How to check if a contractor is licensed in Virginia
Edited by John Voll. Last verified .
In Virginia, 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 | Virginia Board for Contractors (Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation) | Search general contractor licenses |
| Electrical | Virginia Board for Contractors (Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation) | Search electrical licenses |
| Plumbing | Virginia Board for Contractors (Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation) | Search plumbing licenses |
| HVAC | Virginia Board for Contractors (Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation) | Search HVAC licenses |
| Roofing | Virginia Board for Contractors (Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation) | Search roofing licenses |
Step by step
- 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
If the contractor is not licensed, or you have a complaint
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
Questions
- How do I check if a contractor is licensed in Virginia?
- Search the contractor by name or license number on the official Virginia lookup run by Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, 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 Virginia is not licensed?
- Complaints must reach DPOR in writing within three years of the act giving rise to the violation. DPOR's Compliance and Investigations Division takes complaints but cannot order refunds or repairs.
All Virginia licensing rules by trade
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.