How to check if a contractor is licensed in Connecticut
Edited by John Voll. Last verified .
In Connecticut, 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 | Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, License Services Division | Search general contractor licenses |
| Electrical | Electrical Work Board, Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection | Search electrical licenses |
| Plumbing | Plumbing and Piping Work Board, Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection | Search plumbing licenses |
| HVAC | Heating, Piping, Cooling and Sheet Metal Work Board, Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection | Search HVAC licenses |
| Roofing | Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (home improvement contractor registration) | Search roofing licenses |
Step by step
- Open the official Connecticut lookup run by Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection and search the contractor by name or number.
- Check any Connecticut contractor or tradesperson on the DCP eLicense License Lookup, which the state calls a primary source of verification. source A home improvement contractor must show the registration on request and put the registration number in every advertisement. source
- Confirm the record is active and the class matches the job (Home Improvement Contractor or Home Improvement Salesperson or New Home Construction Contractor). The board's own record governs. A registration is required for jobs above Home improvement registration does not cover contracts under $200. source
- Check the bond and insurance on the record against the state minimums: No bond for ordinary registration; DCP may require a $15,000 bond as a condition of issuing, renewing or reinstating a registration after a violation. source General liability insurance of at least $20,000. source
If the contractor is not licensed, or you have a complaint
- File complaints about home improvement contractors and unlicensed tradespeople with the Department of Consumer Protection. source
Homeowner protections in Connecticut
- The Home Improvement Guaranty Fund pays at most $25,000 per claim by a homeowner. source
- Guaranty fund payment needs an arbitration decision, court judgment or restitution order against a registered contractor obtained within 2 years of the contract date. source
- A home improvement contract is not enforceable against the homeowner unless it is written and signed, dated, gives the contractor's registration number, a notice of cancellation rights, and start and completion dates. source
Questions
- How do I check if a contractor is licensed in Connecticut?
- Search the contractor by name or license number on the official Connecticut lookup run by Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, 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 Connecticut is not licensed?
- File complaints about home improvement contractors and unlicensed tradespeople with the Department of Consumer Protection.
All Connecticut licensing rules by trade
Sources
- https://portal.ct.gov/dcp/license-services-division/all-license-applications/home-improvement-applications
- https://www.elicense.ct.gov/Lookup/LicenseLookup.aspx
- https://portal.ct.gov/dcp/occupational-and-professional-division/occupational--profess/electrical-license-types-and-scope-of-work
- https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_393.htm
- https://portal.ct.gov/dcp
- https://portal.ct.gov/dcp/occupational-and-professional-division/occupational--profess/heating-piping-and-cooling-license-types-and-scope-of-work
- https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_400.htm
- https://portal.ct.gov/dcp/license-services-division/all-license-applications/home-improvement-contractor-application
- https://portal.ct.gov/dcp/license-services-division/all-license-applications/new-home-construction-and-home-improvement-renewal
- https://portal.ct.gov/dcp/-/media/dcp/licensing/occupational/contractor-paper-application.pdf
- https://portal.ct.gov/dcp/file-a-complaint
- https://portal.ct.gov/dcp/license-services-division/all-license-applications/electrical-contractor---equivalent-out-of-state-license
- https://data.ct.gov/d/ngch-56tr
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.