Arkansas Contractor License Lookup

Arkansas licenses commercial contractors for jobs of $50,000 or more, and separately licenses residential builders and home improvement contractors for jobs over $2,000. Residential roofers must register. Contact the Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board and Residential Contractors Committee (Department of Labor and Licensing) to confirm a license or registration, and see the rules for trades and the job price where each applies. Runs in your browser; nothing is stored.

Arkansas 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.

Arkansas: Remodel, repair or home improvement

  • This state rule applies to jobs over $2,000. Credential: residential building contractor or home improvement license.

    Building a single-family home, or remodeling or repairing one, requires a license from the Residential Contractors Committee when the job costs more than $2,000. Source: A.C.A. 17-25-505; 17-25-513(3)

    Conditions and exceptions for this rule:

    • Splitting a project into contracts under $2,000 does not escape the requirement.
    • Owners building their own residence (one per year) or improving their own single-family home are exempt.

Look up a contractor on the official site

Go to Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board and Residential Contractors Committee (Department of Labor and Licensing)

The board page says its online search is unavailable at this time. If it is still down, contact the Contractors Licensing Board to verify a license.

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 Arkansas licenses contractors

Arkansas licenses commercial contractors for jobs of $50,000 or more, and separately licenses residential builders and home improvement contractors for jobs over $2,000. Residential roofers must register. A.C.A. 17-25-101; 17-25-505; 17-25-513(3); 17-25-603

A contractor who works in violation of the residential licensing law cannot go to court to enforce the contract or collect payment for the work. A.C.A. 17-25-515

Rules by type of work

Remodel, repair or home improvement

  • commercial contractor license (commercial): A Contractors Licensing Board license is required for building work on anything other than a residence of one to four units, such as commercial buildings and larger apartment buildings, when labor and materials total $50,000 or more. Issued by Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board and Residential Contractors Committee (Department of Labor and Licensing). A.C.A. 17-25-101(a)(1)
    • Splitting a project into contracts under $50,000 to avoid the law does not escape the requirement.
    • For this law, a single-family residence means a project of one to four units built for residential occupancy.
  • residential building contractor or home improvement license (residential): Building a single-family home, or remodeling or repairing one, requires a license from the Residential Contractors Committee when the job costs more than $2,000. Issued by Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board and Residential Contractors Committee (Department of Labor and Licensing). A.C.A. 17-25-505; 17-25-513(3)
    • Splitting a project into contracts under $2,000 does not escape the requirement.
    • Owners building their own residence (one per year) or improving their own single-family home are exempt.

Building a new home

  • residential building contractor or home improvement license (residential): Building a single-family home, or remodeling or repairing one, requires a license from the Residential Contractors Committee when the job costs more than $2,000. Issued by Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board and Residential Contractors Committee (Department of Labor and Licensing). A.C.A. 17-25-505; 17-25-513(3)
    • Splitting a project into contracts under $2,000 does not escape the requirement.
    • Owners building their own residence (one per year) or improving their own single-family home are exempt.

Electrical work

  • electrician license: Electrical work requires a state electrical license from the Board of Electrical Examiners. The law sets no dollar minimum. Issued by Arkansas Board of Electrical Examiners (Department of Labor and Licensing). A.C.A. 17-28-304; 17-28-102(b)
    • A license is not required for an individual doing electrical work on their own primary residence, unless other state law or local rules require it.

Plumbing

  • plumber license: Work as a master, journeyman, apprentice or restricted plumber requires a license or registration from the Arkansas Department of Health. The law sets no dollar minimum. Issued by Arkansas Department of Health, Plumbing and Natural Gas Section. A.C.A. 17-38-301(a)(1), (b)(1); 17-38-302
    • In a city or town, or in an area served by a water, sewer or gas utility system, plumbing may be installed only with a licensed master or restricted plumber in charge.
    • Exempt: a property owner doing plumbing in a home they own and occupy (unless a local ordinance requires a license), and minor repairs of working parts or clearing stoppages.

Heating and air conditioning (HVAC)

  • HVACR license: Heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration work requires the appropriate state HVACR license or registration. The law sets no dollar minimum. Issued by Arkansas HVACR Licensing Board (Department of Labor and Licensing). A.C.A. 17-33-301(a)

Roofing

  • commercial contractor license (commercial): A Contractors Licensing Board license is required for building work on anything other than a residence of one to four units, such as commercial buildings and larger apartment buildings, when labor and materials total $50,000 or more. Issued by Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board and Residential Contractors Committee (Department of Labor and Licensing). A.C.A. 17-25-101(a)(1)
    • Splitting a project into contracts under $50,000 to avoid the law does not escape the requirement.
    • For this law, a single-family residence means a project of one to four units built for residential occupancy.
  • residential roofing contractor registration (residential): Residential roofing contractors must hold a roofing contractor registration certificate from the Residential Contractors Committee. The law sets no dollar minimum. Issued by Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board and Residential Contractors Committee (Department of Labor and Licensing). A.C.A. 17-25-603(a)
    • Exempt: an owner doing roofing on their own single-family home, and contractors already licensed by the state for work within their license.
    • A licensed home improvement or residential building contractor does not need the roofing registration when roofing is no more than 50 percent of the total project cost and the contractor does not sell roofing door to door.

Where to look up contractors in Arkansas

  • Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board and Residential Contractors Committee (Department of Labor and Licensing): official website. The board page says its online search is unavailable at this time. If it is still down, contact the Contractors Licensing Board to verify a license.
  • Arkansas Board of Electrical Examiners (Department of Labor and Licensing): official license search
  • Arkansas HVACR Licensing Board (Department of Labor and Licensing): official license search
  • Arkansas Department of Health, Plumbing and Natural Gas Section: official website

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 Arkansas?

Contact the Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board and Residential Contractors Committee (Department of Labor and Licensing) through its official website to confirm a license or registration; we did not find a working online search. Check that the status is active and covers your job. Other state boards on this page: the Arkansas Board of Electrical Examiners (Department of Labor and Licensing), the Arkansas HVACR Licensing Board (Department of Labor and Licensing) and the Arkansas Department of Health, Plumbing and Natural Gas Section.

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

Building a single-family home, or remodeling or repairing one, requires a license from the Residential Contractors Committee when the job costs more than $2,000. For jobs of $2,000 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 Arkansas?

Electrical: electrician license from the Arkansas Board of Electrical Examiners (Department of Labor and Licensing). Plumbing: plumber license from the Arkansas Department of Health, Plumbing and Natural Gas Section. HVAC: HVACR license from the Arkansas HVACR Licensing Board (Department of Labor and Licensing).

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

A contractor who works in violation of the residential licensing law cannot go to court to enforce the contract or collect payment for the work.

Sources

Checked against official Arkansas sources on October 25, 2026.

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