District of Columbia Contractor License Lookup

DC requires contractors to hold the right DLCP business license, such as Home Improvement Contractor or General Contractor, and trade workers to hold trade licenses. Search contractors on the official site of the DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP), Business Licensing, and see the rules for trades and the job price where each applies. Runs in your browser; nothing is stored.

Search DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP), Business Licensing

District of Columbia 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.

District of Columbia: Remodel, repair or home improvement

  • This state rule applies to jobs of $300 or more. Credential: home improvement contractor license.

    Home improvement work on a residence (remodeling, repair, additions, driveways, decks and similar) at a contract price of $300 or more is regulated work for a licensed home improvement contractor. Only a licensed contractor may take payment before the work is finished. Source: 16 DCMR 899.1 (definition); 16 DCMR 800.1

    Conditions and exceptions for this rule:

    • Two or more contracts between the same contractor and homeowner within 12 months count together toward the $300.
    • New residential construction is not home improvement work; it falls under general contracting.
    • Work by licensed electricians, plumbers, gasfitters and refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics is not home improvement work.

  • District of Columbia has a state rule for this work with no dollar minimum. Credential: basic business license (contractor and construction services).

    A contractor doing construction business in DC must hold a DLCP basic business license in the contractor and construction services category, such as General Contractor/Construction Manager or Home Improvement Contractor. This is a business license, not a competency license. Source: D.C. Code 47-2851.02(a); 47-2851.03(a)(3)

    Conditions and exceptions for this rule:

    • The license shows the company is licensed to do business in DC. DLCP lists paperwork requirements for it, such as liability insurance and tax registration, not a skills exam.
    • Home improvement work on a residence at $300 or more also carries the specific home improvement contractor rules.

Look up a contractor on the official site

Search DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP), Business Licensing

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 the District of Columbia licenses contractors

DC requires contractors to hold the right DLCP business license, such as Home Improvement Contractor or General Contractor, and trade workers to hold trade licenses. 16 DCMR 800, 899; D.C. Code 47-2853.02(a); DC Attorney General consumer guidance

Violating DC's home improvement rules can bring a fine of up to $300, up to 90 days in jail, or both, and civil fines can also apply. 16 DCMR 800.7

Rules by type of work

Home improvement and roofing

  • home improvement contractor license (residential): Home improvement work on a residence (remodeling, repair, additions, driveways, decks and similar) at a contract price of $300 or more is regulated work for a licensed home improvement contractor. Only a licensed contractor may take payment before the work is finished. Issued by DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP), Business Licensing. 16 DCMR 899.1 (definition); 16 DCMR 800.1
    • Two or more contracts between the same contractor and homeowner within 12 months count together toward the $300.
    • New residential construction is not home improvement work; it falls under general contracting.
    • Work by licensed electricians, plumbers, gasfitters and refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics is not home improvement work.
  • basic business license (contractor and construction services): A contractor doing construction business in DC must hold a DLCP basic business license in the contractor and construction services category, such as General Contractor/Construction Manager or Home Improvement Contractor. This is a business license, not a competency license. Issued by DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP), Business Licensing. D.C. Code 47-2851.02(a); 47-2851.03(a)(3)
    • The license shows the company is licensed to do business in DC. DLCP lists paperwork requirements for it, such as liability insurance and tax registration, not a skills exam.
    • Home improvement work on a residence at $300 or more also carries the specific home improvement contractor rules.

Building a new home

  • basic business license (contractor and construction services): A contractor doing construction business in DC must hold a DLCP basic business license in the contractor and construction services category, such as General Contractor/Construction Manager or Home Improvement Contractor. This is a business license, not a competency license. Issued by DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP), Business Licensing. D.C. Code 47-2851.02(a); 47-2851.03(a)(3)
    • The license shows the company is licensed to do business in DC. DLCP lists paperwork requirements for it, such as liability insurance and tax registration, not a skills exam.
    • Home improvement work on a residence at $300 or more also carries the specific home improvement contractor rules.

Electrical work, plumbing and HVAC

  • trade license (Board of Industrial Trades): Electricians, plumbers, gasfitters, and refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics are licensed by DC's Board of Industrial Trades, and no one may practice a licensed occupation without a current license. Issued by DLCP Occupational and Professional Licensing (Board of Industrial Trades: electricians, plumbers, gasfitters, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics). D.C. Code 47-2853.02(a); 47-2853.06(d)

Where to look up contractors in the District of Columbia

  • DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP), Business Licensing: official license search
  • DLCP Occupational and Professional Licensing (Board of Industrial Trades: electricians, plumbers, gasfitters, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics): official website. DLCP has no public trade-license search we could confirm. Contact DLCP Occupational and Professional Licensing to verify an electrician, plumber or HVAC mechanic license.

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 the District of Columbia?

Use the official online license search from the DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP), Business Licensing. 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 boards on this page: DLCP Occupational and Professional Licensing (Board of Industrial Trades: electricians, plumbers, gasfitters, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics).

Do you need a contractor license for a small job in the District of Columbia?

Home improvement work on a residence (remodeling, repair, additions, driveways, decks and similar) at a contract price of $300 or more is regulated work for a licensed home improvement contractor. Only a licensed contractor may take payment before the work is finished. For jobs under $300, this District rule generally does not apply, but the conditions and exceptions listed on this page can change that. The basic business license (contractor and construction services) has no dollar minimum.

Which trades need a license from the District?

Electrical: trade license (Board of Industrial Trades) from DLCP Occupational and Professional Licensing (Board of Industrial Trades: electricians, plumbers, gasfitters, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics). Plumbing: trade license (Board of Industrial Trades) from DLCP Occupational and Professional Licensing (Board of Industrial Trades: electricians, plumbers, gasfitters, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics). HVAC: trade license (Board of Industrial Trades) from DLCP Occupational and Professional Licensing (Board of Industrial Trades: electricians, plumbers, gasfitters, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics).

What happens if a District of Columbia contractor works without a required license?

Violating DC's home improvement rules can bring a fine of up to $300, up to 90 days in jail, or both, and civil fines can also apply.

Sources

Checked against official District of Columbia sources on October 25, 2026.

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