Renovation permits and contractor licences in District of Columbia

Trades that need a licence in District of Columbia

• General contracting and renovation

  Ask which DC licence the contractor holds. Home improvement contractors and general contractors doing residential work are two different categories with different requirements, and both are required to designate and maintain a basic business licence for at least one home improvement salesperson.

  Sources:DC DLCP – Contractor and construction services licences⁠(opens in a new tab)

• Electrical work

  Electrical licences in the District run from apprentice through journeyman and master to electrician contractor, with separate low voltage and maintenance and repair contractor categories. Only a licensed DC contractor in that trade may apply for the electrical permit, so an unlicensed electrician cannot legally get your job permitted.

  Sources:DC DLCP – Occupational and professional licence categories⁠(opens in a new tab)DC Department of Buildings – How to get a permit⁠(opens in a new tab)

• Plumbing

  Plumbing follows the same ladder — apprentice, journeyman, master and plumber contractor, with combined plumber and gasfitter certifications at each level. The Homeowner's Center is explicit that plumbing, electrical and mechanical permits require licensed and bonded master trade professionals and cannot be applied for by the homeowner.

  Sources:DC DLCP – Occupational and professional licence categories⁠(opens in a new tab)DC Department of Buildings – Homeowner's Center⁠(opens in a new tab)

• Certified trades

  Refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics, steam engineers in several classes, and elevator contractors, mechanics and inspectors each hold their own Board of Industrial Trades licence. If a single firm is quoting HVAC, electrical and plumbing together, ask for the licence number covering each trade separately.

  Sources:DC Board of Industrial Trades⁠(opens in a new tab)

• Consumer protection

  Check the licence before you sign. DLCP points the public at Scout, its consolidated online database, where licences, enforcement actions and regulatory information on District businesses can be searched by street address, business name, person name, permit or licence number, and it also runs a separate search for occupational and professional licences.

  Sources:DC DLCP – Online resources and licence verification⁠(opens in a new tab)

Before you hire a contractor in District of Columbia

Practical checks you can do yourself, using official tools where they exist.

1. 1

   Check the contractor's DC licence in Scout or the occupational licence search before you sign.

   Official lookup: DC DLCP – Online resources and licence verification⁠(opens in a new tab)

2. 2

   Ask whether the firm holds a Home Improvement Contractor licence or a General Contractor/Construction Manager licence, and which class.

   Official lookup: DC DLCP – Contractor and construction services licences⁠(opens in a new tab)

3. 3

   For electrical, plumbing, HVAC or elevator work, get the Board of Industrial Trades licence number for each trade.

   Official lookup: DC Board of Industrial Trades⁠(opens in a new tab)

4. 4

   Remember that trade permits can only be pulled by a licensed DC contractor, so treat an offer to work without one as a warning.

   Official lookup: DC Department of Buildings – Homeowner's Center⁠(opens in a new tab)

5. 5

   Apply through the DOB Permit Wizard for a one- or two-family home, or the Citizen Access Portal for commercial work.

   Official lookup: DC Department of Buildings – How to get a permit⁠(opens in a new tab)

6. 6

   Hire only a contractor who is licensed and insured, check the licence with your state or county, and get the scope, materials, price and dates in writing before work starts.

   Official lookup: FTC – How to avoid a home improvement scam⁠(opens in a new tab)