Virginia contractor license lookup
It issues state licenses for general contractors, electrical contractors, plumbing contractors, HVAC contractors and roofing contractors. Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR), Board for Contractors, regulant lists lists 53,755 active contractor licenses as of October 5, 2026.
Look up a license
| Trade | Credential | Board | Official lookup |
|---|---|---|---|
| General contractor | State license | Virginia Board for Contractors (Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation) | Search general contractor licenses |
| Electrical | State license | Virginia Board for Contractors (Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation) | Search electrical licenses |
| Plumbing | State license | Virginia Board for Contractors (Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation) | Search plumbing licenses |
| HVAC | State license | Virginia Board for Contractors (Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation) | Search HVAC licenses |
| Roofing | State license | Virginia Board for Contractors (Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation) | Search roofing licenses |
Verify a contractor
For homeowners hiring in Virginia.
- Open the official Virginia lookup run by Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation and search the contractor by name or number.
- DPOR License Lookup searches by name, license number, address and license type, and has a separate Disciplinary Action Search. source DPOR advises homeowners to check license status and past disciplinary actions in License Lookup before hiring. source License Lookup shows the continuing education hours a tradesman still needs to renew. source
- Confirm the record is active and the class matches the job (Class A or Class B or Class C or Commercial Building Contractor (CBC) or Residential Building Contractor (RBC) or Home Improvement Contractor (HIC)). The board's own record governs. A license is required for jobs above A Class C contractor license is needed once a single contract or project is over $1,000 (Class B from $30,000, Class A from $150,000). source
- Check the bond and insurance on the record against the state minimums: No bond is required for Class C; Class A and Class B firms may post a $50,000 surety bond instead of proving net worth ($45,000 for Class A, $15,000 for Class B). source
- Complaints must reach DPOR in writing within three years of the act giving rise to the violation. source DPOR's Compliance and Investigations Division takes complaints but cannot order refunds or repairs. source
Homeowner protections in Virginia
- Contractor Recovery Fund pays at most $30,000 per claimant for one transaction. source
- Recovery Fund claims against one contractor are capped at $100,000 per biennium, prorated if exceeded. source
- A Recovery Fund claim must be filed within 12 months after the court judgment against the licensed contractor is final. source
- Only homeowners whose contract covered their Virginia residence, or a property owners' association, may claim, and only after a court judgment for improper or dishonest conduct. source
- If the contractor was bonded, the claimant must seek recovery through the bond before the fund. source
- Licensed contractors must give a written contract signed by both parties for residential work. source
Get licensed
For a general contractor working in Virginia.
- Apply to Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation as a Class A or Class B or Class C or Commercial Building Contractor (CBC) or Residential Building Contractor (RBC) or Home Improvement Contractor (HIC).
- Exam required before applying: the designated employee of a Class A or B firm passes the contractor business exam and the qualified individual passes a specialty exam where required, all through PSI. source
- Experience: 1 years (Qualified individual needs at least one year of experience in the classification or specialty for Class C (three years for Class B, five for Class A)). source
- Post a no bond is required for Class C; Class A and Class B firms may post a $50,000 surety bond instead of proving net worth ($45,000 for Class A, $15,000 for Class B). source
- Pay the class C initial license fee, with application: $235. source
- Contractor firm licenses expire two years from the last day of the month of issue. source
Other trades
- Electrical: state license, $50,000 bond, $235 fee. Requirements
- Plumbing: state license, $50,000 bond, $235 fee. Requirements
- HVAC: state license, $50,000 bond, $235 fee. Requirements
- Roofing: state license, $50,000 bond, $235 fee. Requirements
Requirements by trade
| Exam | Exam required before applying: the designated employee of a Class A or B firm passes the contractor business exam and the qualified individual passes a specialty exam where required, all through PSI. source |
|---|---|
| Experience | 1 years (Qualified individual needs at least one year of experience in the classification or specialty for Class C (three years for Class B, five for Class A)). source |
