How to check if a contractor is licensed in Delaware
Edited by John Voll. Last verified .
In Delaware, 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 | Delaware Division of Revenue (contractor business license) | Search general contractor licenses |
| Electrical | Delaware Board of Electrical Examiners, Division of Professional Regulation | Search electrical licenses |
| Plumbing | Delaware Board of Plumbing, Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Examiners, Division of Professional Regulation | Search plumbing licenses |
| HVAC | Delaware Board of Plumbing, Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Examiners, Division of Professional Regulation | Search HVAC licenses |
| Roofing | Delaware Division of Revenue (contractor business license) | Search roofing licenses |
Step by step
- Open the official Delaware lookup run by contractor business license and search the contractor by name or number.
- For electrical work, also check the electrical contractor lookup from Delaware Board of Electrical Examiners.
- For plumbing work, also check the plumbing contractor lookup from Delaware Board of Plumbing.
- For HVAC work, also check the HVAC contractor lookup from Delaware Board of Plumbing.
- Check electricians, plumbers and HVACR licensees on the DPR DELPROS license look-up. source Check a contractor's Division of Revenue business license, activity type and valid-to date on the Delaware Business Licenses Search. source It is illegal to do plumbing or HVACR work in Delaware on an expired license. source
- Confirm the record is active and the class matches the job (Resident Contractor or Non-Resident Contractor or Construction Transportation Contractor or Non-Resident Const Transport Contractor). The board's own record governs.
- Check the bond and insurance on the record against the state minimums: Non-resident contractors only: surety or cash bond to the Division of Revenue equal to 6% of all contracts over $20,000 for construction in Delaware (it guarantees state tax payment, not homeowner claims). source Certificate of workers' compensation insurance (or a qualified self-insurer certificate) required before the license is issued; no general liability minimum stated. source
If the contractor is not licensed, or you have a complaint
- DPR does not license general contractors or home builders, so complaints about them do not go to DPR. source
- DPR refers consumer fraud and billing disputes to the Delaware Department of Justice Consumer Protection Division, and contract disputes to the Justice of the Peace Court. source
- Complaints about licensed electricians, plumbers and HVACR contractors go to the DPR Investigative Unit and must name the person or business and its location. source
Questions
- How do I check if a contractor is licensed in Delaware?
- Search the contractor by name or license number on the official Delaware lookup run by contractor business license, 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 Delaware is not licensed?
- DPR does not license general contractors or home builders, so complaints about them do not go to DPR. DPR refers consumer fraud and billing disputes to the Delaware Department of Justice Consumer Protection Division, and contract disputes to the Justice of the Peace Court. Complaints about licensed electricians, plumbers and HVACR contractors go to the DPR Investigative Unit and must name the person or business and its location.
All Delaware licensing rules by trade
Sources
- https://revenue.delaware.gov/business-tax-forms/contractors-resident-and-non-resident/
- https://revenue.delaware.gov/business-license-search/
- https://delcode.delaware.gov/title30/c025/index.html
- https://dpr.delaware.gov/
- https://delpros.delaware.gov/OH_VerifyLicense
- https://delcode.delaware.gov/title24/c014/sc02/index.html
- https://dpr.delaware.gov/boards/plumbers/
- https://delcode.delaware.gov/title24/c018/sc02/index.html
- https://delcode.delaware.gov/title24/c018/sc03/index.html
- https://revenuefiles.delaware.gov/docs/contractors.pdf
- https://revenue.delaware.gov/frequently-asked-questions/business-licenses-faqs/
- https://dpr.delaware.gov/boards/electrician/newlicense/
- https://dpr.delaware.gov/boards/electrician/renewal/
- https://dpr.delaware.gov/boards/electrician/fees/
- https://dpr.delaware.gov/boards/plumbers/newlicense/
- https://dpr.delaware.gov/boards/plumbers/renew/
- https://dpr.delaware.gov/boards/plumbers/fees/
- https://dpr.delaware.gov/boards/plumbers/hvacrlicensure/
- https://dpr.delaware.gov/boards/investigativeunit/filecomplaint/
- https://revenuefiles.delaware.gov/docs/NRContractor_Bond.pdf
- https://data.delaware.gov/d/pjnv-eaih
- https://data.delaware.gov/d/5zy2-grhr
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.