Contractor licensing, state by state
"Licensed and insured" means very different things depending on where you live. In some states it is a real credential you can look up. In others there is no general contractor licence at all and the phrase means nothing. We checked all 51, and this is what we found.
Statewide licence (32 states)
This state licenses contractors at state level, so there is a single register to check and a licence number that means something everywhere in the state.
Alaska
Not yet listed
Alabama
3,021 listed here
Arkansas
12,646 listed here
Arizona
Not yet listed
California
200,132 listed here
Connecticut
30,903 listed here
District of Columbia
Not yet listed
Florida
111,254 listed here
Georgia
Not yet listed
Hawaii
Not yet listed
Idaho
Not yet listed
Louisiana
Not yet listed
Massachusetts
Not yet listed
Maryland
Not yet listed
Michigan
Not yet listed
Minnesota
10,350 listed here
Mississippi
Not yet listed
North Carolina
Not yet listed
North Dakota
Not yet listed
New Jersey
Not yet listed
New Mexico
Not yet listed
Nevada
Not yet listed
Oregon
38,640 listed here
Rhode Island
Not yet listed
South Carolina
Not yet listed
Tennessee
Not yet listed
Utah
Not yet listed
Virginia
Not yet listed
Vermont
Not yet listed
Washington
66,524 listed here
Wisconsin
Not yet listed
West Virginia
Not yet listed
Only specific trades are licensed (17 states)
This state licenses individual trades such as electrical, plumbing and HVAC, but issues no general contractor or remodeler licence. Anyone can call themselves a general contractor here. Licensing for the rest happens at city level, if at all.
Colorado
8,954 listed here
Delaware
Not yet listed
Iowa
Not yet listed
Illinois
16,630 listed here
Indiana
Not yet listed
Kansas
Not yet listed
Kentucky
Not yet listed
Maine
Not yet listed
Missouri
Not yet listed
Montana
Not yet listed
Nebraska
Not yet listed
New Hampshire
Not yet listed
Ohio
7,248 listed here
Oklahoma
Not yet listed
South Dakota
Not yet listed
Texas
31,951 listed here
Wyoming
Not yet listed
Licensed by city or county (2 states)
There is no statewide licence. Whether your contractor needs one depends on which city or county you live in, and the rules differ between neighbouring towns.