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Licenses by State

How to check if a contractor is licensed in Iowa

Edited by John Voll. Last verified .

In Iowa, 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

TradeWho keeps the recordOfficial lookup
General contractorIowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing (DIAL), Building and Construction Division, Contractor RegistrationSearch general contractor licenses

We could not load this lookup when we checked, so confirm the link on the board site.

ElectricalIowa Electrical Examining Board (DIAL)Search electrical licenses
PlumbingIowa Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board (DIAL)Search plumbing licenses
HVACIowa Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board (DIAL)Search HVAC licenses
RoofingIowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing (DIAL), Contractor RegistrationSearch roofing licenses

We could not load this lookup when we checked, so confirm the link on the board site.

Step by step

  1. Open the official Iowa lookup run by DIAL and search the contractor by name or number.
    Open the official lookup
  2. For electrical work, also check the electrical contractor lookup from DIAL.
    Open the lookup
  3. For plumbing work, also check the plumbing contractor lookup from DIAL.
    Open the lookup
  4. For HVAC work, also check the HVAC contractor lookup from DIAL.
    Open the lookup
  5. DIAL registers contractors partly to make information about them available to the public. source Licensed plumbing and mechanical contractors can be searched or verified on the board's public portal. source Subcontractors are not covered by the general contractor's registration and must register on their own. source Check with the city or county for local requirements on each project. source The Iowa Regulatory Licensing public search finds plumbing and mechanical licensees by license number, business, name, program and status, including disciplinary action. source
  6. Confirm the record is active and the class matches the job (Construction contractor registration). The board's own record governs. A registration is required for jobs above Registration required for anyone earning at least $2,000 a year from construction work (an annual earnings test, not a per-job threshold). source
  7. Check the bond and insurance on the record against the state minimums: Surety bond of $25,000 for contractors whose principal place of business is outside Iowa; it guarantees payments owed to the state and only the state can collect on it. source Proof of workers' compensation insurance with the registration application; no liability insurance minimum found. source

If the contractor is not licensed, or you have a complaint

  • Homeowners can file a complaint about an electrician or electrical contractor through DIAL. source

Homeowner protections in Iowa

  • The $25,000 contractor registration bond protects the state, not homeowners. source
  • A plumbing or mechanical contractor's surety bond is a performance bond guaranteeing the contract is fully performed. source

Questions

How do I check if a contractor is licensed in Iowa?
Search the contractor by name or license number on the official Iowa lookup run by DIAL, 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 Iowa is not licensed?
Homeowners can file a complaint about an electrician or electrical contractor through DIAL.

All Iowa licensing rules by trade

Sources

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.