| Bond | No bond is required for Class C; Class A and Class B firms may post a $50,000 surety bond instead of proving net worth ($45,000 for Class A, $15,000 for Class B). source |
| Insurance | Not found on an official source. No state liability insurance minimum found in the Class A, B or C entry requirements (18VAC50-22-40, 50 and 60); localities may set their own. |
| Renewal | Contractor firm licenses expire two years from the last day of the month of issue. source |
| Reciprocity | No full reciprocity for general contractors; examination waivers exist for North Carolina RBC and CBC licensees and for Ohio business and law exam. source |
| Fees |
|
| Exam | The firm's qualified individual must hold a Virginia master electrician tradesman license, earned by passing the PSI journeyman and master exams after Board pre-approval. source |
|---|---|
| Experience | 1 years (Master tradesman (needed to qualify the firm): at least one year holding a journeyman license, or nine years of practical experience). source |
| Bond | No bond is required for Class C; Class A and Class B firms may post a $50,000 surety bond instead of proving net worth ($45,000 for Class A, $15,000 for Class B). source |
| Insurance | Not found on an official source. No state liability insurance minimum found in the Class A, B or C entry requirements (18VAC50-22-40, 50 and 60); localities may set their own. |
| Renewal | Contractor firm license renews every two years; the individual tradesman license (journeyman or master) expires every three years and needs three hours of continuing education per trade. source |
| Reciprocity | Electrical license or exam reciprocity with Alabama, District of Columbia, Kentucky, Maryland, West Virginia, North Carolina and Ohio, on the terms of each agreement. source |
| Fees |
|
| Exam | The firm's qualified individual must hold a Virginia master plumber tradesman license, earned by passing the PSI journeyman and master exams after Board pre-approval. source |
|---|---|
| Experience | 1 years (Master tradesman (needed to qualify the firm): at least one year holding a journeyman license, or nine years of practical experience). source |
| Bond | No bond is required for Class C; Class A and Class B firms may post a $50,000 surety bond instead of proving net worth ($45,000 for Class A, $15,000 for Class B). source |
| Insurance | Not found on an official source. No state liability insurance minimum found in the Class A, B or C entry requirements (18VAC50-22-40, 50 and 60); localities may set their own. |
| Renewal | Contractor firm license renews every two years; the individual tradesman license (journeyman or master) expires every three years and needs three hours of continuing education per trade. source |
| Reciprocity | Only an examination agreement with the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) for journeyman and master plumber. source |
| Fees |
|
| Exam | The firm's qualified individual must hold a Virginia master HVAC tradesman license, earned by passing the PSI journeyman and master exams after Board pre-approval. source |
|---|---|
| Experience | 1 years (Master tradesman (needed to qualify the firm): at least one year holding a journeyman license, or nine years of practical experience). source |
| Bond | No bond is required for Class C; Class A and Class B firms may post a $50,000 surety bond instead of proving net worth ($45,000 for Class A, $15,000 for Class B). source |
| Insurance | Not found on an official source. No state liability insurance minimum found in the Class A, B or C entry requirements (18VAC50-22-40, 50 and 60); localities may set their own. |
| Renewal | Contractor firm license renews every two years; the individual tradesman license (journeyman or master) expires every three years and needs three hours of continuing education per trade. source |
| Reciprocity | Journeyman and master HVAC exam reciprocity with Maryland only. source |
| Fees |
|
| Exam | The firm's qualified individual must pass a Board-approved roofing specialty exam (PSI); a Class A or B designated employee also passes the business exam. source |
|---|---|
| Experience | 1 years (Qualified individual needs at least one year of experience in the classification or specialty for Class C (three years for Class B, five for Class A)). source |
| Bond | No bond is required for Class C; Class A and Class B firms may post a $50,000 surety bond instead of proving net worth ($45,000 for Class A, $15,000 for Class B). source |
| Insurance | Not found on an official source. No state liability insurance minimum found in the Class A, B or C entry requirements (18VAC50-22-40, 50 and 60); localities may set their own. |
| Renewal | Contractor firm licenses expire two years from the last day of the month of issue. source |
| Reciprocity | Not found on an official source. On an official source. |
| Fees |
|
Licenses on record
53,755 active records in Virginia DPOR regulant list: Class A Contractor (list 2701), as of October 5, 2026. 26,939 expire within the next year.
