Permits and licensing
Renovation permits and contractor licenses in the US
Before you renovate, two questions matter: does the work need a permit, and does the person doing it need a licence? There is no national contractor licence in the United States: licensing is set state by state, and some states leave it to cities and counties. Pick your state to see the official bodies involved.
Choose your state
Each guide lists official licensing boards, the trades that need a licence, where permits come from and what to check before you hire.
- Alabama5 official bodies listed
- Alaska3 official bodies listed
- Arizona5 official bodies listed
- Arkansas5 official bodies listed
- California2 official bodies listed
- Colorado5 official bodies listed
- Connecticut4 official bodies listed
- Delaware5 official bodies listed
- District of Columbia3 official bodies listed
- Florida3 official bodies listed
- Georgia3 official bodies listed
- Hawaii4 official bodies listed
- Idaho5 official bodies listed
- Illinois3 official bodies listed
- Indiana4 official bodies listed
- Iowa4 official bodies listed
- Kansas3 official bodies listed
- Kentucky5 official bodies listed
- Louisiana4 official bodies listed
- Maine4 official bodies listed
- Maryland5 official bodies listed
- Massachusetts3 official bodies listed
- Michigan4 official bodies listed
- Minnesota4 official bodies listed
- Mississippi4 official bodies listed
- Missouri4 official bodies listed
- Montana4 official bodies listed
- Nebraska4 official bodies listed
- Nevada4 official bodies listed
- New Hampshire4 official bodies listed
- New Jersey3 official bodies listed
- New Mexico4 official bodies listed
- New York4 official bodies listed
- North Carolina4 official bodies listed
- North Dakota4 official bodies listed
- Ohio4 official bodies listed
- Oklahoma4 official bodies listed
- Oregon3 official bodies listed
- Pennsylvania4 official bodies listed
- Rhode Island4 official bodies listed
- South Carolina4 official bodies listed
- South Dakota4 official bodies listed
- Tennessee4 official bodies listed
- Texas2 official bodies listed
- Utah4 official bodies listed
- Vermont4 official bodies listed
- Virginia3 official bodies listed
- Washington3 official bodies listed
- West Virginia3 official bodies listed
- Wisconsin4 official bodies listed
- Wyoming3 official bodies listed
How permits and licences work in the US
Building permits are local
Building permits generally come from your city or county building department, which enforces the code your state has adopted. Whether your project needs a permit depends on the work and on local ordinances, so ask before you start.
There is no national contractor licence
Each state decides which contractors and trades need a licence or a registration, and some leave it to cities and counties. The Federal Trade Commission advises checking with your state or county government to confirm a contractor’s licence.
Building codes are adopted state by state
States adopt their own building codes, and they can amend them, so the edition in force differs from one state to the next. The U.S. Department of Energy tracks energy codes at the state level for the same reason. Never assume a rule from one state applies in another.
New homes have their own rules
Some states license or register home builders, and newly built homes usually come with a builder’s warranty. The FTC suggests contacting your state or local builders’ board to learn more. Those rules are separate from renovation permits.
Sources for our permit and licensing guides
Planning a renovation?
Describe your project once and hear from local pros. Ask each one for their licence and permit details before you hire.