How to check if a contractor is licensed in West Virginia
Edited by John Voll. Last verified .
In West 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 | West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board | Search general contractor licenses |
| Electrical | West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board (contractor); West Virginia State Fire Marshal (electrician license) | Search electrical licenses |
| Plumbing | West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board (contractor); West Virginia Division of Labor (plumber certification) | Search plumbing licenses |
| HVAC | West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board (contractor); West Virginia Division of Labor (HVAC technician certification) | Search HVAC licenses |
| Roofing | West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board | Search roofing licenses |
Step by step
- Open the official West Virginia lookup run by West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board and search the contractor by name or number.
- The board's Contractor Search lists license number, company, DBA, address, county, phone, classification and expiration date, and is updated in real time. source The board publishes a list of disciplinary actions with the date of decision, license number, licensee and final order. source Individual plumbers and HVAC technicians can be checked on the Division of Labor License Database Search. source
- Confirm the record is active and the class matches the job (General building contractor or General engineering contractor or Residential contractor or Multifamily contractor or Remodeling and repair contractor or Specialty contractor). The board's own record governs. A license is required for jobs above Contractor license needed when the job costs $5,000 or more for residential work or $25,000 or more for commercial work. source
- Check the bond and insurance on the record against the state minimums: Proof of workers' compensation and unemployment compensation coverage for all employees working in West Virginia. source
If the contractor is not licensed, or you have a complaint
- Report an unlicensed contractor, or one working outside their classification, to the board through a Request for Investigation on residential jobs of $5,000 or more or commercial jobs of $25,000 or more. source
- The board cannot help with building code violations, contract disputes, misappropriation of funds or workmanship issues. source
- Before the board disciplines a licensed contractor, a certified copy of an unsatisfied court judgment or a favorable arbitrator ruling must be submitted. source
- Anonymous complaints are not accepted. source
Homeowner protections in West Virginia
- A bid for construction must show the contractor license number on its face. source
Questions
- How do I check if a contractor is licensed in West Virginia?
- Search the contractor by name or license number on the official West Virginia lookup run by West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board, 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 West Virginia is not licensed?
- Report an unlicensed contractor, or one working outside their classification, to the board through a Request for Investigation on residential jobs of $5,000 or more or commercial jobs of $25,000 or more. The board cannot help with building code violations, contract disputes, misappropriation of funds or workmanship issues. Before the board disciplines a licensed contractor, a certified copy of an unsatisfied court judgment or a favorable arbitrator ruling must be submitted. Anonymous complaints are not accepted.
All West Virginia licensing rules by trade
Sources
- https://www.wvclboard.wv.gov
- https://www.wvclboard.wv.gov/verify/
- https://apps.sos.wv.gov/adlaw/csr/readfile.aspx?DocId=58823&Format=PDF
- https://code.wvlegislature.gov/30-42-3/
- https://code.wvlegislature.gov/29-3B-2/
- https://labor.wv.gov/licensing/plumber-certification
- https://labor.wv.gov/licensing/hvac-technician-certification
- https://www.wvclboard.wv.gov/account/guide.asp
- https://code.wvlegislature.gov/30-42-8/
- https://labor.wv.gov/licensing/plumber-certification/plumber-certification-fees
- https://labor.wv.gov/licensing/hvac-technician-certification/hvac-technician-certification-fees
- https://www.wvclboard.wv.gov/about/actions.asp
- https://labor.wv.gov/database-search
- https://www.wvclboard.wv.gov/complaint/index.asp
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.