Who licenses what in Connecticut
| Work | Credential (Department of Consumer Protection) | eLicense type to pick |
|---|---|---|
| Remodeling, roofing, siding, windows, fences, flooring, driveways | Home improvement contractor registration (and salesperson registration) | Home Improvement Contractor |
| Building a new home | New home construction contractor registration | New Home Construction Contractor |
| Electrical | Electrical license | ELECTRICAL |
| Plumbing | Plumbing license | PLUMBING & PIPING |
| Heating, air conditioning, heat pumps | Heating, piping and cooling license | HEATING, PIPING & COOLING |
| Ductwork | Sheet metal license | SHEET METAL |
| Solar hot water | Solar thermal license | SOLAR THERMAL SYSTEMS |
The license type names are the ones in the eLicense drop-down, read 25 October 2026. Registration as a home improvement contractor is a consumer-protection registration, not a trade exam; the trade licenses are.
How to look a contractor up, step by step
- Get the registration number from the contract. DCP says the contract should list "the Contractor's Registration (HIC) number", and that number "should be verified using elicense.ct.gov".
- Open the eLicense lookup, choose the license type, and search by number or name.
- Check that the registration is active today. For the Guaranty Fund, the contractor must have been registered when you signed, within two years of signing, or when you get your judgment.
- For electrical, plumbing or HVAC work, look up the trade license of the person doing it, not only the remodeler's HIC.
- Ask for proof of general liability insurance. DCP's 2025 reminder says "at least $20,000" and suggests calling the insurer to confirm the policy is active.
- Look up the address's past permits in Hartford's Accela portal, as the Hartford building permit search guide shows.
The two guaranty funds
| Fund | Maximum | Main conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Home Improvement Guaranty Fund | $25,000 | Court judgment or court-confirmed arbitration against a registered contractor; job over $200; apply within two years of the judgment |
| New Home Construction Guaranty Fund | $50,000 | Arbitration or court award; the builder is "judgment proof"; builder registered within two years before the contract |
Both funds are paid for by registered contractors, so an unregistered contractor leaves you with no fund at all. For small claims judgments, DCP says you do not have to try a writ of execution first; if the contractor does not pay, apply to the fund directly.
DCP receives "an average of 1,000 complaints every year related to home improvement", including 265 in one year about unregistered contractors (DCP, 2025).
Our permit data in Connecticut
| Hartford, Oct 2024 – Sep 2026 | Permits |
|---|---|
| Electrical | 2,281 |
| Plumbing | 1,587 |
| HVAC | 974 |
| Roofing | 900 |
| Solar | 642 |
| Remodel | 629 |
We have Hartford's permit counts by kind of work but not a contractor list, so this does not rank firms. Use it to see how often Hartford issues each permit; see Hartford roofing permits or electrical permits for the monthly pattern.
Red flags on a Connecticut job
- No HIC number on the contract, or a number that is not active on eLicense.
- A deposit request over a third of the price, or a demand for cash.
- An electrician or plumber with a home improvement registration but no trade license.
- A builder of a new house with an HIC registration only; new homes need the New Home Construction Contractor registration.
- No proof of liability insurance.
How we know this
Registration rules, the guaranty funds and DCP's advice are quoted from the Department of Consumer Protection's pages and its 2025 news release, and the license type names from the eLicense lookup's drop-down, all read 25 October 2026. Hartford counts come from the City of Hartford's permit file, read 19 October 2026; we have not matched Connecticut contractor names to license records.
Numbers come from public permit records in 57 cities, data through October 19, 2026. Nobody paid to be on this page and nobody can.
Questions
- Does Connecticut license general contractors?
Not with a skills license. Home improvement contractors must register with the Department of Consumer Protection, and builders of new homes register as New Home Construction Contractors. Electricians, plumbers and heating and cooling contractors hold trade licenses. All of them are on elicense.ct.gov.
- Who has to register as a home improvement contractor in Connecticut?
DCP says "all home improvement contractors and home improvement salespersons doing work in Connecticut must be registered", including "roofers, remodeling contractors, driveway pavers, and anyone who installs fences, flooring or windows".
- How much can I recover from Connecticut's Home Improvement Guaranty Fund?
Up to $25,000, for an unpaid court judgment (or court-confirmed arbitration award) against a contractor who was registered with DCP. The job must have cost more than $200, and you apply within two years of the judgment.
- Is there a fund for new homes in Connecticut?
Yes. The New Home Construction Guaranty Fund pays up to $50,000 if the builder was a registered new home construction contractor and is judgment-proof. The Home Improvement Guaranty Fund does not cover new home construction.
- How much should a Connecticut contractor ask for up front?
DCP's 2025 advice is that "Legitimate contractors won't ask you for more than one-third of the project cost up front". It also says to ask for proof of general liability insurance of at least $20,000.
Build your own list
Pick your city and the kind of work. Every firm with a permit on record, sorted by what you value.
Related guides
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- Arlington, VA contractor license lookup: DPOR class and specialty, the County permit search, and what the permits show
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- Dallas contractor license lookup: TDLR, the plumbing board and City of Dallas registration
- License Lookup — State of Connecticut eLicense (2026-10-25)
- Why is Home Improvement Registration Important to Consumers — Connecticut DCP (2026-10-25)
- Home Improvement Guaranty Fund — Connecticut DCP (2026-10-25)
- New Home Construction Guaranty Fund — Connecticut DCP (2026-10-25)
- Consumer Protection Reminds the Public: Home Improvement Projects Require a Contract, Registered Contractor — Connecticut DCP (2025) (2026-10-25)
- City of Hartford Online Permit & Licensing Portal (Accela Citizen Access) (2026-10-24)