{"id":7693,"date":"2026-07-23T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-23T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.simplywise.com\/blog\/?p=7693"},"modified":"2026-07-23T20:32:26","modified_gmt":"2026-07-23T20:32:26","slug":"contractor-license-cost-by-state","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.simplywise.com\/blog\/contractor-license-cost-by-state\/","title":{"rendered":"How Much a Contractor License Costs in Every State (2026)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\ndocument.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function() {\n  var sels = ['.entry-header','.page-header','article > h1:first-child','.entry-footer'];\n  sels.forEach(function(s){document.querySelectorAll(s).forEach(function(el){el.style.display='none';});});\n  var el = document.querySelector('.sw-a');\n  while (el && el !== document.body) {\n    el.style.maxWidth='100%'; el.style.width='100%'; el.style.padding='0'; el.style.margin='0';\n    el.style.float='none'; el.style.flex='0 0 100%';\n    el = 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56px;}.sw__steps>li::before{left:0;width:42px;height:42px;font-size:17px;}.lic{font-size:13px;min-width:820px;}.lic th,.lic td{padding:9px 11px;}.sw__download{width:100%;justify-content:center;}.sw__promo{padding:32px 22px;}.sw__faq{padding:44px 0;}.sw__faq h2{font-size:26px;}.sw__final{padding:64px 0;}.sw__final h2{font-size:30px;}.sw__btn--lg{width:100%;text-align:center;}}<\/style>\n<p><script>\n(function(){\n  try{\n    var b=document.body;\n    if(b && b.classList){b.classList.add('single-post');}\n  }catch(e){}\n})();\n<\/script><\/p>\n<article class=\"sw\">\n<header class=\"sw__hero\">\n<div class=\"sw__inner\">\n<nav class=\"sw__crumb\">Blog &nbsp;&rsaquo;&nbsp; Contractor Licenses<\/nav>\n<p><span class=\"sw__eyebrow\">50-State Data &middot; Verified for 2026<\/span><\/p>\n<h1>How Much a Contractor License Costs in Every State (2026)<\/h1>\n<p class=\"sw__dek\">A verified, sortable table of application fees, bond rules, renewals, and the states that require no license at all, built from primary state authorities.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sw__dek-cta\">Pricing a job while you plan the paperwork? <a href=\"https:\/\/swcostestimator.app.link\/ce-ai\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Turn a photo into an itemized estimate<\/a> in about 6 seconds.<\/p>\n<div class=\"sw__rating\"><span class=\"sw__stars\">&#9733;&#9733;&#9733;&#9733;&#9733;<\/span> <b>4.8<\/b> <span class=\"sw__rating-sub\">on the App Store<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"sw__meta\">\n<span>SimplyWise<\/span><br \/>\n<i><\/i><br \/>\n<span>Updated July 23, 2026<\/span><br \/>\n<i><\/i><br \/>\n<span>9 min read<\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"sw__body\">\n<div class=\"sw__inner\">\n<aside class=\"sw__tldr\">\n<div class=\"sw__tldr-label\">The short answer<\/div>\n<p>Among the 33 states where a first-year cost resolves to a single defensible number, getting a statewide general contractor credential runs from <strong>$25 in Nebraska to $900 in Nevada<\/strong>, and the median is <strong>$176<\/strong>. Fifteen states have no statewide general contractor license at all, so a contractor there is licensed by a city or county, or only for a specific trade.<\/p>\n<p>The table below has all 50 states, sortable, with the fee, bond, and renewal for each, verified against primary state authorities on July 22, 2026.<\/p>\n<div class=\"sw__tldr-cta\"><span>Price a job from a photo while you plan the paperwork.<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/swcostestimator.app.link\/ce-ai\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">SimplyWise Cost Estimator<\/a><\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<h2>What a contractor license actually costs<\/h2>\n<p>The number that matters is the first-year cost to the state: the application fee plus the license fee for the cheapest mandatory path a general contractor can take, before exam vendor fees, bond premiums, or insurance. On that basis, and across the 33 states where the cost resolves to a single defensible figure, it runs from $25 in Nebraska to $900 in Nevada. Fifteen states have no statewide general contractor license at all.<\/p>\n<p>Every figure below was read from a primary state authority and independently checked on July 22, 2026. Sort the table by any marked column, open a state guide for the full breakdown, or download the whole dataset to reuse.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sw__wide\">\n<h2>The full 50-state table<\/h2>\n<p class=\"sw__tablenote\">Tap a column header marked with an arrow to sort. On a phone, scroll the table sideways; the state column stays pinned.<\/p>\n<div class=\"sw__tablewrap\">\n<table class=\"lic\" id=\"licTable\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"s\" scope=\"col\">State<\/th>\n<th class=\"s\" scope=\"col\">Statewide license<\/th>\n<th scope=\"col\">Issuing authority<\/th>\n<th class=\"s\" scope=\"col\">Application fee<\/th>\n<th scope=\"col\">License fee<\/th>\n<th scope=\"col\">Bond or financial proof<\/th>\n<th class=\"s\" scope=\"col\">Renewal<\/th>\n<th scope=\"col\">More detail<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Alabama<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"1\">Yes. Commercial $100,000 or more; residential over $10,000<\/td>\n<td>GC Licensing Board and Home Builders Licensure Board<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"300\">$300<\/td>\n<td>Included in application<\/td>\n<td>No blanket bond; credit report<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"200\">Every 