How do I check if a contractor is licensed in Massachusetts?

Search the contractor by name or license number on the official Massachusetts lookup run by Construction Supervisor 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 Massachusetts is not licensed?

A homeowner can take a dispute with a registered contractor to state approved private arbitration within 5 years of the contract date. A homeowner can sue in superior court, district court or small claims court to enforce the home improvement law.

How to check if a contractor is licensed in Massachusetts

Edited by John Voll. Last verified October 6, 2026.

In Massachusetts, 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	Division of Occupational Licensure, Office of Public Safety and Inspections (Construction Supervisor License); Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation (Home Improvement Contractor registration)	Search general contractor licenses
Electrical	Board of State Examiners of Electricians (Division of Occupational Licensure)	Search electrical licenses
Plumbing	Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters (Division of Occupational Licensure)	Search plumbing licenses
HVAC	Division of Occupational Licensure, Office of Public Safety and Inspections (refrigeration and pipefitter licenses); Board of Examiners of Sheet Metal Workers (sheet metal, ductwork)	Search HVAC licenses
Roofing	Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation (Home Improvement Contractor registration)	The Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation (Home Improvement Contractor registration) keeps the record; we found no public online lookup.

Step by step

Open the official Massachusetts lookup run by Construction Supervisor License and search the contractor by name or number.
Open the official lookup
For electrical work, also check the electrical contractor lookup from Division of Occupational Licensure.
Open the lookup
For plumbing work, also check the plumbing contractor lookup from Division of Occupational Licensure.
Open the lookup
The OPSI license lookup covers construction supervisors, refrigeration and pipefitter licenses, and lets you download your search results free. source Every contract, building permit and advertisement must show the contractor's registration number. source The Division of Occupational Licensure Check a license page links the state license portals: electricians and plumbers and gas fitters through the occupational board portal (eLIPSE), construction supervisors through the OPSI portal. source Home improvement contractor registrations and their history can be searched by business name, contractor name, registration number, city or ZIP code on the MA Contractor Hub. source Electrician, plumber and gas fitter, and sheet metal licenses are searched on the Division of Occupational Licensure eLIPSE portal by license number, licensee name, license type or business name. source
Confirm the record is active and the class matches the job (Construction Supervisor or Construction Supervisor 1 & 2 Family or Construction Supervisor Specialty or Home Improvement Contractor certificate of registration). The board's own record governs. A license is required for jobs above Home improvement contractor registration is not required when the aggregate contract price for one project is less than $500. source

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

A homeowner can take a dispute with a registered contractor to state approved private arbitration within 5 years of the contract date. source
A homeowner can sue in superior court, district court or small claims court to enforce the home improvement law. source

Homeowner protections in Massachusetts

Home improvement contracts over $1,000 must be in writing and list the contractor's registration number, start and completion dates and payment schedule. source
A deposit before work starts cannot exceed one-third of the contract price, or the cost of special order materials if greater. source
Homeowners who hire an unregistered contractor cannot recover from the Guaranty Fund. source
The Residential Contractors' Guaranty Fund pays up to $25,000 per homeowner for an unpaid court judgment or arbitration award against a registered contractor. source
A Guaranty Fund claim must be filed within 7 years of the contract date. source

Questions

How do I check if a contractor is licensed in Massachusetts?: Search the contractor by name or license number on the official Massachusetts lookup run by Construction Supervisor 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 Massachusetts is not licensed?: A homeowner can take a dispute with a registered contractor to state approved private arbitration within 5 years of the contract date. A homeowner can sue in superior court, district court or small claims court to enforce the home improvement law.

All Massachusetts 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.