Who licenses what in DC
| Work | License | Where to check |
|---|---|---|
| Remodeling, repairs, roofing and other home improvement | Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) basic business license, plus a Home Improvement Salesperson (HIS) license or designated salesperson | DLCP SCOUT |
| General contracting and construction management | General Contractor/Construction Manager basic business license | DLCP SCOUT |
| Electrical | Master electrician license; only a DC master licensed electrician can apply for an electrical permit | OPL License Search Dashboard |
| Plumbing, HVAC and other trades | Occupational licenses from DC's occupational and professional (OPL) boards; DOB says "Only licensed DC contractors for the specific trade may apply for these permits" | OPL License Search Dashboard |
DLCP's Contractor and Construction Services page adds that "all Home Improvement Contractors and General Contractors doing residential contracting are required to designate and maintain a Basic Business License for at least one (1) Home Improvement Salesperson."
What an HIC license requires
DLCP lists four documents for an HIC license (DLCP, Before You Renovate):
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Insurance | "Valid Certificate of Liability Insurance", issued by an insurer authorized in DC and in force for the whole license period |
| Contract | A sample home improvement contract |
| Bond | "Surety Bond of $25,000" |
| Salesperson | Home Improvement Salesperson designation letter |
| Term and fee | 2-year license $99.00; 4-year $198.00; no 6-month term |
The bond is the closest thing DC has to a recovery fund. DLCP's pages do not describe a separate homeowner guaranty fund like Maryland's or Connecticut's.
How to look a contractor up, step by step
- Ask for the company's DC Basic Business License number and the master license number of the electrician or plumber.
- Search the business in DLCP's SCOUT system. DLCP tells homeowners to "verify your contractor is licensed" there and to ask to see the "DLCP-issued Corporate Registration, Business License, and their proof of general liability insurance".
- Search the trade license on the OPL License Search Dashboard.
- Look up the address in the Department of Buildings' Scout to see the permits already on the house, as the Washington, DC building permit search guide shows. Scout can also search a master license number.
- Before work starts, confirm the right trade permits were pulled: see electrical, plumbing, HVAC and remodel permits in DC.
Our permit data in DC
| Washington, DC, Oct 2024 – Sep 2026 | Permits |
|---|---|
| Plumbing | 26,820 |
| Electrical | 25,131 |
| HVAC | 9,905 |
| Remodel | 9,349 |
| Solar | 7,204 |
| Roofing | 1,826 |
We have DC's permit counts by kind of work, not a contractor list, so this page does not rank firms.
Red flags on a DC job
- A home improvement contractor with no HIC license in SCOUT, or a license that has expired.
- An electrician who asks you to pull the permit yourself. A homeowner cannot; only a master licensed electrician can.
- No certificate of liability insurance, or one issued to a post office box; DLCP does not accept PO boxes as the insured's address.
- High-pressure sales, "unreasonable pricing" and "lack of transparency", the scam signs DLCP lists.
How we know this
License requirements, fees and DLCP's advice are quoted from DLCP's Before You Renovate release, Contractor and Construction Services and License Types Requiring Insurance pages, read 25 October 2026. Trade-permit rules are from the Department of Buildings pages cited in our DC permit guides, read 24 October 2026. Counts come from DC's public permit file, read 19 October 2026; we have not matched DC 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 a home improvement contractor need a license in DC?
Yes. DLCP says "All home improvement contractors are legally required to have a Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) and a Home Improvement Salesperson (HIS) License (or a designated salesperson)". The HIC license requires liability insurance, a sample contract and a $25,000 surety bond.
- Where do I check a DC contractor's license?
Business licenses, including home improvement contractor licenses, are in DLCP's SCOUT system. Electricians, plumbers and other trade licenses are on the Access DC OPL License Search Dashboard at govservices.dcra.dc.gov/oplaportal.
- Can a homeowner pull an electrical permit in DC?
No. Only a DC master licensed electrician can apply for an electrical permit, and the Department of Buildings says "Only licensed DC contractors for the specific trade may apply for these permits."
- How long is a DC home improvement contractor license good for?
Two or four years. DLCP lists a 2-year license at $99.00 and a 4-year license at $198.00, and says Home Improvement Contractors are "not eligible for 6-month license term".
Build your own list
Pick your city and the kind of work. Every firm with a permit on record, sorted by what you value.
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- Detroit contractor license lookup: the state LARA license, Detroit registration and the permit record
- Before You Renovate & Revamp: Essential Tips for DC Homeowners This Summer — DLCP (2026-10-25)
- Contractor and Construction Services — DLCP (2026-10-25)
- License Types Requiring Insurance — DLCP (2026-10-25)
- Access DC OPL License Search Dashboard — DLCP (2026-10-25)
- Scout: Permit & License Lookup — DC Department of Buildings (2026-10-24)
- Instant Permits for Simple Scopes of Work — DC Department of Buildings (2026-10-24)
- How to Get a Permit — DC Department of Buildings (2026-10-24)