Resources/License guides
Contractor license guides
Who needs a license, what it costs, how to renew and what home improvement contracts must include, for all 50 states and DC. Each guide is a plain-English summary of official state sources, checked October 16, 2026.
51 guides
Before you read your state
Some states test you before you can work. Others only ask you to register, show insurance and pay a fee. Washington and Vermont register contractors, while California and Nevada require exams and proof of experience.
Many licenses only apply above a dollar amount per job, such as $600 in Michigan, $10,000 for residential remodeling in Mississippi, $25,000 in Tennessee and $40,000 in North Carolina.
Electrical, plumbing and HVAC work usually needs its own license, even in states with no general contractor license. Texas, for example, licenses electricians, HVAC contractors and plumbers but not remodelers.
Where there is no statewide license, cities and counties often run their own programs. New York City, Kansas City and Cheyenne all license contractors locally.
How these guides are made. We read each state’s licensing board pages, statutes and forms, then wrote down what they say in plain English, with links to every source. Rules and fees change, so confirm with the licensing office before you apply. These guides aren’t legal advice.
Free PDF and editable Word or Excel templates for estimates, contracts, change orders and more.
Browse templates →Turn a cost into a price at the margin you want, and see the markup it takes to get there.
Open the calculator →Work out what an hour of your crew’s time really costs, then what to charge for it.
Open the calculator →Looking for a term? Try the contractor glossary.
Questions
Start with your state’s licensing board, which decides whether you need a license, which class fits your work and job size, and what you must show. Becoming a licensed contractor can mean proving experience, passing exams, registering the business and showing insurance, a bond or net worth, then paying the fee. Some states only register contractors, and some leave licensing to cities. This isn’t legal advice.
It lets a company contract for a whole job and hire subcontractors for parts of it, usually above a set job size. States name and tier it differently: Virginia has Class A, B and C licenses, and North Carolina licenses general contractors above $40,000. Texas and New York don’t issue one statewide. See how ECHOPS works for general contractors.
It depends on your state and the license. Where exams and proven experience are required, allow time to gather experience records, schedule and pass the exams, and wait for the board to review your application. States that only register contractors have fewer steps, such as insurance, a bond and a fee. Check current processing times with your board before you bid work; rules vary by state.
In some states, yes. Maryland requires a license for any home improvement work on a residence, Pennsylvania requires most home improvement contractors to register with the Attorney General, and in New York it’s up to places like New York City and several counties. Other states fold remodeling into a general or residential contractor license. Find your state above; this isn’t legal advice.
Usually: get field experience, learn estimating and the business side, meet your state’s or city’s licensing rules, carry insurance and any bond required, then set up the company. Read how to become a general contractor.
Try ECHOPS free for 14 days with your own leads and jobs. No credit card, and your workspace is ready in minutes.
Special price: your first 2 months from $49/mo. Limited spots, so sign up today.