Rhode Island contractor license lookup
Rhode Island requires state registration for general contractors. It issues state licenses for electrical contractors, plumbing contractors, HVAC contractors and roofing contractors. Use the official lookup below to check a contractor. Information as of October 6, 2026.
Look up a license
| Trade | Credential | Board | Official lookup |
|---|---|---|---|
| General contractor | State registration (no competency license) | Rhode Island Contractors' Registration and Licensing Board | Search general contractor licenses We could not load this lookup when we checked, so confirm the link on the board site. |
| Electrical | State license | Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training, Division of Professional Regulation (Board of Examiners of Electricians) | Search electrical licenses |
| Plumbing | State license | Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training, Division of Professional Regulation (Board of Examiners of Plumbers) | Search plumbing licenses |
| HVAC | State license | Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training, Division of Professional Regulation (Mechanical Board) | Search HVAC licenses |
| Roofing | State license | Rhode Island Contractors' Registration and Licensing Board | Search roofing licenses We could not load this lookup when we checked, so confirm the link on the board site. |
Verify a contractor
For homeowners hiring in Rhode Island.
- Open the official Rhode Island lookup run by Rhode Island Contractors' Registration and Licensing Board and search the contractor by name or number.
- For electrical work, also check the electrical contractor lookup from Board of Examiners of Electricians.
- For plumbing work, also check the plumbing contractor lookup from Board of Examiners of Plumbers.
- For HVAC work, also check the HVAC contractor lookup from Mechanical Board.
- The CRLB consumer page offers a registrant search, a quarterly list of registrants and licensees, and enforcement actions. source Electrician, plumber and mechanical (HVAC) licenses are checked on the DLT Professional Regulation site, which also has a violations search. source The CRLB's Search a Registrant/Licensee page links to its enforcement actions (board decisions) so homeowners can check a contractor's disciplinary history. source
- Confirm the record is active and the class matches the job (General Contractor Registration). The board's own record governs. A registration is required for jobs above Registration is not required for a single contract under $500 in labor and materials, but anyone advertising as a contractor must register. source
- Check the bond and insurance on the record against the state minimums: General liability insurance of at least $500,000 combined single limit, plus workers' compensation if the contractor has employee. source
- File a CRLB complaint within one year of the date the work was completed. source The CRLB can fine or suspend a contractor but cannot order money damages; recovery is through state court. source Complaints about electricians, plumbers and mechanical contractors go to the Department of Labor and Training, not the CRLB. source
Homeowner protections in Rhode Island
- Unregistered contractors cannot legally do contracting work or pull a building permit in any Rhode Island city or town. source
- Elderly homeowners can cancel an in-home solicitation contract within three business days. source
- A homeowner who wins a court case against a contractor may be awarded treble damages and attorney's fees. source
Get licensed
For a general contractor working in Rhode Island.
- Register with Rhode Island Contractors' Registration and Licensing Board as a General Contractor Registration.
- Carry general liability insurance of at least $500,000 combined single limit, plus workers' compensation if the contractor has employee. source
- Pay the registration fee (new or renewal) of $150: $150. source
- Registration is valid for one year and must be renewed annually, with a 2.5-hour continuing education course for residential contractors. source
Other trades
- Electrical: state license, $240 fee. Requirements
- Plumbing: state license, $75 fee. Requirements
- HVAC: state license, $240 fee. Requirements
- Roofing: state license, $400 fee. Requirements
Requirements by trade
| Exam | Not found on an official source. No state exam found; first-time applicants must complete a state-approved 5-hour pre-registration course unless working only on commercial structures. |
|---|---|
| Experience | Not found on an official source. On an official source. |
| Bond | Not found on an official source. On an official source. |
| Insurance | General liability insurance of at least $500,000 combined single limit, plus workers' compensation if the contractor has employee. source |
| Renewal | Registration is valid for one year and must be renewed annually, with a 2.5-hour continuing education course for residential contractor. source |
| Reciprocity | No reciprocity: out-of-state contractors must register in Rhode Island. source |
| Fees |
| Exam | Exam required: a Class A electrical contractor certificate names the person who passed the examination. source |
|---|---|
| Experience | At least 6 years of trade experience plus a Rhode Island journeyperson license held at least 2 years before the contractor exam. source |
| Bond | Not found on an official source. On an official source. |
| Insurance | Not found on an official source. On an official source. |