12 months, $200<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplywise.com\/blog\/alabama-contractor-license\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Full guide<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Alaska<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"1\">Yes, registration. Any amount<\/td>\n<td>Alaska CBPL, Construction Contractors<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"100\">$100<\/td>\n<td>$250 certificate, every 2 years<\/td>\n<td>$25,000 bond<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"125\">Every 2 years, $250<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.commerce.alaska.gov\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Alaska CBPL<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Arizona<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"1\">Yes. Any work over $1,000<\/td>\n<td>Arizona Registrar of Contractors<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"180\">$180 general residential<\/td>\n<td>$320 general residential<\/td>\n<td>License bond $4,250 to $15,000 residential<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"160\">Every 2 years, $320<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplywise.com\/blog\/arizona-contractor-license\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Full guide<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Arkansas<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"1\">Yes. Commercial $50,000 or more; residential over $2,000<\/td>\n<td>Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"100\">$100 filing fee<\/td>\n<td>Included in filing fee<\/td>\n<td>$10,000 bond, commercial<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"50\">Annual, $50<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.labor.arkansas.gov\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Arkansas ACLB<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>California<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"1\">Yes. Jobs of $500 or more<\/td>\n<td>Contractors State License Board<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"450\">$450<\/td>\n<td>$200 sole owner<\/td>\n<td>$25,000 bond<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"225\">Every 2 years, $450<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplywise.com\/blog\/california-contractor-license\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Full guide<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Colorado<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"0\">No. Cities license general contractors<\/td>\n<td>No state GC board; DORA licenses trades<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"-1\">No statewide fee<\/td>\n<td>No statewide fee<\/td>\n<td>Set by city or project<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"-1\">No statewide fee<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplywise.com\/blog\/colorado-general-contractor-license\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Full guide<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Connecticut<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"1\">Yes, registration. Home improvement over $200<\/td>\n<td>Dept of Consumer Protection<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"120\">$120 registration<\/td>\n<td>$100 Guaranty Fund, first year $220<\/td>\n<td>No bond; Guaranty Fund<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"220\">Annual, about $220<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplywise.com\/blog\/connecticut-contractor-license\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Full guide<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Delaware<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"0\">No competency license. Business license only<\/td>\n<td>Delaware Division of Revenue<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"-1\">No competency license<\/td>\n<td>$75 business license<\/td>\n<td>Nonresident bond over $20,000 contracts<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"75\">Annual, $75<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/revenue.delaware.gov\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Delaware Revenue<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Florida<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"1\">Yes. No dollar threshold<\/td>\n<td>Construction Industry Licensing Board<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"245\">$245<\/td>\n<td>Included in application<\/td>\n<td>Financial responsibility up to $20,000<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"100\">Every 2 years, $200<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplywise.com\/blog\/florida-general-contractor-license\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Full guide<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Georgia<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"1\">Yes. Work over $2,500<\/td>\n<td>State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"200\">About $200, board set<\/td>\n<td>Board set, not published<\/td>\n<td>No state bond; net worth test<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"-1\">Every 2 years, fee board set<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplywise.com\/blog\/georgia-general-contractor-license\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Full guide<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Hawaii<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"1\">Yes. Any paid contracting<\/td>\n<td>Contractors License Board, DCCA<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"50\">$50<\/td>\n<td>$338 entity or sole prop, every 2 