How to check if a contractor is licensed in Vermont
Edited by John Voll. Last verified .
In Vermont, 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 | Vermont Secretary of State, Office of Professional Regulation | Search general contractor licenses |
| Electrical | Vermont Department of Public Safety, Division of Fire Safety (Electricians' Licensing Board) | Search electrical licenses |
| Plumbing | Vermont Department of Public Safety, Division of Fire Safety (Plumber's Examining Board) | Search plumbing licenses |
| HVAC | Vermont Department of Public Safety, Division of Fire Safety | Search HVAC licenses |
| Roofing | Vermont Secretary of State, Office of Professional Regulation | Search roofing licenses |
Step by step
- Open the official Vermont lookup run by Vermont Secretary of State and search the contractor by name or number.
- For electrical work, also check the electrical contractor lookup from Electricians' Licensing Board.
- For plumbing work, also check the plumbing contractor lookup from Plumber's Examining Board.
- For HVAC work, also check the HVAC contractor lookup from Vermont Department of Public Safety.
- OPR's Find a Professional search shows a residential contractor's registration status, dates and any disciplinary action. source Electricians, plumbers and gas and oil installers are checked on Division of Fire Safety lists linked from each trade page. source The Attorney General's Consumer Assistance Program keeps a home improvement fraud registry homeowners can check. source Vermont OPR Find a Professional searches Residential Contractors and shows name, location, license number and type, dates and status, with discipline where applicable. source
- Confirm the record is active and the class matches the job (Residential Contractor (individual) or Residential Contractor (business organization)). The board's own record governs. A registration is required for jobs above Registration required before contracting with a homeowner for residential construction worth more than $10,000, labor and materials included. source
- Check the bond and insurance on the record against the state minimums: Liability insurance of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate. source
If the contractor is not licensed, or you have a complaint
- Complaints about unprofessional conduct or unregistered work go to OPR online. source
- OPR cannot award money damages or judge work quality; the Attorney General's Consumer Assistance Program handles issues beyond OPR. source
- Suspected home improvement fraud can also be reported to local police, since it is a crime in Vermont. source
Homeowner protections in Vermont
- A registered contractor must sign a written contract before taking a deposit or starting work on any residential job over $10,000. source
- The contract must state the price terms, estimated start and completion dates, the scope of work and materials, and how changes are approved. source
- On a fixed or capped price contract, the down payment is limited to half the labor cost or half the materials price, whichever is greater. source
- Registered residential contractors must carry liability insurance of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate. source
Questions
- How do I check if a contractor is licensed in Vermont?
- Search the contractor by name or license number on the official Vermont lookup run by Vermont Secretary of State, 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 Vermont is not licensed?
- Complaints about unprofessional conduct or unregistered work go to OPR online. OPR cannot award money damages or judge work quality; the Attorney General's Consumer Assistance Program handles issues beyond OPR. Suspected home improvement fraud can also be reported to local police, since it is a crime in Vermont.
All Vermont licensing rules by trade
Sources
- https://sos.vermont.gov/residential-contractors
- https://sos.vermont.gov/opr/find-a-professional
- https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/fullchapter/26/106
- https://firesafety.vermont.gov/licensing/electrical
- https://data.vermont.gov/Government/DFS-Licensing-MasterList/cy8e-89cz/data
- https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/fullchapter/26/015
- https://firesafety.vermont.gov/licensing/plumbing
- https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/fullchapter/26/039
- https://firesafety.vermont.gov/licensing
- https://firesafety.vermont.gov/licensing/gas-certifications
- https://firesafety.vermont.gov/sites/firesafety/files/Licensing/Updated%20Web%20Documents/2026%20PROV%20BULLETIN.pdf
- https://firesafety.vermont.gov/licensing/oil-burner-installers
- https://firesafety.vermont.gov/sites/firesafety/files/documents/FINAL%20GAS%20AP%20PEP%202025.pdf
- https://firesafety.vermont.gov/sites/firesafety/files/Licensing/Updated%20Web%20Documents/dfs_tqp_oil_springfield__0.pdf
- https://sos.vermont.gov/residential-contractors/homeowner-resources
- https://sos.vermont.gov/residential-contractors/residential-contractor-faqs
- https://sos.vermont.gov/residential-contractors/apply-renew
- https://data.vermont.gov/d/cy8e-89cz
- http://opendatacommons.org/licenses/odbl/1.0/
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.