Do You Need a Contractor License in Idaho?
Check whether your state requires a general contractor license or registration, the dollar threshold, and who issues it.
Sound familiar?
- “You're about to take a bigger job and you're not sure you're licensed for it.”
- “You've moved states and don't know if you need a different license here.”
- “You've heard working unlicensed can mean you don't even get paid, and you want to be covered.”
What this tool does
Pick your state to see whether it requires a statewide general contractor license or registration, the dollar or work-type threshold that triggers it, the agency that issues it, and whether it accepts the NASCLA exam. Trade licenses (electrical, plumbing, HVAC) are separate.
If you take an action based on what you read here, that action is yours. We are a guide, not an advisor, and we give this away for free.
This tool helps you get started on your job. It's a starting point, you must review and adapt the output to your specific site conditions. SiteKiln does not provide health and safety, legal, tax or financial consultancy. If your job involves complex or high-risk work, get professional advice.
What the law actually says
- •Contractor licensing is set by each state, and many states also let cities and counties add their own requirements on top.
- •In several states, working without a required license means you can't enforce your contract or file a lien, and in California you can be ordered to return everything you were paid (Business & Professions Code §7031).
- •Trade licenses for electrical, plumbing, and HVAC work are almost always required at the state level, even in states with no general contractor license.