Virginia Contractor License Lookup

Virginia requires a Board for Contractors license (Class C, B or A by job size) for contracting work on a project of more than $1,000. Electrical, plumbing and HVAC contractors also need a master tradesman. Search contractors on the official site of the Virginia Board for Contractors (Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, DPOR), and see the rules for trades and the job price where each applies. Runs in your browser; nothing is stored.

Search Virginia Board for Contractors (Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, DPOR)

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

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Virginia: Remodel, repair or home improvement

  • This state rule applies to jobs over $1,000. Credential: contractor license (Class C, B or A).

    A contractor needs a Board for Contractors license for a project worth more than $1,000. Class C covers jobs up to $30,000, Class B $30,000 to under $150,000, and Class A $150,000 or more. Source: Va. Code 54.1-1100 (Class C definition, as amended by 2025 Acts cc. 127, 133); 54.1-1103(A)

    In effect since July 1, 2025.

    Conditions and exceptions for this rule:

    • The license class must match the job size; working above the class limit counts as contracting without the proper license.
    • Owners working on one primary residence for their own use (once in 24 months) are exempt.

Look up a contractor on the official site

Search Virginia Board for Contractors (Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, DPOR)

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 Virginia licenses contractors

Virginia requires a Board for Contractors license (Class C, B or A by job size) for contracting work on a project of more than $1,000. Electrical, plumbing and HVAC contractors also need a master tradesman. Va. Code 54.1-1103(A); 54.1-1100

Contracting without a license, or without the right class of license for the job size, is a Class 1 misdemeanor, with an added fine of up to $500 per day. Va. Code 54.1-1115(A), (B)

Rules by type of work

Home improvement, new homes and roofing

  • contractor license (Class C, B or A): A contractor needs a Board for Contractors license for a project worth more than $1,000. Class C covers jobs up to $30,000, Class B $30,000 to under $150,000, and Class A $150,000 or more. Issued by Virginia Board for Contractors (Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, DPOR). In effect since July 1, 2025. Va. Code 54.1-1100 (Class C definition, as amended by 2025 Acts cc. 127, 133); 54.1-1103(A)
    • The license class must match the job size; working above the class limit counts as contracting without the proper license.
    • Owners working on one primary residence for their own use (once in 24 months) are exempt.

Electrical work, plumbing and HVAC

  • contractor license with electrical, plumbing or HVAC specialty (master tradesman required): Electrical, plumbing and HVAC contractors need a Board for Contractors license on jobs over $1,000, and the Board requires a licensed master tradesman as a condition of that license. Issued by Virginia Board for Contractors (Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, DPOR). In effect since July 1, 2025. Va. Code 54.1-1100
    • The individual tradespeople doing the work hold their own tradesman licenses from the Board for Contractors.
  • tradesman license: Anyone doing electrical, plumbing or HVAC work for the public for pay needs a Board for Contractors tradesman license, at any job size, unless working under a licensed tradesman in that specialty. A contractor license is also needed for jobs over $1,000. Issued by Virginia Board for Contractors (Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, DPOR). Va. Code 54.1-1128, 54.1-1129(A)
    • Individuals working under the supervision of a tradesman licensed in that specialty do not need their own tradesman license.

Where to look up contractors in Virginia

  • Virginia Board for Contractors (Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, DPOR): 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 Virginia?

Use the official online license search from the Virginia Board for Contractors (Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, DPOR). 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.

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

A contractor needs a Board for Contractors license for a project worth more than $1,000. Class C covers jobs up to $30,000, Class B $30,000 to under $150,000, and Class A $150,000 or more. For jobs of $1,000 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 Virginia?

Electrical: contractor license with electrical, plumbing or HVAC specialty (master tradesman required) from the Virginia Board for Contractors (Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, DPOR) (more than $1,000); tradesman license from the Virginia Board for Contractors (Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, DPOR). Plumbing: contractor license with electrical, plumbing or HVAC specialty (master tradesman required) from the Virginia Board for Contractors (Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, DPOR) (more than $1,000); tradesman license from the Virginia Board for Contractors (Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, DPOR). HVAC: contractor license with electrical, plumbing or HVAC specialty (master tradesman required) from the Virginia Board for Contractors (Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, DPOR) (more than $1,000); tradesman license from the Virginia Board for Contractors (Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, DPOR).

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

Contracting without a license, or without the right class of license for the job size, is a Class 1 misdemeanor, with an added fine of up to $500 per day.

Sources

Checked against official Virginia sources on October 25, 2026.

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