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Before you hire a contractor — or sign a subcontract — verify their license with the only source that counts: the state licensing board itself. Pick your state below and we'll route you to the official board search, with exactly what to check when you get there.
Pick your state above
Contractor licenses are issued by states (and a few big cities), not the federal government. Your state page names the exact board that licenses your contractor's trade.
Open the official board search
We deep-link you to the board's own lookup page — never a paid middleman or a scraped copy that may be months out of date.
Search by license number or name
The license number is printed on the contractor's contracts, bids, and ads by law in most states. No number? Search by business or owner name.
✓ Status is Active
Anything else — expired, suspended, revoked, delinquent — means the contractor is not authorized to do the work right now.
✓ Name matches your contract
The license belongs to a specific person or business entity. If the name on the record doesn't match the company you're paying, stop and ask why.
✓ Classification covers the job
A license only authorizes the categories listed on it — an electrical license doesn't cover a roof replacement.
✓ Expiration date is in the future
Licenses lapse more often than you'd think. Check the date covers your whole project, not just the start.
✓ No serious disciplinary actions
Boards publish citations, suspensions, and legal actions. One old minor citation is different from a pattern of complaints.
✓ Bond & insurance are current
Boards like California's CSLB and Washington's L&I show bond and insurance status right on the record.
Each state page names the licensing board, what it covers, and links straight to the official search.
California contractor license lookup
Contractors State License Board (CSLB)
Verify a California license →Texas contractor license lookup
Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR)
Verify a Texas license →Florida contractor license lookup
Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) — Construction Industry Licensing Board
Verify a Florida license →New York contractor license lookup
NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) — Licensing & Exams Unit
Verify a New York license →Washington contractor license lookup
Department of Labor & Industries (L&I)
Verify a Washington license →Arizona contractor license lookup
Arizona Registrar of Contractors (AZ ROC)
Verify a Arizona license →Illinois contractor license lookup
Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR)
Verify a Illinois license →North Carolina contractor license lookup
Licensing Board for General Contractors (NCLBGC)
Verify a North Carolina license →Georgia contractor license lookup
Secretary of State — Professional Licensing Boards (State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors)
Verify a Georgia license →Ohio contractor license lookup
Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB) — via eLicense Ohio
Verify a Ohio license →Working in a state that isn't listed yet? Find your local permit office in the AHJ permit portal directory — and check back, we add states in order of demand.
Pick your state in the tool above and open the official licensing board's search. Enter the contractor's license number (fastest) or their business or personal name. The board's record shows whether the license is active, what work it covers, and any disciplinary history.
Five things: the status is Active/Current, the name matches the company on your contract, the license classification covers your type of work, the expiration date is in the future, and there are no serious disciplinary actions. Where the board shows it, also confirm bond and insurance are current.
Yes. Every state board linked here offers its license search free to the public. Permit Warden simply routes you to the right official search for your state — we don't charge, and we don't keep a copy of anyone's license record.
We are adding states in order of search demand. In the meantime, your state licensing board's website will have a license search — search for your state name plus "contractor license board." If the contractor will pull permits, you can also find your local permit office in our AHJ directory.
Don't hire them for work that requires one. In most states, unlicensed contracting is illegal, the contract may be unenforceable, the contractor can't pull permits, and you lose access to the board's complaint process and recovery funds. A licensed contractor will always share their license number when asked.
APN & Parcel Number Lookup — find the assessor's parcel number your permit application needs, for any U.S. address.
Permit Warden tracks contractor licenses, permits, and renewal deadlines across your whole team and every subcontractor, with automatic reminders before anything lapses.
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