Massachusetts Contractor License Lookup

Massachusetts has no single contractor license. Contractors on existing owner-occupied 1-4 unit homes register as Home Improvement Contractors, and most building work needs a licensed construction supervisor. Search contractors on the official site of the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation, Home Improvement Contractor Program, and see the rules for trades and the job price where each applies. Runs in your browser; nothing is stored.

Search Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation, Home Improvement Contractor Program

Massachusetts 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.

Massachusetts: Remodel, repair or home improvement

  • Massachusetts has a state rule for this work with no dollar minimum. Credential: Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) registration.

    A contractor or subcontractor doing residential contracting on an existing owner-occupied home of one to four units must be registered as a Home Improvement Contractor. No dollar minimum applies. Source: M.G.L. c.142A, s.9(a); s.1

    Conditions and exceptions for this rule:

    • HIC registration does not cover new home construction or homes that are not owner-occupied.
    • Contracts over $1,000 must be in writing.

  • Massachusetts has a state rule for this work with no dollar minimum. Credential: Construction Supervisor License (CSL).

    Construction on 1- and 2-family homes, on most existing 1- to 4-family owner-occupied homes, and on buildings under 35,000 cubic feet must be overseen by a licensed construction supervisor or a registered design professional. Source: 780 CMR ch. 1 (as summarized by OPSI)

    Conditions and exceptions for this rule:

    • Buildings over 35,000 cubic feet are controlled by a registered architect or engineer instead.
    • Homeowners have an exemption under 780 CMR chapter 1.

Look up a contractor on the official site

Search Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation, Home Improvement Contractor ProgramSearch Office of Public Safety and Inspections (Construction Supervisor 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.

City and county licenses: Check with the building official in the city or town where the project is located for any additional licensing requirements. Source

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

How Massachusetts licenses contractors

Massachusetts has no single contractor license. Contractors on existing owner-occupied 1-4 unit homes register as Home Improvement Contractors, and most building work needs a licensed construction supervisor. M.G.L. c.142A, s.9; 780 CMR (construction supervisor)

Check with the building official in the city or town where the project is located for any additional licensing requirements. (source)

Operating without an HIC registration is a prohibited act under the Home Improvement Contractor law. Doing electrical work without a license carries fines starting at $1,000 to $1,500 for a first offense. M.G.L. c.142A, s.17(1); c.141, s.5

Rules by type of work

Home improvement and roofing

  • Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) registration (residential): A contractor or subcontractor doing residential contracting on an existing owner-occupied home of one to four units must be registered as a Home Improvement Contractor. No dollar minimum applies. Issued by Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation, Home Improvement Contractor Program. M.G.L. c.142A, s.9(a); s.1
    • HIC registration does not cover new home construction or homes that are not owner-occupied.
    • Contracts over $1,000 must be in writing.
  • Construction Supervisor License (CSL): Construction on 1- and 2-family homes, on most existing 1- to 4-family owner-occupied homes, and on buildings under 35,000 cubic feet must be overseen by a licensed construction supervisor or a registered design professional. Issued by Office of Public Safety and Inspections (Construction Supervisor License). 780 CMR ch. 1 (as summarized by OPSI)
    • Buildings over 35,000 cubic feet are controlled by a registered architect or engineer instead.
    • Homeowners have an exemption under 780 CMR chapter 1.

Building a new home

  • Construction Supervisor License (CSL): Construction on 1- and 2-family homes, on most existing 1- to 4-family owner-occupied homes, and on buildings under 35,000 cubic feet must be overseen by a licensed construction supervisor or a registered design professional. Issued by Office of Public Safety and Inspections (Construction Supervisor License). 780 CMR ch. 1 (as summarized by OPSI)
    • Buildings over 35,000 cubic feet are controlled by a registered architect or engineer instead.
    • Homeowners have an exemption under 780 CMR chapter 1.

Electrical work

  • state electrician license (Board of State Examiners of Electricians): Anyone in the business of installing electrical wiring, fixtures or equipment in Massachusetts must be licensed by the state examiners of electricians. Issued by Division of Occupational Licensure: Board of State Examiners of Electricians / Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters. M.G.L. c.141, s.1A

Plumbing

  • state plumber or gas fitter license: Working as a master, journeyman or apprentice plumber or gas fitter in Massachusetts requires a license from the Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters. Issued by Division of Occupational Licensure: Board of State Examiners of Electricians / Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters. M.G.L. c.142, s.3

Heating and air conditioning (HVAC)

We could not confirm a statewide Massachusetts rule for this work from official sources. Ask the contractor which license covers it, check that license with the agency that issued it, and ask your city or county building department.

Where to look up contractors in Massachusetts

  • Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation, Home Improvement Contractor Program: official license search
  • Office of Public Safety and Inspections (Construction Supervisor License): official license search
  • Division of Occupational Licensure: Board of State Examiners of Electricians / Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters: official license search. Search by license number, or by the licensee's name, license type, or business name or address.

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 Massachusetts?

Use the official online license search from the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation, Home Improvement Contractor Program. 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 Office of Public Safety and Inspections (Construction Supervisor License) and the Division of Occupational Licensure: Board of State Examiners of Electricians / Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters.

Does Massachusetts require a contractor license?

A contractor or subcontractor doing residential contracting on an existing owner-occupied home of one to four units must be registered as a Home Improvement Contractor. No dollar minimum applies. Construction on 1- and 2-family homes, on most existing 1- to 4-family owner-occupied homes, and on buildings under 35,000 cubic feet must be overseen by a licensed construction supervisor or a registered design professional.

Which trades need a state license in Massachusetts?

Electrical: state electrician license (Board of State Examiners of Electricians) from the Division of Occupational Licensure: Board of State Examiners of Electricians / Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters. Plumbing: state plumber or gas fitter license from the Division of Occupational Licensure: Board of State Examiners of Electricians / Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters.

What happens if a Massachusetts contractor works without a required license?

Operating without an HIC registration is a prohibited act under the Home Improvement Contractor law. Doing electrical work without a license carries fines starting at $1,000 to $1,500 for a first offense.

Sources

Checked against official Massachusetts sources on October 25, 2026.

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