Licensing, state by state.
Contractor licensing is not federal — every state writes its own rules. Some have a single statewide board; some license only specific trades; a few don't license contractors at all and leave it to local governments. This directory normalizes all 50.
Verify a license before you sign.
Pick the state, enter a license number or contractor name, and we'll send you straight into the official state board lookup. We do not store the query.
All 50 boards.
Every state licensing board — general, trade-only, and none — with adopted code edition, classification count, and active license total. Click a row for the full state page.
Three kinds of regime.
Across the 50 states, residential contractor licensing falls into three broad categories. Knowing which regime your state operates under is the first question.
Statewide general license
One board issues general-contractor licenses (often with sub-classifications) plus individual trades. A contractor without one cannot legally perform work above a dollar threshold.
Trade-only licensing
The state licenses specific trades — typically electrical, plumbing, HVAC — but not general contractors. General-contracting status is handled at the city or county level, if at all.
No state licensing
The state does not license general residential contractors. Municipal or county authority applies — a contractor in Philadelphia is licensed by the city, not the commonwealth.
Cross-state basics.
For state-specific questions (fees, exam dates, reciprocity partners), see the individual state page.