| Renewal | Licenses expire on the license holder's birthday and renew for two year. source |
| Reciprocity | Not found on an official source. On an official source. |
| Fees |
| Exam | Exam required for a master plumber license. source |
|---|---|
| Experience | At least 5 years of trade experience and a journeyperson license held at least 1 year before the master exam. source |
| Bond | Not found on an official source. On an official source. |
| Insurance | Not found on an official source. On an official source. |
| Renewal | Licenses expire on the holder's birthday every two year. source |
| Reciprocity | Not found on an official source. On an official source. |
| Fees |
| Exam | Exam required; DLT tests pipefitters and refrigeration technicians (assumes the Refrigeration Master I or Pipefitter Master I license). source |
|---|---|
| Experience | Not found on an official source. On an official source. |
| Bond | Not found on an official source. On an official source. |
| Insurance | Not found on an official source. On an official source. |
| Renewal | Licenses expire on the holder's birthday every two years; renewal fee equals the license fee ($240 for Refrigeration Master I). source |
| Reciprocity | Not found on an official source. On an official source. |
| Fees |
| Exam | Commercial roofers must pass an exam (PSI); roofers registered before July 1, 2015 in good standing are exempt. source |
|---|---|
| Experience | Not found on an official source. On an official source. |
| Bond | Not found on an official source. On an official source. |
| Insurance | General liability insurance of $2,000,000 per occurrence naming the board as certificate holder (commercial roofing license). source |
| Renewal | Two-year licensing cycle with 12 hours of continuing roofing education. source |
| Reciprocity | Not found on an official source. On an official source. |
| Fees |
Questions
- Does Rhode Island require a contractor license?
- Yes, in most cases Rhode Island requires a state registration for general contractors. Registration is not required for a single contract under $500 in labor and materials, but anyone advertising as a contractor must register. The Rhode Island Contractors' Registration and Licensing Board issues it as the General Contractor Registration credential. Registration is not a test of skill.
- How do I look up a contractor license in Rhode Island?
- The Rhode Island Contractors' Registration and Licensing Board keeps the record for general contractors in Rhode Island. 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 Rhode Island?
- The Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training, Division of Professional Regulation (Board of Examiners of Electricians) keeps the record for electrical contractors in Rhode Island.
- How do I look up a plumbing license in Rhode Island?
- The Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training, Division of Professional Regulation (Board of Examiners of Plumbers) keeps the record for plumbing contractors in Rhode Island.
- Does Rhode Island have an HVAC license?
- The Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training, Division of Professional Regulation (Mechanical Board) keeps the record for HVAC contractors in Rhode Island.
- Do roofers need a license in Rhode Island?
- The Rhode Island Contractors' Registration and Licensing Board keeps the record for roofing contractors in Rhode Island.
Sources
- https://crb.ri.gov/
- https://crb.ri.gov/search/contractor-search
- https://crb.ri.gov/contractor-registration/faqs
- https://dlt.ri.gov/regulation-and-safety/professional-regulation
- https://dltweb.dlt.ri.gov/profregsonline/
- https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE28/28-27/28-27-5.htm
- https://crb.ri.gov/licenses/commercial-roofing-license
- https://crb.ri.gov/general-contractor-registration/apply
- https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE5/5-65/5-65-7.htm
- https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE5/5-65/5-65-8.htm
- https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE5/5-65/5-65-9.htm
- https://crb.ri.gov/general-contractor-registration/renew
- https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE5/5-6/5-6-8.htm
- https://dlt.ri.gov/sites/g/files/xkgbur571/files/2025-07/Electrician%20App%202.pdf
- https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE5/5-6/5-6-20.htm
- https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE5/5-6/5-6-16.htm
- https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE5/5-6/5-6-17.htm
- https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE5/5-20/5-20-16.htm
- https://dlt.ri.gov/sites/g/files/xkgbur571/files/2025-07/Plumbers%20App%201.pdf
- https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE5/5-20/5-20-23.htm
- https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE28/28-27/28-27-17.htm
- https://dlt.ri.gov/sites/g/files/xkgbur571/files/2025-07/Mechanical%20Trade%20App%201.pdf
- https://crb.ri.gov/licenses/commercial-roofing-license/apply
- https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE5/5-73/5-73-3.htm
- https://crb.ri.gov/licenses/commercial-roofing-license/renew
- https://crb.ri.gov/consumer/search-registrantlicensee
- https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE5/5-65/5-65-27.htm
- https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE5/5-65/5-65-12.1.htm
- https://crb.ri.gov/consumer/complaint-filing-overview
- https://crb.ri.gov/residential-contractor-licensing
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.