Commercial Contractor License Requirements by State: 2026 Registry

State-by-state registry

Checked quarterly. Last checked 2026-10-04. Entries are neutral records of public data; each links to its source record.

How many states license commercial general contractors

Eighteen states license commercial general contractors at the state level with an exam, 12 jurisdictions use registration or a non-exam license, and 20 leave the job to cities and counties.

We checked the official licensing board page or statute for each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia on 2026-10-04 and sorted each into one of four models. Ten jurisdictions require a state license with an exam that applies from the first dollar or from a small-job exemption under $10,000. Eight states require a state license only above a commercial project value of $10,000 or more. Twelve jurisdictions require state registration or a license with no exam. Twenty states have no state license for commercial general contractors. Indiana could not be verified.

Commercial general contractor: A firm that contracts with an owner to build, alter or manage a nonresidential project and usually hires subcontractors. State definitions differ, and some states (Florida, Oregon) split building and general contractor scopes.

Commercial contractor license requirements by state: the 51-jurisdiction table

The table lists each jurisdiction's model, dollar trigger, exam, bond, financial proof, insurance and NASCLA status as stated on the cited official page.

Entries marked 'Not stated' mean the page we opened did not state the item, not that the state has no such rule. The registry below the sections links each entry to its source and records the date of the rule where the source states one. For market context by state, see our commercial builders by state data.

States that require a state license with an exam

Ten jurisdictions require an examined state license that applies to nearly all paid construction work, with exemptions only for small jobs.

The ten model-1 states are Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Virginia. In California a license is needed when the project costs $1,000 or more, needs a building permit or uses employees (CSLB). Arizona exempts only casual work under $1,000 that needs no permit (Arizona statute). Florida's minor-work exemption stops at $2,500 (Florida Statutes); see our South Florida commercial construction report for the regional market.

Virginia grades its license by project size: Class C for projects over $1,000 and under $30,000, Class B from $30,000 to under $150,000, and Class A for a single project of $150,000 or more or $1,000,000 in 12 months (Code of Virginia). Utah's handyman exemption covers alteration or repair under $7,000 in the version of its statute effective 2025-05-07 (Utah Code).

Georgia, New Mexico and Oregon did not state a dollar floor on the pages checked. Oregon requires a commercial endorsement; its Level 1 commercial general contractor posts an $80,000 bond and carries $2,000,000 in aggregate liability insurance (Oregon CCB).

Threshold-based states: where a commercial license starts at a project value

Eight states license commercial general contractors only above a project value, from $10,000 in South Carolina to $100,000 in Alabama, with a median of $45,000.

Alabama requires a general contractor license where the cost of the undertaking is $100,000 or more (Alabama board). Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi start at $50,000 (Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi). North Carolina starts at $40,000 (North Carolina statute). Tennessee and West Virginia start at $25,000 for commercial work (Tennessee, West Virginia Code). South Carolina requires a license above $10,000, raised from $5,000 in 2023 (South Carolina Code).

Below these floors, cities and counties may still require a local license or permit. West Virginia's commercial floor of $25,000 differs from the $2,500 figure that appears in a widely read insurer guide (NEXT Insurance), which shows why secondary summaries need checking against the statute.

States with registration only or a license without an exam

Twelve jurisdictions require contractors to register with a state agency, post a bond or insurance, or hold a non-exam license, without testing competence.

The model-2 jurisdictions are Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Washington. Washington requires every construction contractor to register with L&I and post a $30,000 bond for general contractors (Washington L&I). Alaska requires a $25,000 bond and liability insurance to register as a general contractor (Alaska application). Idaho requires registration for jobs above $2,000 and $300,000 in liability insurance (Idaho DOPL). North Dakota issues a Secretary of State license when a job exceeds $4,000, graded by job value but with no exam stated (North Dakota).

Montana converted its construction contractor registration into a state license effective 2026-01-01 under a 2025 law (Montana statute, rule notice); no exam appears in either document, so we keep it in this group. The District of Columbia enacted a general contractor licensing law effective 2024-12-17 that creates a board, an exam and net worth rules, but it applies only from the later of 2026-01-01 or 120 days after funding (D.C. Law Library).

States that leave commercial contractor licensing to localities

Twenty states have no state license for commercial general contractors; cities and counties set their own rules, and the state often licenses only trades or home improvement work.

The model-3 states are Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, Wisconsin, Wyoming. Maine's Attorney General states that general contractors are not licensed or regulated in Maine (Maine AG). Michigan licenses residential builders, not commercial builders (Michigan LARA). Pennsylvania's business hub states there is no license specifically for commercial contracting (PA Business One-Stop). Ohio licenses five commercial trades but not general contractors (Ohio OCILB).

