State-by-State Licensing Requirements

Contractor licensing requirements vary significantly by state. Here is a general overview and how to find the exact requirements for your state.

States With Statewide Licensing

These states require a state-level contractor license to work legally:

Strict licensing states:

• California — Contractors State License Board (CSLB) license required for work over $500
• Florida — State Certified or State Registered license required
• Nevada — Nevada State Contractors Board license required
• Arizona — Registrar of Contractors license required
• Alaska — License required for most construction work

Moderate licensing states:

• Texas, New York, Georgia, Illinois — Licensing varies by trade and municipality

States With Local/Municipal Licensing

Some states leave licensing to cities and counties:

• Colorado — No statewide license, but many cities require local permits
• Montana — No statewide general contractor license (electricians and plumbers licensed separately)

Trade-Specific Licensing

Even in states with light general contractor requirements, specific trades are almost always licensed separately:

• Electricians
• Plumbers
• HVAC technicians
• General contractors above certain thresholds

Finding Your State Requirements

Visit your state's contractor licensing board website, or use the Lien Notice & Compliance tool at jobspaid.ai/resources/tools/lien-notice-checker to look up your state.

Adding Your License to Invoices

Go to Settings → Business Profile and add your license number to have it appear automatically on all invoices.