Which license does the contractor need in Nevada?
| Classification | Covers | Source |
|---|---|---|
| A | "General Engineering (A-1 to A-25)" | NSCB classifications |
| B | "General Building (B-1 to B-7)" | NSCB |
| AB | Both of the above | NSCB |
| C | 42 specialty subclassifications: plumbing, electrical, carpentry, painting, concrete and others; scopes are in NAC chapter 624 | NSCB |
Every license also has a monetary limit. "The Monetary Limit is the maximum contract a licensed contractor may undertake on one or more construction contracts on a single construction site or subdivision site for a single client" (NSCB). A contractor can ask the Board to raise it permanently or for one project, but the single-project request must be approved before they bid (NRS 624.220(3)).
A residential contract must state "the name of the residential contractor, his or her address and contractors license number and the monetary limit on that license" (NRS 624.970(2)(a)). If your contract does not, that is the first question.
Who does not need a license
Work "to repair or maintain property the value of which is less than $1,000, including labor and materials" is exempt, unless it needs a building permit, is plumbing, electrical, refrigeration, heating or air-conditioning work, is part of a larger project, or is done by a licensee (NRS 624.031(6)). So no handyman may legally swap your water heater or add an outlet without a license, whatever the price.
How to look a contractor up, step by step
- Ask for the license number and the monetary limit; both belong on the contract.
- Open the Board's License Search. Search by "License Number", "Company Name" or "Principal or Qualified Individual". Two characters minimum; wildcards such as *Smith* work.
- Check the classification covers your job: a C-class specialty license for one trade does not cover a whole remodel.
- Compare the monetary limit with your contract price. If your job is bigger, the firm needs a single-project increase approved before it bids.
- Check the license is active. Nevada law makes it unlawful to "submit a bid on a job situated within this State" without an active license (NRS 624.700).
- Note the Board's own warning: the search "may not reflect recent changes or updates". For a big job, call the Board.
Penalties for unlicensed contracting in Nevada
| Offence | Class | Fine (NRS 624.750(2)) |
|---|---|---|
| First | Misdemeanor, up to 6 months in jail | $1,000–$4,000 |
| Second | Gross misdemeanor, up to 364 days | $4,000–$10,000 |
| Third or later | Category E felony, 1–4 years | $10,000–$20,000 |
The court can add up to 10% of the contract value on top (NRS 624.750(3)), and the Board can separately fine "not less than $1,000 and not more than $50,000" per violation (NRS 624.710). A bid or contract made without a license "shall be deemed void ab initio" (NRS 624.700(4)), which matters if an unlicensed contractor tries to collect from you.
The Residential Recovery Fund
| Rule | Figure |
|---|---|
| Most paid on one claim | $40,000 (NRS 624.510(3)) |
| Most paid on claims against one contractor | $750,000 or 20% of the account balance, whichever is less (NRS 624.510(7)) |
| Who qualifies | "Owners of single-family residences who contract with properly licensed residential contractors" and live in the home (NSCB) |
| Not eligible | You pulled the permit yourself or built as owner-builder; the house was improved to rent or sell within a year; the contractor was unlicensed |
| Deadline | Complaint within four years of completion; with a court judgment, within two years of it |
If a contractor asks you to pull the permit "to save time", you lose the fund. A residential contractor must also tell you about the fund in writing: NRS 624.520 requires a "RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION RECOVERY FUND" statement in the contract, and the Board can fine a contractor who leaves it out.
What the license does not tell you
The Board says whether the firm may legally build and how big. It does not say whether its permits were inspected and closed. Henderson's record does:
- Pools: 1,413 permits from 70 firms; 93.4% reached final, usually in 114 days.
- Solar: 6,124 permits from 83 firms; 93.2% finished.
- Remodel: 759 permits from 191 firms; 91.9% finished.
- Walls: 10,160 permits, but only 50.2% finished, usually 475 days. The city-wide rate hides a wide spread: among the 25 wall firms with 10 or more permits, finished shares run from 13.9% at the 10th percentile to 90.3% at the 90th, and the five busiest firms hold 85.9% of the permits. Check the builder's own rate, not the city's.
Henderson does not publish job values on these permits, so we show no usual price for the city.
Red flags on a Nevada license record
- No license number or monetary limit on the contract.
- A contract price above the license's monetary limit.
- A C-class specialty license on a firm bidding a whole remodel or addition.
- A contractor who asks you to pull the permit.
- A handyman offering plumbing, electrical or HVAC work at any price.
- Any status other than active.
How we know this
Our Nevada pages carry no license status: Henderson permits are not yet matched to the State Contractors Board's license file. The window is October 2023 to September 2026. "Finished" is the share of permits with a recorded final. Statute text is quoted from NRS chapter 624 on the Nevada Legislature's site, and Board rules from its own pages, read 20 October 2026.
Numbers come from City of Henderson development services permits, data through October 17, 2026. Nobody paid to be on this page and nobody can.
See every Henderson pool builder by their permit record →
Questions
- Is the Nevada contractor license search free?
Yes. The State Contractors Board's License Search takes a license number, a company name or the name of a principal or qualified individual, with wildcards, and needs no account.
- What is a Nevada contractor's monetary limit?
The largest contract the licensee may take on "on one or more construction contracts on a single construction site or subdivision site for a single client" (NRS 624.220). It must be written on a residential contract next to the license number (NRS 624.970).
- How much does the Nevada Residential Recovery Fund pay?
Up to $40,000 per claim (NRS 624.510(3)), and no more than $750,000 or 20% of the account, whichever is less, on claims against one contractor (NRS 624.510(7)).
- Can I claim on the Recovery Fund if I pulled the permit myself?
No. A homeowner who "applied for and obtained any building permit" for the job, or built as an owner-builder, is not eligible (NRS 624.510(2)(d)). Neither is anyone who hired an unlicensed contractor.
- What is the penalty for contracting without a license in Nevada?
A misdemeanor with a $1,000–$4,000 fine for a first offence, a gross misdemeanor ($4,000–$10,000) for a second and a category E felony ($10,000–$20,000) for a third (NRS 624.750), plus Board fines of $1,000–$50,000 per violation (NRS 624.710).
Build your own list
Every firm with that kind of permit on record. Pick what you value. The list moves.
Related guides
- Busiest months for home projects, by city and trade (2026 data)
- How concentrated is the contractor market? Top-5 share by city and trade
- Henderson, Nevada contractor license lookup: which license, where to search, and what the permits show
- How long building permits take in US cities (2026 data)
- New York City contractor license lookup: which license, where to search, and what the permits show
- San Diego contractor license lookup: which license, where to search, and what the permits show
- Nevada State Contractors Board — home (2026-10-20)
- Contractor License Search — Nevada State Contractors Board (2026-10-20)
- License Classifications — NSCB (2026-10-20)
- Raise Your License Limit — NSCB (2026-10-20)
- Residential Recovery Fund — NSCB (2026-10-20)
- Unlicensed Contracting Penalties & Law — NSCB (2026-10-20)
- NRS Chapter 624 Contractors (sections 624.031, 624.220, 624.510, 624.520, 624.700, 624.710, 624.750, 624.970) (2026-10-20)