| Trade | Active |
|---|---|
| General contractor (business) | 23,985 |
| Electrical (business) | 7,098 |
| Plumbing (business) | 4,372 |
| HVAC (business) | 4,763 |
| Roofing (business) | 1,634 |
| License type | Active |
|---|---|
| Class A (business) | 34,179 |
| Class C (business) | 11,233 |
| Class B (business) | 8,343 |
| Specialty | Active |
|---|---|
| Residential building contractors (RBC) (business) | 22,159 |
| Commercial building contractors (CBC) (business) | 17,935 |
| Home improvement contracting (HIC) (business) | 11,812 |
| Electrical contractors (ELE) (business) | 7,098 |
| Commercial improvement contracting (CIC) (business) | 6,325 |
| HVAC contractors (HVA) (business) | 4,763 |
| Plumbing contractors (PLB) (business) | 4,372 |
| Highway/heavy contractors (H/H) (business) | 4,327 |
| Gas fitting contracting (GFC) (business) | 3,055 |
| Painting and wallcovering contracting (PTC) (business) | 2,254 |
| Landscape service contracting (LSC) (business) | 2,068 |
| Roofing contracting (ROC) (business) | 1,634 |
| Concrete contracting (CEM) (business) | 1,542 |
| Electronic/communication service contracting (ESC) (business) | 1,149 |
| Masonry contracting (BRK) (business) | 1,145 |
Show all specialties
| Specialty | Active |
|---|---|
| Equipment/machinery contracting (EMC) (business) | 816 |
| Landscape irrigation contracting (ISC) (business) | 553 |
| Fire alarm systems contracting (FAS) (business) | 516 |
| Asphalt paving and sealcoating contracting (PAV) (business) | 457 |
| Farm improvement contracting (FIC) (business) | 454 |
| Industrialized building contracting (IBC) (business) | 397 |
| Alternative energy system contracting (AES) (business) | 379 |
| Asbestos contracting (ASB) (business) | 351 |
| Refrigeration contracting (REF) (business) | 333 |
| Billboard/sign contracting (BSC) (business) | 324 |
| Fire sprinkler contracting (SPR) (business) | 322 |
| Recreational facility contracting (RFC) (business) | 294 |
| Swimming pool construction contracting (POL) (business) | 291 |
| Alternative sewage disposal system contracting (ADS) (business) | 276 |
| Fire suppression contracting (FSP) (business) | 244 |
| Environmental specialties contracting (ENV) (business) | 234 |
| Flooring and floor covering contracting (FLR) (business) | 211 |
| Finish carpentry contracting (FIN) (business) | 210 |
| Marine facility contracting (MCC) (business) | 203 |
| Conventional sewage disposal systems contracting (CDS) (business) | 199 |
| Water well/pump contracting (WWP) (business) | 199 |
| Drywall contracting (DRY) (business) | 180 |
| Manufactured home contracting (MHC) (business) | 176 |
| Lead abatement contracting (LAC) (business) | 165 |
| Natural gas fitting provider contracting (NGF) (business) | 144 |
| Underground utility and excavating contracting (UUC) (business) | 143 |
| Liquefied petroleum gas contracting (LPG) (business) | 137 |
| Steel erection contracting (STL) (business) | 136 |
| Vessel construction contracting (VCC) (business) | 121 |
| Glass and glazing contracting (GLZ) (business) | 92 |
| Environmental monitoring well contracting (EMW) (business) | 90 |
| Elevator/escalator contracting (EEC) (business) | 85 |
| Framing subcontractor (FRM) (business) | 77 |
| Tile, marble, ceramic, and terrazzo contracting (TMC) (business) | 74 |
| Insulation and weather stripping contracting (INS) (business) | 60 |
| Blast/explosive contracting (BEC) (business) | 53 |
| Radon mitigation contracting (RMC) (business) | 31 |
| Code ASC (not named in the board's list) (business) | 11 |
| Category | Active |
|---|---|
| Electrician | 17,821 |
| HVAC tradesman | 9,054 |
| Plumber | 6,728 |
| Gas fitter | 4,044 |
| Liquefied petroleum gas fitter | 337 |
| Natural gas fitter provider | 301 |
| Category | Active |
|---|---|
| Master electrician (MELE) | 11,896 |
| Journeyman electrician (JELE) | 9,606 |
| Master HVAC tradesman (MHVA) | 7,721 |
| Master plumber (MPLB) | 5,960 |
| Master gas fitter (MGFC) | 3,840 |
| Journeyman HVAC tradesman (JHVA) | 3,092 |
| Journeyman plumber (JPLB) | 1,820 |
| Journeyman gas fitter (JGFC) | 429 |
| Master liquefied petroleum gas fitter (MLPG) | 309 |
| Master natural gas fitter provider (MNGF) | 280 |
| Journeyman liquefied petroleum gas fitter (JLPG) | 50 |
| Journeyman natural gas fitter provider (JNGF) | 26 |
| Category | Active |
|---|---|
| Virginia address | 23,359 |
