It issues state licenses for general contractors, electrical contractors, plumbing contractors, HVAC contractors and roofing contractors. Use the official lookup below to check a contractor. Information as of October 6, 2026.
Search the state Public License Search by license number or business or individual name; it covers contractors, electricians and plumbers. source The lookup reflects posted license records and is normally updated each business day. source The state's consumer office can confirm a contractor's license status, classifications and proof of insurance. source Search a contractor by name or company name on the state RICO Complaints History Search to see summary information about complaints filed against them. source
Confirm the record is active and the class matches the job (A General Engineering or B General Building or C Specialty). The board's own record governs. A license is required for jobs above A contractor license is required for any project over $1,500 in labor and material, or any project that needs a building, electrical or plumbing permit. source
Check the bond and insurance on the record against the state minimums: No fixed bond amount; the board may impose a surety bond as a condition of licensure. source Liability insurance of at least $100,000 bodily injury per person, $300,000 per occurrence and $50,000 property damage per occurrence, plus workers' compensation (a sole proprietor with no employees may file a board form instead). source
Report unlicensed contracting to the Regulated Industries Complaints Office (RICO) at 808-587-4272 or toll-free 1-844-808-3222, option 3. source Check a contractor's complaint history with RICO's Complaints History Search, linked from the Contractors License Board page. source
Homeowner protections in Hawaii
Any project over $1,500 in labor and material, or needing a building, electrical or plumbing permit, requires a licensed contractor. source
The Contractors Recovery Fund pays at most $12,500 per contract. source
The Contractors Recovery Fund pays at most $25,000 in total for claims against one contractor, pro-rated if several claims are filed. source
The Recovery Fund only covers homeowners who hired a contractor that was currently and actively licensed when the contract was signed. source
The Recovery Fund is a last resort: you need a Hawaii court judgment and must first try to collect from the contractor, any bond and insurance. source
A home improvement contract must disclose whether the contractor is bonded and whether you can demand bonding on the work. source
A home improvement contract must show the contractor's license number and classifications. source
Electrical and plumbing contractors must use state-licensed electricians and plumbers for the actual electrical and plumbing work. source
Get licensed
For a general contractor working in Hawaii.
Apply to DCCA Professional and Vocational Licensing Division as a A General Engineering or B General Building or C Specialty.
Written exam required in two parts, Part I business and law and Part II trade knowledge for the classification, given by Prometric. source
Experience: at least 4 years of supervisory experience in the classification within the past 10 year. source
Post a no fixed bond amount; the board may impose a surety bond as a condition of licensure. source
Carry liability insurance of at least $100,000 bodily injury per person, $300,000 per occurrence and $50,000 property damage per occurrence, plus workers' compensation (a sole proprietor with no employees may file a board form instead). source
Pay the application fee, non-refundable, per application: $50. source
Licenses expire and renew by September 30 of every even-numbered year. source
Written exam required in two parts, Part I business and law and Part II trade knowledge for the classification, given by Prometric. source
Experience
At least 4 years of supervisory experience in the classification within the past 10 year. source
Bond
No fixed bond amount; the board may impose a surety bond as a condition of licensure. source
Insurance
Liability insurance of at least $100,000 bodily injury per person, $300,000 per occurrence and $50,000 property damage per occurrence, plus workers' compensation (a sole proprietor with no employees may file a board form instead). source
Renewal
Licenses expire and renew by September 30 of every even-numbered year. source
Reciprocity
Not found on an official source. No reciprocity provision found; applicants licensed in another state still submit at least 3 experience certificates and a project list.
