How to check if a contractor is licensed in New Jersey
Edited by John Voll. Last verified .
In New Jersey, 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 | New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, Home Improvement Contractors | Search general contractor licenses |
| Electrical | Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors | Search electrical licenses |
| Plumbing | State Board of Examiners of Master Plumbers | Search plumbing licenses |
| HVAC | State Board of Examiners of Heating, Ventilating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVACR) Contractors | Search HVAC licenses |
| Roofing | New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, Home Improvement Contractors | Search roofing licenses |
Step by step
- Open the official New Jersey lookup run by New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs and search the contractor by name or number.
- The Division of Consumer Affairs License Verification System is a real-time lookup; home improvement contractors and electrical contractor businesses are under Business Search, individual licensees under Person Search. source Contact Consumer Affairs to check for complaints and confirm a home improvement contractor is registered. source Licensed plumbers and electrical contractors working within their profession do not need home improvement registration; check their license instead. source
- Confirm the record is active and the class matches the job (Home Improvement Business Contractor or Home Elevation Business Contractor). The board's own record governs.
- Check the bond and insurance on the record against the state minimums: Additional security (compliance bond, letter of credit or other security) of $10,000 to $50,000 scaled to contract size, with $10,000 the minimum. source Commercial general liability insurance of at least $500,000 per occurrence, plus workers' compensation insurance unless exempt. source
If the contractor is not licensed, or you have a complaint
Homeowner protections in New Jersey
- Home improvement contracts over $500 must be in writing and include the contractor's registration number. source
- The contractor must give the homeowner a copy of its commercial general liability insurance policy and the insurer's phone number. source
- A signed home improvement contract can be canceled for any reason before midnight of the third business day after receiving a copy. source
- Unregistered home improvement contractors cannot get municipal construction permits. source
- No home improvement guaranty or recovery fund found on Division of Consumer Affairs pages; claim amounts and deadlines against the HIC additional security were not found.
Questions
- How do I check if a contractor is licensed in New Jersey?
- Search the contractor by name or license number on the official New Jersey lookup run by New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, 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 New Jersey is not licensed?
- File a home repair complaint online at NJConsumerAffairs.gov or call Consumer Affairs at 1-800-242-5846 for a complaint form. Complaints about an electrical contractor go to the Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors through its File a Complaint link or by phone at 973-504-6410.
All New Jersey licensing rules by trade
Sources
- https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/hic/Pages/default.aspx
- https://newjersey.mylicense.com/verification/
- https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/elec/Pages/default.aspx
- https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/elec/pages/faq.aspx
- https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/plu
- https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/plu/Pages/FAQ.aspx
- https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/hvacr/Pages/default.aspx
- https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/Documents/HIC-HEC-Regarding-Changes-To-The-Law-New-Requirements-For-Registration.pdf
- https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/hic/applications/home-improvement-contractor-application-for-initial-registration.pdf
- https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/hic/Pages/FAQ.aspx
- https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/elec/Documents/qualifications-of-applicants.pdf
- https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/elec/Applications/Application-for-an-Initial-Business-Permit.pdf
- https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/elec/Applications/Application-for-Examination.pdf
- https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/plu/Documents/Master-Plumbers-Application-Process-Overview.pdf
- https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/hvacr/Pages/FAQ.aspx
- https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/hvacr/Applications/Application-for-Reinstatement-of-a-License-to-Practice-as-a-Master-HVACR-Contractor.pdf
- https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/hvacr/Documents/Application-for-a-Master-HVACR-Contractors-License-by-Reciprocity-Alert.pdf
- https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/News/Consumer%20Briefs/hiring-home-improvement-contractors.pdf
- https://app.box.com/v/DCAStandardFiles
- https://njconsumeraffairs.gov/requestlist
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.