North Carolina Contractor License Lookup

North Carolina requires a state general contractor license for construction projects costing $40,000 or more. Electrical, plumbing and HVAC contractors need a state trade license at any job size. Search contractors on the official site of the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors, and see the rules for trades and the job price where each applies. Runs in your browser; nothing is stored.

Search North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors

North Carolina 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.

North Carolina: Remodel, repair or home improvement

  • This state rule applies to jobs of $40,000 or more. Credential: general contractor license.

    A state general contractor license is required to build, remodel or manage construction of any building or structure when the total cost of the project is $40,000 or more. Source: N.C. Gen. Stat. 87-1(a), (b)(2); S.L. 2023-108 s. 2(a), (j)

    In effect since October 1, 2023.

    Conditions and exceptions for this rule:

    • Owners building or altering a building on their own land solely for their own family's occupancy are exempt (the home must be occupied by them for at least 12 months after completion).
    • The threshold was $30,000 until October 1, 2023.

Look up a contractor on the official site

Search North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors

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 North Carolina licenses contractors

North Carolina requires a state general contractor license for construction projects costing $40,000 or more. Electrical, plumbing and HVAC contractors need a state trade license at any job size. N.C. Gen. Stat. 87-1 (as amended by S.L. 2023-108, eff. 2023-10-01)

Bidding on or contracting for a covered project without a general contractor license is a Class 2 misdemeanor. N.C. Gen. Stat. 87-13

Rules by type of work

Home improvement, new homes and roofing

  • general contractor license: A state general contractor license is required to build, remodel or manage construction of any building or structure when the total cost of the project is $40,000 or more. Issued by North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors. In effect since October 1, 2023. N.C. Gen. Stat. 87-1(a), (b)(2); S.L. 2023-108 s. 2(a), (j)
    • Owners building or altering a building on their own land solely for their own family's occupancy are exempt (the home must be occupied by them for at least 12 months after completion).
    • The threshold was $30,000 until October 1, 2023.

Electrical work

  • electrical contractor license: Anyone in the business of installing, maintaining, altering or repairing electrical work needs a license from the State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors. There is no dollar threshold. Issued by North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors. N.C. Gen. Stat. 87-43

Plumbing and HVAC

  • plumbing or heating contractor license: Plumbing and heating/air conditioning contractors are licensed by the State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors (Class I for all buildings, Class II for single-family homes). There is no dollar threshold. Issued by North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors. N.C. Gen. Stat. 87-21
    • Installing plumbing or heating on property intended for sale or rental counts as contracting even without pay.

Where to look up contractors in North Carolina

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 North Carolina?

Use the official online license search from the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors. 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 North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors and the North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors.

Do you need a contractor license for a small job in North Carolina?

A state general contractor license is required to build, remodel or manage construction of any building or structure when the total cost of the project is $40,000 or more. For jobs under $40,000, 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 North Carolina?

Electrical: electrical contractor license from the North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors. Plumbing: plumbing or heating contractor license from the North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors. HVAC: plumbing or heating contractor license from the North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors.

What happens if a North Carolina contractor works without a required license?

Bidding on or contracting for a covered project without a general contractor license is a Class 2 misdemeanor.

Sources

Checked against official North Carolina sources on October 25, 2026.

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