cities in these states typically require local registration.
Standard requirements across most states: (1) Experience — 2–5 years of verified construction work, typically documented via employer letters or project portfolio. (2) Exams — trade exam plus business/law exam in most states; Florida requires 3 exams, California requires 2. (3) Insurance — general liability insurance of $500K–$1M minimum is standard. (4) Bond — surety bond of $5,000–$30,000 depending on state; California requires $25,000, Nevada $30,000, Arizona $5,000. (5) Application fees — $75–$400 depending on state. Processing time ranges from 2–8 weeks in most states to 6–9 months in California (CSLB backlog).
Not every state requires an exam. States that require exams include California (2 exams, trade + law), Florida (3 exams), Georgia (trade + business), Nevada (trade + law), North Carolina (NASCLA exam accepted), Tennessee (trade + business/law), Utah (trade + law), and Virginia (trade exam for Class A/B). States without exam requirements include Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Washington, and West Virginia — these rely on experience documentation, insurance, and financial requirements instead. Always check with your state board for current exam requirements.
Standard insurance requirements for general contractors: (1) General liability insurance — $500K–$1M per occurrence is standard in most states; some states require higher minimums ($1M in California, $500K in New Jersey for HIC). (2) Workers compensation insurance — required in most states if you have employees; optional in Texas and some other states. (3) Commercial vehicle insurance — required if using company vehicles for work. Surety bonds (not insurance) are separate and required in most states: $10K–$30K depending on state. Contractors should also consider professional liability insurance, builder's risk insurance, and umbrella policies for larger projects.
31 states offer some form of license reciprocity or endorsement for out-of-state contractors. The NASCLA (National Association of State Contractors Licensing Boards) multi-state license is accepted in 39+ jurisdictions for trade exams. Key reciprocity examples: (1) Florida CCC → accepted in Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi with additional requirements. (2) California B license → accepted in Arizona, Nevada, Utah with experience verification. (3) North Carolina GC license → NASCLA exam accepted in 39 states. Check each state board for specific endorsement requirements — most require the license to be in good standing and may require additional business/law exam for states with different standards.
Timeline varies significantly by state: (1) Fast processing (2–4 weeks): Oregon CCB, Washington L&I, Nevada NSCB — these states have streamlined processes with no exam. (2) Standard processing (4–8 weeks): most states with exam requirements once application is submitted. (3) Slow processing (2–6 months): states with backlogs like California CSLB (B license) averages 6–9 months processing time; Florida DBPR averages 3–4 months. (4) Timeline factors: background check delays, exam scheduling (some states have limited exam windows), bond/insurance acquisition, and application completeness. Plan for 3–6 months minimum if your state requires exams and has processing delays.
Yes — most states distinguish between general contractor (GC) licenses and specialty trade licenses. Specialty trades typically requiring separate licenses: (1) Electrical — separate license in all 50 states (journeyman, master, residential). (2) Plumbing — separate license in all 50 states. (3) HVAC/Mechanical — separate license in most states. (4) Roofing — 27 states have dedicated roofing contractor licenses separate from GC. (5) Excavation/Demolition — separate classification in many states. A GC license in states like California (B license) covers most work, but for electrical, plumbing, and roofing in California you need C-10 (electrical), C-36 (plumbing), and C-39 (roofing) specialty licenses respectively. Always verify whether your trade requires a separate license.
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