Alabama Contractor License Lookup

Alabama has two state licenses: the General Contractors board for non-residential projects of $100,000 or more, and the Home Builders Licensure Board for residential building and remodeling over $10,000 (residential roofing over $2,500). Search contractors on the official site of the Alabama Home Builders Licensure Board, and see the rules for trades and the job price where each applies. Runs in your browser; nothing is stored.

Search Alabama Home Builders Licensure Board

Alabama rules checked against official sources on October 25, 2026.

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Labor and materials together, in dollars. Leave it blank to see the state's dollar limits.

Alabama: Remodel, repair or home improvement

  • This state rule applies to jobs over $10,000. Credential: residential home builder license.

    Building, repairing or improving a home (up to three floors and four units) for someone else requires a Home Builders Licensure Board license when the cost is over $10,000. Source: Ala. Code 34-14A-2(16)

    Conditions and exceptions for this rule:

    • The law does not stop anyone from doing this work on their own residence or their own other real estate.

Look up a contractor on the official site

Search Alabama Home Builders Licensure Board

Home builder and roofing licenses are issued to individuals and companies; the board says to call 1-800-304-0853 if results are unclear.

What to check on the board's record

  • The name or business on the record matches the name on your contract or estimate.
  • The status is active, not expired, suspended or revoked.
  • The license type or class covers your kind of job.
  • The license number in the contractor's ads and contract is the same one.

This summarises state rules from official sources. Only the board's own record can confirm one contractor's license. Checked October 25, 2026.

How Alabama licenses contractors

Alabama has two state licenses: the General Contractors board for non-residential projects of $100,000 or more, and the Home Builders Licensure Board for residential building and remodeling over $10,000 (residential roofing over $2,500). Ala. Code 34-8-1; 34-8-7(a)(2); Ala. Code 34-14A-2(16)

Doing residential home building without a current Home Builders Licensure Board license is a Class A misdemeanor. Ala. Code 34-14A-14(a)

Rules by type of work

Home improvement and new homes

  • general contractor license (commercial): A general contractor license is required for non-residential projects when the cost, including labor and materials, is $100,000 or more. Commercial swimming pool construction needs a license at $5,000 or more. Issued by Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors. Ala. Code 34-8-1; 34-8-7(a)(2)
    • Subcontractors working under a licensed prime contractor on contracts of $100,000 or more ($5,000 for pools) must also be licensed.
    • Building or repairing a home, private dwelling or residential swimming pool is exempt from this license; residential work falls under the Home Builders Licensure Board.
  • residential home builder license (residential): Building, repairing or improving a home (up to three floors and four units) for someone else requires a Home Builders Licensure Board license when the cost is over $10,000. Issued by Alabama Home Builders Licensure Board. Ala. Code 34-14A-2(16)
    • The law does not stop anyone from doing this work on their own residence or their own other real estate.

Electrical work

  • electrical contractor license (state or local): Electrical contracting, and work as a master or journeyman electrician, requires a license from the Alabama Board of Electrical Contractors or from the county or city where the work is done. The law sets no dollar minimum. Issued by Alabama Board of Electrical Contractors. Ala. Code 34-36-13(a), (b)(2)
    • The law does not apply to a property owner, or the owner's employee, doing electrical work on the owner's own premises.
    • Systems operating on 25 volts or less, utility, telephone and satellite work, and some other listed work are exempt.
    • A statewide board license lets the electrician work in any county or city when the work has the proper local building permit and business license.

Plumbing

  • plumbing company registration and plumber certification: Plumbing and gas fitting companies must register with the state board before bidding or working, with a certified master as principal; their journeyman and apprentice workers must also be certified or registered. Issued by Alabama Plumbers and Gas Fitters Examining Board. Plumbers and Gas Fitters Examining Board (Ala. Code 34-37)

Heating and air conditioning (HVAC)

  • certified heating and air conditioning contractor: Heating, air conditioning and refrigeration contracting must be done under a contractor certified by the state HVACR board. The law sets no dollar minimum. Issued by Alabama Board of Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors. Ala. Code 34-31-24(a)(1)

Roofing

  • general contractor license (commercial): A general contractor license is required for non-residential projects when the cost, including labor and materials, is $100,000 or more. Commercial swimming pool construction needs a license at $5,000 or more. Issued by Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors. Ala. Code 34-8-1; 34-8-7(a)(2)
    • Subcontractors working under a licensed prime contractor on contracts of $100,000 or more ($5,000 for pools) must also be licensed.
    • Building or repairing a home, private dwelling or residential swimming pool is exempt from this license; residential work falls under the Home Builders Licensure Board.
  • residential roofer license (residential): Residential roofing work costing more than $2,500 requires a license from the Home Builders Licensure Board. Issued by Alabama Home Builders Licensure Board. Ala. Code 34-14A-2(16)
    • The law does not stop anyone from doing this work on their own residence or their own other real estate.

Where to look up contractors in Alabama

  • Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors: official license search. Type a name, license number, city, specialty or phone number into the search box above the list.
  • Alabama Home Builders Licensure Board: official license search. Home builder and roofing licenses are issued to individuals and companies; the board says to call 1-800-304-0853 if results are unclear.
  • Alabama Board of Electrical Contractors: official license search
  • Alabama Plumbers and Gas Fitters Examining Board: official license search. Search by license number, name, county or license type; there is a separate Business Lookup.
  • Alabama Board of Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors: official license search

On the record, check that the name matches your contract, the status is active (not expired, suspended or revoked), the license type covers your job, and the license number matches the one the contractor gave you.

What this tool does not do

  • It does not check any one contractor. Only the board's own record shows whether a license is active and what it covers.
  • It covers state rules. Cities and counties can add their own licenses and permits, and the tool cannot list every local rule.
  • It does not decide whether a contractor broke the law or what you can recover. For a dispute, contact the board or a lawyer.
  • It does not cover every specialty trade a state licenses (for example pest control, elevators or well drilling).

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I look up a contractor license in Alabama?

Use the official online license search from the Alabama Home Builders Licensure Board. Search by the contractor's name, business name or license number, and check that the status is active and the license type covers your job. Other state boards on this page: the Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors, the Alabama Board of Electrical Contractors, the Alabama Plumbers and Gas Fitters Examining Board and the Alabama Board of Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors.

Do you need a contractor license for a small job in Alabama?

Building, repairing or improving a home (up to three floors and four units) for someone else requires a Home Builders Licensure Board license when the cost is over $10,000. For jobs of $10,000 or less, this state rule generally does not apply, but the conditions and exceptions listed on this page can change that, and a city or county can require its own license.

Which trades need a state license in Alabama?

Electrical: electrical contractor license (state or local) from the Alabama Board of Electrical Contractors. Plumbing: plumbing company registration and plumber certification from the Alabama Plumbers and Gas Fitters Examining Board. HVAC: certified heating and air conditioning contractor from the Alabama Board of Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors.

What happens if an Alabama contractor works without a required license?

Doing residential home building without a current Home Builders Licensure Board license is a Class A misdemeanor.

Sources

Checked against official Alabama sources on October 25, 2026.

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