How to check if a contractor is licensed in Arizona
Edited by John Voll. Last verified .
In Arizona, the state keeps license or registration records for general contractors, electrical contractors, plumbing contractors, HVAC contractors and roofing contractors, and each has an official lookup or board listed below. Check the record before you sign a contract or pay a deposit, and treat the board's own record as final.
Which board covers which trade
| Trade | Who keeps the record | Official lookup |
|---|---|---|
| General contractor | Arizona Registrar of Contractors | Search general contractor licenses |
| Electrical | Arizona Registrar of Contractors | Search electrical licenses |
| Plumbing | Arizona Registrar of Contractors | Search plumbing licenses |
| HVAC | Arizona Registrar of Contractors | Search HVAC licenses |
| Roofing | Arizona Registrar of Contractors | Search roofing licenses |
Step by step
- Open the official Arizona lookup run by Arizona Registrar of Contractors and search the contractor by name or number.
- The Registrar of Contractors contractor search shows whether a contractor's ROC license is current, searchable by name, 6 digit license number, city, classification or status. source Any home improvement contract over $1,000 must list the contractor's name, business address and ROC license number, so you can check that number with the Registrar of Contractors. source
- Confirm the record is active and the class matches the job (B General Residential Contractor or B-1 General Commercial Contractor or B-2 General Small Commercial Contractor or B-3 Limited Remodeling and Repair Contractor or KB-1 and KB-2 (dual license general classes)). The board's own record governs. A license is required for jobs above A license is required for any job of $1,000 or more (labor and materials combined) and for any job of any size that needs a local building permit; the handyman exemption below $1,000 covers only casual or minor work. source
- Check the bond and insurance on the record against the state minimums: Surety bond or cash deposit of $5,000 to $15,000 for a general residential license, amount set by the registrar up to a statutory maximum of $15,000 (commercial bonds scale with annual volume up to $100,000). source Applicant must attest to compliance with workers' compensation insurance law and give the policy number if required to carry it; no general liability insurance minimum was found in the statutes read. source
If the contractor is not licensed, or you have a complaint
- A complaint to the Registrar of Contractors must be filed within two years after the project is completed (for new homes, two years after close of escrow or move-in, whichever is first). source
- The registrar investigates a written complaint and can order the contractor to answer within ten days or face suspension or revocation. source
Homeowner protections in Arizona
- An unlicensed handyman working under the $1,000 exemption must include the words not a licensed contractor in any advertising. source
- Homeowners harmed by a licensed residential contractor can claim up to $30,000 from the Residential Contractors' Recovery Fund. source
- The recovery fund pays no more than $200,000 in total on any one residential contractor's license, shared pro rata if claims exceed it. source
- If the recovery fund pays a claim, the contractor's license is suspended until the fund is repaid. source
- Contracts over $1,000 must state in bold type that the owner may file a written complaint with the Registrar of Contractors and give the registrar's phone number and website. source
- All residential and dual licenses pay into the Residential Contractors Recovery Fund through an assessment or a cash bond posted to the license. source
Questions
- How do I check if a contractor is licensed in Arizona?
- Search the contractor by name or license number on the official Arizona lookup run by Arizona Registrar of Contractors, then confirm the record is active and covers the type of work. For electrical, plumbing, HVAC or roofing work, use that trade's lookup in the table on this page.
- What can I do if a contractor in Arizona is not licensed?
- A complaint to the Registrar of Contractors must be filed within two years after the project is completed (for new homes, two years after close of escrow or move-in, whichever is first). The registrar investigates a written complaint and can order the contractor to answer within ten days or face suspension or revocation.
All Arizona licensing rules by trade
Sources
- https://roc.az.gov/
- https://roc.az.gov/contractor-search
- https://www.azleg.gov/ars/32/01151.htm
- https://www.azleg.gov/ars/32/01121.htm
- https://test-takers.psiexams.com/api/content/bulletin/5617
- https://www.azleg.gov/ars/32/01122.htm
- https://www.azleg.gov/ars/32/01152.htm
- https://www.azleg.gov/ars/32/01123-01.htm
- https://www.azleg.gov/ars/32/04302.htm
- https://www.azroc.gov/licensing-fees
- https://www.azleg.gov/ars/32/01126.htm
- https://www.azleg.gov/ars/32/01158.htm
- https://www.azleg.gov/ars/32/01132-01.htm
- https://www.azleg.gov/ars/32/01139.htm
- https://www.azleg.gov/ars/32/01162.htm
- https://www.azleg.gov/ars/32/01155.htm
- https://www.azleg.gov/ars/32/01125.htm
This is not a government site. The licensing board's own record governs; always confirm on the official lookup. Information as of October 6, 2026.