Massachusetts sits at the edge of this group: an individual construction supervisor license is required for buildings under 35,000 cubic feet, while larger projects rely on the registered design professional (Mass.gov). For Colorado, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri and Wyoming the evidence is a local licensing page (Boulder, Chicago, Louisville, St. Louis, Casper) plus the absence of a state program; Texas, South Dakota and Oklahoma rest on state lists of licensed occupations that omit general contractors.

Exam, bond, net worth and insurance requirements

Among examined-license states, the usual package is a business and law exam, a trade exam, a financial statement or net worth test, and in some states a bond and liability insurance.

• Exam: 16 states state an exam, usually a business and law exam plus a trade exam. Virginia requires 8 hours of pre-license education instead of stating an exam (Virginia DPOR).
• Net worth: Georgia sets $150,000 for a Commercial General Contractor (Georgia SOS); Arkansas and Mississippi set $50,000 for the building or major classification (Arkansas, Mississippi).
• Bond: Arizona's general commercial bond runs from $2,500 to $100,000 by annual volume (Arizona statute); Nevada's board sets bonds from $1,000 to $500,000 (Nevada NSCB); California requires $25,000 (CSLB).
• Insurance: Mississippi requires $300,000 per occurrence and $600,000 aggregate for commercial applicants (MSBOC); Utah requires $1,000,000 per incident and $2,000,000 total (Utah DOPL). Louisiana does not require insurance certificates from commercial applicants (LSLBC).
• Financial statement: Tennessee requires a CPA-reviewed statement for monetary limits up to $3,000,000 and an audit above that (Tennessee application). California states it has no financial requirement for licensure.

Owners comparing bidders can ask for the license number, classification and monetary limit alongside price; our guide on how to compare construction bids covers how to line up those items.

Reciprocity and the NASCLA exam

Reciprocity in commercial contractor licensing mostly waives a trade exam; it rarely replaces the license itself. Seventeen states accept the NASCLA commercial exam.

NASCLA lists 20 state agencies that accept its Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors, covering 17 states plus the U.S. Virgin Islands (NASCLA). The exam was ready for state adoption in September 2009 and is used in place of state trade exams; state business and law exams and applications still apply (NASCLA).

Licensing changes in 2025 and 2026

Official sources show Montana moving from registration to licensing, the District of Columbia enacting a licensing law, Tennessee changing its financial rules and Utah's exemption at $7,000.

How to check a contractor's license

Every state with a license or registration offers a public lookup; local-only states require a check with the city or county that issued the license.

Use the lookup on the board page linked in the registry for the state where the work will be built, confirm the classification covers commercial work, and check any monetary limit against the contract value. In local-only states, ask the building department of the city or county. Our guide on how to choose a commercial contractor lists the other checks owners make before signing.

Counts and distributions

Download the calculations (CSV)

Key findings

1. Alabama has the highest commercial floor: a general contractor license applies at $100,000 or more (checked 2026-10-04).^[1]
2. Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi start commercial licensing at $50,000 per project (checked 2026-10-04).^[7][23][31]
3. North Carolina's general contractor license applies from $40,000 per project (current statute, 2026-10-04).^[43]
4. Tennessee requires a license before bidding projects of $25,000 or more; West Virginia's commercial floor is also $25,000.^[55][66]
5. South Carolina requires a license above $10,000, raised from $5,000 in 2023.^[52]
6. California requires a CSLB license for projects of $1,000 or more and a $25,000 bond (checked 2026-10-04).^[9]
7. Virginia's Class A license applies to single projects of $150,000 or more; Class B from $30,000 (current code).^[63]
8. Georgia requires $150,000 net worth and $500,000 per-occurrence liability insurance for commercial general contractors.^[17]
9. Oregon's Level 1 commercial general contractor posts an $80,000 bond (checked 2026-10-04).^[49]
10. Washington requires all contractors to register and general contractors to post a $30,000 bond.^[65]
11. Maine's Attorney General states that general contractors are not licensed or regulated in Maine.^[25]
12. Michigan licenses residential builders, not commercial builders.^[29]
13. NASCLA lists 20 agencies in 17 states plus the U.S. Virgin Islands that accept its commercial exam.^[72]

Executive summary

• 18 of 51 jurisdictions (35.3%) require an examined state license for commercial general contractors, as of 2026-10-04.
• 20 states (39.2%) have no state commercial GC license and leave licensing to cities and counties.
• 12 jurisdictions use registration or a non-exam license, including Washington, Alaska, Idaho and North Dakota.
• Eight states license only above a commercial project value: minimum $10,000, median $45,000, maximum $100,000.
• 16 states state an exam, 10 require financial statements or net worth proof, 11 jurisdictions state liability insurance and 9 a bond.
• 17 states accept the NASCLA commercial exam, 94.4% of examined-license states; Hawaii is the exception.
• Montana began licensing contractors on 2026-01-01 and the District of Columbia enacted a licensing law effective 2024-12-17.

