Contractor License Requirements by State (2026)

Contractor licensing in the US is all over the map. Whether you need a state license, local registration, or both comes down to where you work and the type of projects you take on. If you are a homeowner trying to verify a contractor, this same patchwork is what makes it confusing — so here is the lay of the land.

Do You Need a Contractor License?

Depends on your state. 29 states require some form of state-level contractor license. The other 21 states leave it to cities and counties to handle licensing or registration (or they don't require it at all).

States That Require a State-Level License

California, Florida, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, Virginia, North Carolina, and plenty of others require a state-issued license before you can legally do contracting work. Typical requirements:

States Without State-Level Licensing

Texas, New York, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and a handful of others do not have a state-level general contractor license. That does not mean it is the wild west — most major cities in those states still require local registration or a city-level license.

Important: Even in states with no state license, you still need to cover the basics. The guide to hiring a contractor covers how to vet someone in any state. At minimum, any contractor should have:

Cost to Get Licensed

Getting legitimately licensed and insured as a contractor runs $2,500 to $8,000 in startup costs, depending on state and trade:

View detailed requirements for your state

*Not sure what applies to you? Chat with the AI compliance assistant for a checklist tied to your state.*