| Address outside Virginia | 6,749 |
| City | Active |
|---|---|
| Virginia Beach | 2,215 |
| Richmond | 1,660 |
| Chesapeake | 1,287 |
| Manassas | 1,068 |
| Fredericksburg | 941 |
| Alexandria | 892 |
| Woodbridge | 844 |
| Roanoke | 711 |
| Fairfax | 682 |
| Norfolk | 653 |
| Midlothian | 607 |
| Mechanicsville | 558 |
| Sterling | 531 |
| Newport News | 521 |
| Winchester | 504 |
| Springfield | 481 |
| Charlottesville | 460 |
| Henrico | 460 |
| Chesterfield | 437 |
| Powhatan | 427 |
Show more cities
| City | Active |
|---|---|
| Lynchburg | 410 |
| Hampton | 396 |
| Falls Church | 394 |
| Williamsburg | 384 |
| North Chesterfield | 376 |
| Stafford | 375 |
| Suffolk | 374 |
| Chantilly | 372 |
| Arlington | 357 |
| Glen Allen | 314 |
| Warrenton | 312 |
| Vienna | 293 |
| Leesburg | 290 |
| Ashland | 281 |
| Harrisonburg | 277 |
| Culpeper | 276 |
| Spotsylvania | 275 |
| Annandale | 268 |
| Portsmouth | 258 |
| Yorktown | 254 |
| Centreville | 252 |
| Front Royal | 250 |
| Chester | 242 |
| Herndon | 237 |
| Lorton | 233 |
| Christiansburg | 229 |
| Salem | 227 |
| Ashburn | 226 |
| Gloucester | 218 |
| Staunton | 207 |
- A snapshot of the Virginia DPOR regulant list: Class A Contractor (list 2701) as of October 5, 2026. The board's live lookup may differ.
- Virginia's Board for Contractors publishes separate lists for Class A, Class B and Class C contractor licenses, which businesses hold, and for tradesman licenses, which individuals hold. The 53,755 active contractor licenses and 30,130 active tradesman licenses are never added together.
- The lists have no status column. A license counts as active here when its expiration date is on or after the date the board published the lists, October 5, 2026. Licenses past that date would be left out; none in these lists were.
- Class A licenses are published in two lists; both are counted, and each license appears in only one list.
- A contractor license can carry several specialties, so the specialty table adds up to more than the number of licenses.
- General contractors here are licenses with the commercial or residential building classification. The roofing count is licenses with the roofing specialty; building contractors and home or commercial improvement contractors may also do roofing work.
- Tradesman licenses (master and journeyman electricians, plumbers, HVAC and gas fitters) are individuals and appear only in their own tables.
- Cities come from the address on file, not where the work is done. 10,472 active contractor licenses and 6,749 active tradesman licenses have an address outside Virginia and are left out of the city table.
- The lists carry no discipline data, so no discipline count is shown. The board's license lookup has a separate disciplinary search.
- The board refreshes the lists every five business days; these counts are a snapshot as of October 5, 2026.
How these counts are defined
- Tradesman licenses by trade
- Active individual tradesman licenses by trade, master and journeyman levels together. A tradesman licensed in several trades counts under each. These are people, not businesses, and are never added to the contractor counts. Trades with fewer than 10 are not shown.
- Tradesman licenses by level and trade
- Active individual tradesman licenses by each level and trade the license carries. One license can carry several, so the rows add up to more than the number of licenses. Rows with fewer than 10 are not shown.
- Tradesman licenses by address on file
- Active individual tradesman licenses by whether the address on file is in Virginia or in another state.
- Rows Total
- Rows in the five board lists used here: Class A (two lists), Class B and Class C contractor licenses, and tradesman licenses. One row per license.
- Active Total
- Contractor licenses held by businesses (Class A, B and C) whose expiration date is on or after the date the board published the lists. The lists have no status column, so this date test is how active is decided here. Tradesman licenses are counted separately.
- Active by license type
- Active contractor licenses by class. The class sets the size of job a business may take on. Each license has one class.
- Active by specialty
- Active contractor licenses by each classification or specialty they carry. A license can carry several, so the rows add up to more than the number of licenses. Rows with fewer than 10 are not shown.