Fees
$50 (Application fee, non-refundable, per application). source
$663 (License fee for an entity or sole proprietor licensed between October 1 of an even-numbered year and September 30 of an odd-numbered year (FAQ dated 2018; matches the sum of the fee lines on the October 2025 application)). source
$494 (License fee for an entity or sole proprietor licensed between October 1 of an odd-numbered year and September 30 of an even-numbered year (FAQ dated 2018)). source
$75 (Exam fee per part, paid to the testing vendor; most classifications take two parts (FAQ dated 2018)). source
$338 (Renewal fee, entity or sole proprietor, active status, for the October 2026 to September 2028 period). source
$208 (Renewal fee, responsible managing employee (RME), active statu). source
$160 (Renewal fee, any contractor license, inactive statu). source
ElectricalSources checked October 6, 2026
Exam
C-13 electrical contractor license: Written exam required in two parts, Part I business and law and Part II trade knowledge for the classification, given by Prometric. source
Experience
C-13 electrical contractor license: At least 4 years of supervisory experience in the classification within the past 10 year. source
Bond
C-13 electrical contractor license: No fixed bond amount; the board may impose a surety bond as a condition of licensure. source
Insurance
C-13 electrical contractor license: Liability insurance of at least $100,000 bodily injury per person, $300,000 per occurrence and $50,000 property damage per occurrence, plus workers' compensation (a sole proprietor with no employees may file a board form instead). source
Renewal
C-13 electrical contractor license: Licenses expire and renew by September 30 of every even-numbered year. source
Reciprocity
Not found on an official source. C-13 electrical contractor license: No reciprocity provision found; applicants licensed in another state still submit at least 3 experience certificates and a project list.
$663 (C-13 electrical contractor license: License fee for an entity or sole proprietor licensed between October 1 of an even-numbered year and September 30 of an odd-numbered year (FAQ dated 2018; matches the sum of the fee lines on the October 2025 application)). source
$494 (C-13 electrical contractor license: License fee for an entity or sole proprietor licensed between October 1 of an odd-numbered year and September 30 of an even-numbered year (FAQ dated 2018)). source
$75 (C-13 electrical contractor license: Exam fee per part, paid to the testing vendor; most classifications take two parts (FAQ dated 2018)). source
$338 (C-13 electrical contractor license: Renewal fee, entity or sole proprietor, active status, for the October 2026 to September 2028 period). source
C-37 plumbing contractor license: Written exam required in two parts, Part I business and law and Part II trade knowledge for the classification, given by Prometric. source
Experience
C-37 plumbing contractor license: At least 4 years of supervisory experience in the classification within the past 10 year. source
Bond
C-37 plumbing contractor license: No fixed bond amount; the board may impose a surety bond as a condition of licensure. source
Insurance
C-37 plumbing contractor license: Liability insurance of at least $100,000 bodily injury per person, $300,000 per occurrence and $50,000 property damage per occurrence, plus workers' compensation (a sole proprietor with no employees may file a board form instead). source
Renewal
C-37 plumbing contractor license: Licenses expire and renew by September 30 of every even-numbered year. source
Reciprocity
Not found on an official source. C-37 plumbing contractor license: No reciprocity provision found; applicants licensed in another state still submit at least 3 experience certificates and a project list.
$663 (C-37 plumbing contractor license: License fee for an entity or sole proprietor licensed between October 1 of an even-numbered year and September 30 of an odd-numbered year (FAQ dated 2018; matches the sum of the fee lines on the October 2025 application)). source
$494 (C-37 plumbing contractor license: License fee for an entity or sole proprietor licensed between October 1 of an odd-numbered year and September 30 of an even-numbered year (FAQ dated 2018)). source
$75 (C-37 plumbing contractor license: Exam fee per part, paid to the testing vendor; most classifications take two parts (FAQ dated 2018)). source
$338 (C-37 plumbing contractor license: Renewal fee, entity or sole proprietor, active status, for the October 2026 to September 2028 period). source
C-52 ventilating and air conditioning contractor license: Written exam required in two parts, Part I business and law and Part II trade knowledge for the classification, given by Prometric. source
Experience
C-52 ventilating and air conditioning contractor license: At least 4 years of supervisory experience in the classification within the past 10 year. source
Bond
C-52 ventilating and air conditioning contractor license: No fixed bond amount; the board may impose a surety bond as a condition of licensure. source
Insurance
C-52 ventilating and air conditioning contractor license: Liability insurance of at least $100,000 bodily injury per person, $300,000 per occurrence and $50,000 property damage per occurrence, plus workers' compensation (a sole proprietor with no employees may file a board form instead). source
Renewal
C-52 ventilating and air conditioning contractor license: Licenses expire and renew by September 30 of every even-numbered year. source
Reciprocity
Not found on an official source. C-52 ventilating and air conditioning contractor license: No reciprocity provision found; applicants licensed in another state still submit at least 3 experience certificates and a project list.