Frequently asked questions

Related guides, services and research

• How to Choose a Commercial Contractor: Checks, Red Flags and a Scorecard
• How We Vet Commercial Builders Before Any Introduction
• Commercial Building Permits in Florida: Review, Inspections and Occupancy
• Mechanics lien laws by state: lien deadlines, preliminary notice and prompt pay rules for commercial subcontractors
• OSHA Violations in Commercial Construction vs Residential and Specialty Trades
• Federal Construction Contracts by State: FY2025 Obligations, Buyers and Top Recipients

Methodology

Selection: for each of the 50 states and DC we opened the licensing board page, the statute, or both, between 2026-10-03 and 2026-10-04. Only official .gov, legislature or board domains count as Tier 1. Where a board site blocked automated access we read it through a text proxy and saved the copy in raw/pages. NASCLA's participating agency list is Tier 2. A political caucus press page (Maine) and two commercial guides (Procore, NEXT Insurance) are Tier 3 and used only for the recency note and the comparison with secondary sources.

Classification: model 1 is a state license with an exam that applies from the first dollar or above a small-job exemption under $10,000; model 4 is a state license that applies only above a commercial project value of $10,000 or more; model 2 is state registration or a state license with no exam; model 3 is no state license for commercial general contractors. The $10,000 cut-off is our convention and is stated wherever the models are used. Montana (licensed since 2026-01-01 with no exam found) and North Dakota (license by job value, no exam) are placed in model 2.

Inclusion and exclusion: requirements are counted only when the opened page states them. 'Not stated' is not evidence of no requirement. Indiana is marked not verified because no official page confirming its rule could be opened; it is listed in excluded.md. For Colorado, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri and Wyoming the local-only classification rests on a local licensing page plus the absence of a state program; Texas, South Dakota and Oklahoma rest on state lists of licensed occupations.

Conflicts: where a secondary guide and the statute disagree, the statute wins. Example: a NEXT Insurance guide gives West Virginia's trigger as $2,500, while the current West Virginia Code sets $25,000 for commercial work and $5,000 for residential.

Derived metrics: counts, shares, the min, median and max of commercial floors, and NASCLA coverage are calculated in derived_metrics.csv from fact sheet rows, reproducible with scripts/build_report.py.

Limitations: local licenses, permit rules, trade licenses (electrical, plumbing, mechanical) and public works prequalification are outside the scope. Dates in the registry are the effective date where the source states one; otherwise the date we checked.

Registry check frequency: quarterly. Last checked 2026-10-04. This page is not legal advice; verify with the licensing board before bidding.

This report presents published data with its limitations. It is not legal, financial or investment advice.

Sources, ranked by quality

Tier 1: primary and official sources (74)