- Active by trade
- Active contractor licenses carrying the matching classification or specialty: commercial or residential building for general contractors, and the electrical, plumbing, HVAC and roofing specialties. A license can count in several trades. Individual tradesman licenses are shown in their own tables.
- Cities
- Active contractor licenses by the city on the address on file, Virginia addresses only, top 50 cities with at least 10 licenses.
- Active Out Of State
- Active contractor licenses with an address outside Virginia. They are left out of the city table.
- Expiring within the next year
- Active contractor licenses whose expiration date falls within one year after the list date.
- Discipline Actions
- Not shown. The board lists carry no discipline data.
Counts only, no personal data. Small groups are left out. Rows marked business, individual or mixed count different holders and are never added together.
- Source: Virginia DPOR regulant list: Class A Contractor (list 2701), as of October 5, 2026. Data license: No reuse terms stated. Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR), Board for Contractors, regulant lists.
- Source: Virginia DPOR regulant list: Class A Contractor (list 2705 A), as of October 5, 2026. Data license: No reuse terms stated. Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR), Board for Contractors, regulant lists.
- Source: Virginia DPOR regulant list: Class B Contractor (list 2705 B), as of October 5, 2026. Data license: No reuse terms stated. Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR), Board for Contractors, regulant lists.
- Source: Virginia DPOR regulant list: Class C Contractor (list 2705 C), as of October 5, 2026. Data license: No reuse terms stated. Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR), Board for Contractors, regulant lists.
- Source: Virginia DPOR regulant list: Tradesman, Combined License (list 2710), as of October 5, 2026. Data license: No reuse terms stated. Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR), Board for Contractors, regulant lists.
Questions
- Does Virginia require a contractor license?
- Yes, in most cases Virginia requires a state license for general contractors. A Class C contractor license is needed once a single contract or project is over $1,000 (Class B from $30,000, Class A from $150,000). The Virginia Board for Contractors (Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation) issues it as one of several credentials, such as Class A, Class B or Class C.
- How do I look up a contractor license in Virginia?
- The Virginia Board for Contractors (Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation) keeps the record for general contractors in Virginia. 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 Virginia?
- The Virginia Board for Contractors (Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation) keeps the record for electrical contractors in Virginia.
- How do I look up a plumbing license in Virginia?
- The Virginia Board for Contractors (Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation) keeps the record for plumbing contractors in Virginia.
- Does Virginia have an HVAC license?
- The Virginia Board for Contractors (Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation) keeps the record for HVAC contractors in Virginia.
- Do roofers need a license in Virginia?
- The Virginia Board for Contractors (Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation) keeps the record for roofing contractors in Virginia.
- How many contractors are registered or licensed in Virginia?
- The Virginia DPOR regulant list: Class A Contractor (list 2701) lists 53,755 active records as of October 5, 2026.
Sources
- https://www.dpor.virginia.gov/Boards/Contractors
- https://dporweb.dpor.virginia.gov/LicenseLookup/Search
- https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title54.1/chapter11/section54.1-1103/
- https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title54.1/chapter11/section54.1-1100/
- https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title54.1/chapter11/section54.1-1129/
- https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title18/agency50/chapter22/section30/
- https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title18/agency50/chapter22/section40/
- https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title18/agency50/chapter22/section60/
- https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title18/agency50/chapter22/section110/
- https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title18/agency50/chapter22/section100/
- https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title18/agency50/chapter22/section140/
- https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title18/agency50/chapter22/section61/
- https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title18/agency50/chapter30/section39/
- https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title18/agency50/chapter30/section120/
- https://www.dpor.virginia.gov/sites/default/files/boards/Tradesman/Tradesmen%20reciprocal%20agreements.pdf
- https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title18/agency50/chapter30/section90/
- https://www.dpor.virginia.gov/Boards/Tradesmen
- https://www.dpor.virginia.gov/Consumers/Guide_Contractor/
- https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title54.1/chapter11/section54.1-1123/
- https://www.dpor.virginia.gov/Boards/Contractors_Recovery_Fund/
- https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title54.1/chapter11/section54.1-1120/
- https://www.dpor.virginia.gov/Report-Licensee
- https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title18/agency50/chapter22/section50/
- https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title18/agency50/chapter22/section80/
- https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title18/agency50/chapter30/section100/
- https://www.dpor.virginia.gov/RegulantLists
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.