Fees
$50 (C-52 ventilating and air conditioning contractor license: Application fee, non-refundable, per application). source
$663 (C-52 ventilating and air conditioning contractor license: License fee for an entity or sole proprietor licensed between October 1 of an even-numbered year and September 30 of an odd-numbered year (FAQ dated 2018; matches the sum of the fee lines on the October 2025 application)). source
$494 (C-52 ventilating and air conditioning contractor license: License fee for an entity or sole proprietor licensed between October 1 of an odd-numbered year and September 30 of an even-numbered year (FAQ dated 2018)). source
$75 (C-52 ventilating and air conditioning contractor license: Exam fee per part, paid to the testing vendor; most classifications take two parts (FAQ dated 2018)). source
$338 (C-52 ventilating and air conditioning contractor license: Renewal fee, entity or sole proprietor, active status, for the October 2026 to September 2028 period). source
$208 (C-52 ventilating and air conditioning contractor license: Renewal fee, responsible managing employee (RME), active statu). source
$160 (C-52 ventilating and air conditioning contractor license: Renewal fee, any contractor license, inactive statu). source
RoofingSources checked October 6, 2026
Exam
C-42 roofing contractor license: Written exam required in two parts, Part I business and law and Part II trade knowledge for the classification, given by Prometric. source
Experience
C-42 roofing contractor license: At least 4 years of supervisory experience in the classification within the past 10 year. source
Bond
C-42 roofing contractor license: No fixed bond amount; the board may impose a surety bond as a condition of licensure. source
Insurance
C-42 roofing contractor license: Liability insurance of at least $100,000 bodily injury per person, $300,000 per occurrence and $50,000 property damage per occurrence, plus workers' compensation (a sole proprietor with no employees may file a board form instead). source
Renewal
C-42 roofing contractor license: Licenses expire and renew by September 30 of every even-numbered year. source
Reciprocity
Not found on an official source. C-42 roofing contractor license: No reciprocity provision found; applicants licensed in another state still submit at least 3 experience certificates and a project list.
$663 (C-42 roofing contractor license: License fee for an entity or sole proprietor licensed between October 1 of an even-numbered year and September 30 of an odd-numbered year (FAQ dated 2018; matches the sum of the fee lines on the October 2025 application)). source
$494 (C-42 roofing contractor license: License fee for an entity or sole proprietor licensed between October 1 of an odd-numbered year and September 30 of an even-numbered year (FAQ dated 2018)). source
$75 (C-42 roofing contractor license: Exam fee per part, paid to the testing vendor; most classifications take two parts (FAQ dated 2018)). source
$338 (C-42 roofing contractor license: Renewal fee, entity or sole proprietor, active status, for the October 2026 to September 2028 period). source
Yes, in most cases Hawaii requires a state license for general contractors. A contractor license is required for any project over $1,500 in labor and material, or any project that needs a building, electrical or plumbing permit. The Contractors License Board (DCCA Professional and Vocational Licensing Division) issues it as the A General Engineering, B General Building or C Specialty credential.
How do I look up a contractor license in Hawaii?
The Contractors License Board (DCCA Professional and Vocational Licensing Division) keeps the record for general contractors in Hawaii. Use the official lookup linked in the Look up a license table, and treat the board's own record as final.
How do I look up an electrician license in Hawaii?
The Contractors License Board (DCCA Professional and Vocational Licensing Division) keeps the record for electrical contractors in Hawaii.
How do I look up a plumbing license in Hawaii?
The Contractors License Board (DCCA Professional and Vocational Licensing Division) keeps the record for plumbing contractors in Hawaii.
Does Hawaii have an HVAC license?
The Contractors License Board (DCCA Professional and Vocational Licensing Division) keeps the record for HVAC contractors in Hawaii.
Do roofers need a license in Hawaii?
The Contractors License Board (DCCA Professional and Vocational Licensing Division) keeps the record for roofing contractors in Hawaii.