• [1] Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors. Contractor Licensing Law (General Contractor definition). Current law as posted. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [2] Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors. How to Apply for a License. Current. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [3] Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development. General Contractor Registration Application (form 08-4815). Current form. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [4] Arizona State Legislature. A.R.S. 32-1121, Persons not required to be licensed. Current statute. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [5] Arizona State Legislature. A.R.S. 32-1152, Bonds. Current statute. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [6] Arizona State Legislature. A.R.S. 32-1122, Qualifications for license. Current statute. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [7] Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing, Contractors Licensing Board. Apply for Contractors License/Registration. Current. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [8] Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board. Commercial License New Application (rev. 10-2026). Form revised October 2026. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [9] California Contractors State License Board. Step 1: Before Applying for the Examination. Current. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [10] Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection. Major Contractor Registration Application. Current. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [11] Delaware One Stop (State of Delaware). Construction Contractors. Current. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [12] District of Columbia Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection. Contractor and Construction Services. Current. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [13] Council of the District of Columbia (D.C. Law Library). D.C. Law 25-244, General Contractor Licensing Amendment Act of 2024. Effective 2024-12-17. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [14] The Florida Legislature. Florida Statutes 489.105, Definitions. 2026 Florida Statutes. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [15] The Florida Legislature. Florida Statutes 489.103, Exemptions. 2026 Florida Statutes. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [16] Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. Construction Industry Licensing Board. Current. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [17] Georgia Secretary of State. Residential and Commercial General Contractors Frequently Asked Questions. Current. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [18] Hawaii State Legislature. HRS 444-2, Exemptions. Current statute. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [19] Hawaii Contractors License Board, DCCA. Requirements for License: Contractor (Sole Proprietor). Form revised 10/25. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [20] Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses. Contractors Board FAQ. Current. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [21] Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing. Contractor Registration. Current. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [22] Kansas Business Center One Stop. Construction (Business Starter Kit). Current. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [23] Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors. Types of Licenses. Current. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [24] Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors. Checklist of Items Required for Initial License. Current. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [25] Maine Office of the Attorney General. Home Construction and Repair. Current. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [27] Maryland Home Improvement Commission. FAQs: Do You Need a License to Do That?. Current. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [28] Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Office of Public Safety and Inspections. When is a Construction Supervisor License required?. Current. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [29] Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. Residential Builders FAQ. Current. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [30] Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry. Construction contractor registration. Current. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [31] Mississippi State Board of Contractors. Frequently Asked Questions. Current. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [32] Mississippi State Board of Contractors. Apply For A License. Current. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [33] City of St. Louis License Collector. Construction Contracting Business license. Current. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [34] Montana Department of Labor and Industry. MAR Notice No. 2025-209.1, Construction contractor licensing. Published 2025-11-07. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [35] Montana Department of Labor and Industry. Title 37, Chapter 45, Construction Contractors. Effective 2026-01-01. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [36] Nebraska Department of Labor. Who Needs to Register (Contractor Registration). Current. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [37] Nevada State Contractors Board. License Requirements. Current. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [38] Nevada Legislature. NRS Chapter 624, Contractors. Current statute. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [39] New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification. Find a Board. Current. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [40] New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs. Home Improvement Contractors FAQ. Current. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [41] New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department, Construction Industries Division. Apply for a Construction Industries License. Current. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [42] New York State Office of the Attorney General. Contractors and home maintenance. Current. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [43] North Carolina General Assembly. G.S. 87-1, General contractor defined. Last amended by S.L. 2023-108. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [44] North Carolina General Assembly. G.S. 87-10, Application for license; examination. Current statute. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [45] North Dakota Secretary of State. Contractors (Licensing and Registration). Current. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [46] Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board. Contractors and Contracting Companies. Current. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [47] Oklahoma Construction Industries Board. Construction Industries Board. Current. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [48] Oregon Construction Contractors Board. CCB License. Current. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [49] Oregon Construction Contractors Board. CCB License Endorsements chart. Current. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [50] Pennsylvania Business One-Stop Hub. Construction Contractors/Landscapers help guide. Current. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [51] Rhode Island Contractors' Registration and Licensing Board. General Contractor Registration. Page updated 2025-09-08. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [52] South Carolina Legislature. South Carolina Code Title 40, Chapter 11. Current code. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [53] South Carolina Contractor's Licensing Board (LLR). Licensure with the Board. Current. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [54] South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation. South Dakota Occupational Licensing Agencies. Current. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [55] Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance. Subcontractors/Who is Required to be Licensed. Current. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [56] Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors. Contractor's License Application Package. Current form. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [57] Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors. Contractor (get a license). Current. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [58] Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Apply for a New License. Current. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [59] Utah Division of Professional Licensing. General Contractor. Current. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [60] Utah State Legislature. Utah Code 58-55-305, Exemptions from licensure. Version effective 2025-05-07. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [61] Utah Division of Professional Licensing. Specialty Contractor License. Current. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [62] Vermont Secretary of State, Office of Professional Regulation. Residential Contractor FAQs. Current. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [63] Virginia General Assembly (Legislative Information System). Code of Virginia 54.1-1100, Definitions. Current code. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [64] Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation. Board for Contractors. Current. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [65] Washington State Department of Labor and Industries. Register as a Contractor. Current. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [66] West Virginia Legislature. W. Va. Code 30-42-3, Definitions (Contractor Licensing Act). Current code. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [67] Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services. Dwelling Contractor (DC). Current. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [68] City of Casper, Wyoming. General and Sub Contractors (contractor licensing). Current. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [69] City of Boulder, Colorado. Contractor Licensing. Current. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [70] City of Chicago Department of Buildings. General Contractor License. Current. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [71] Louisville Metro Government. Obtain a Contractor's License. Current. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [74] Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors. 2024 Reciprocity Change (letter). 2024. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [75] Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation. Contractor Consumer Information. Current. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [76] Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses. Contractors Board (registration fees and board news). Current. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [79] Delaware Division of Revenue. Contractors: Resident and Non-Resident. Current. Accessed 2026-10-04.

Tier 2: trade bodies, market research, company data (2)

• [72] National Association of State Contractors Licensing Agencies (NASCLA). NASCLA Commercial Exam: Participating State Agencies. Current list. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [73] National Association of State Contractors Licensing Agencies (NASCLA). NASCLA Commercial Exam. Current. Accessed 2026-10-04.

Tier 3: journalism and expert commentary (3)

• [26] Maine House Democrats (maine.gov). House advances Roberts legislation to protect Maine consumers by licensing general contractors. 2025-06-02. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [77] Procore. Contractors' License Guide: All States. Last updated 2025-01-15. Accessed 2026-10-04.
• [78] NEXT Insurance. General contractor license requirements by state. Undated. Accessed 2026-10-04.