How to check if a contractor is licensed in New Hampshire
Edited by John Voll. Last verified .
In New Hampshire, the state keeps license or registration records for electrical contractors, plumbing contractors and HVAC contractors, and each has an official lookup or board listed below. For general contractors and roofing contractors, our survey found no state-level license, so check with the city or county where the work is done. 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 | City or county | Our survey of official New Hampshire sources found no state-level general contractor license. Check with the city or county where the work is done. |
| Electrical | New Hampshire Electricians' Board (Office of Professional Licensure and Certification) | Search electrical licenses |
| Plumbing | New Hampshire Mechanical Licensing Board (Office of Professional Licensure and Certification) | Search plumbing licenses |
| HVAC | New Hampshire Mechanical Licensing Board (Office of Professional Licensure and Certification) | Search HVAC licenses |
| Roofing | City or county | Our survey of official New Hampshire sources found no state-level roofing contractor license. Check with the city or county where the work is done. |
Step by step
- Ask the city or county building department where the work is done how they license general contractors.
- For electrical work, also check the electrical contractor lookup from Office of Professional Licensure and Certification.
- For plumbing work, also check the plumbing contractor lookup from Office of Professional Licensure and Certification.
- For HVAC work, also check the HVAC contractor lookup from Office of Professional Licensure and Certification.
- Each mechanical license states which specialty the holder is licensed for, such as master plumber or fuel gas installation technician. source A plumber or gas fitter may not do work outside the specialty on the license. source A plumber or gas fitter must show the license on request. source An electrician's license certificate must be displayed at the principal place of business or carried on the job. source A company doing electrical work must have a licensed master electrician in charge of the business. source New Hampshire's online license verification search covers electricians and Mechanical Licensing Board licenses such as master plumber and gas fitter, searchable by profession, license type, name or license number. source
If the contractor is not licensed, or you have a complaint
- A complaint of professional misconduct against a licensee must be brought within 5 years of when the office could reasonably have discovered it. source
Homeowner protections in New Hampshire
- Oil heat certification is voluntary, but falsely claiming it in ads, signs or in person is an offense. source
Questions
- How do I check if a contractor is licensed in New Hampshire?
- Our survey of official New Hampshire sources found no state-level general contractor license. Check with the city or county where the work is done. For electrical, plumbing, HVAC or roofing work, use that trade's official lookup in the table on this page where the state keeps one.
- What can I do if a contractor in New Hampshire is not licensed?
- A complaint of professional misconduct against a licensee must be brought within 5 years of when the office could reasonably have discovered it.
All New Hampshire licensing rules by trade
Sources
- https://www.oplc.nh.gov/find-board/electricians-board
- https://forms.nh.gov/licenseverification/
- https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/XXX/319-C/319-C-mrg.htm
- https://www.oplc.nh.gov/find-board/mechanical-licensing-board
- https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/XII/153/153-mrg.htm
- https://gc.nh.gov/rules/state_agencies/elec100-400.html
- https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/XXX/310/310-mrg.htm
- https://gc.nh.gov/rules/state_agencies/plc1000.html
- https://gc.nh.gov/rules/state_agencies/mec300.html
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.