years<\/td>\n<td>Discretionary; board may require<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"169\">Every 2 years, $338<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/cca.hawaii.gov\/pvl\/boards\/contractor\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Hawaii CLB<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Idaho<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"1\">Yes, registration. Jobs over $2,000<\/td>\n<td>Idaho DOPL, State Contractors Board<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"120\">$120, effective July 1, 2026<\/td>\n<td>Included in application<\/td>\n<td>No state bond; $300,000 liability<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"60\">$60 a year or $120 every 2 years<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/dopl.idaho.gov\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Idaho DOPL<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Illinois<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"0\">No. Chicago and other cities license<\/td>\n<td>No state GC board; Chicago Dept of Buildings<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"-1\">No statewide fee<\/td>\n<td>No statewide fee<\/td>\n<td>No Chicago GC bond; liability insurance<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"-1\">No statewide fee<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplywise.com\/blog\/illinois-contractor-license\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Full guide<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Indiana<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"0\">No. Cities license general contractors<\/td>\n<td>No state GC board; cities issue GC<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"-1\">No statewide fee<\/td>\n<td>No statewide fee<\/td>\n<td>City set, Indianapolis $10,000<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"-1\">No statewide fee<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplywise.com\/blog\/indiana-contractor-license\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Full guide<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Iowa<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"1\">Yes, registration. Earning $2,000 or more a year<\/td>\n<td>Iowa DIAL, Division of Labor<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"50\">$50<\/td>\n<td>Included in registration<\/td>\n<td>Only nonresidents or employers, $25,000<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"50\">Annual, $50<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/dial.iowa.gov\/licenses\/building\/contractors\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Iowa DIAL<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Kansas<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"0\">No. Cities and counties license; roofers register<\/td>\n<td>No state GC board; Attorney General, roofing<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"-1\">No statewide fee<\/td>\n<td>No statewide fee<\/td>\n<td>None statewide<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"-1\">No statewide fee<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ag.ks.gov\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Kansas AG<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Kentucky<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"0\">No. Cities license general contractors<\/td>\n<td>No state GC board; HBC licenses trades<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"-1\">No statewide fee<\/td>\n<td>No statewide fee<\/td>\n<td>Local or project<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"-1\">No statewide fee<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplywise.com\/blog\/kentucky-contractor-license\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Full guide<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Louisiana<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"1\">Yes. Commercial or residential $50,000 or more<\/td>\n<td>State Licensing Board for Contractors<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"100\">$100 license fee<\/td>\n<td>Included, $100<\/td>\n<td>No bond; net worth $50,000<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"100\">Annual, $100<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplywise.com\/blog\/louisiana-contractor-license\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Full guide<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Maine<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"0\">No. Written contract required over $3,000<\/td>\n<td>No state board; Attorney General enforces<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"-1\">No statewide fee<\/td>\n<td>No statewide fee<\/td>\n<td>None statewide<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"-1\">No statewide fee<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.maine.gov\/ag\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Maine AG<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Maryland<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"1\">Yes. Any home improvement, no threshold<\/td>\n<td>Maryland Home Improvement Commission<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"403.75\">$403.75 total<\/td>\n<td>Included in application<\/td>\n<td>No standalone bond; Guaranty Fund<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"228.13\">Every 2 years, $281.25 plus $175 fund<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplywise.com\/blog\/maryland-contractor-license\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Full guide<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Massachusetts<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"1\">Yes. Structure based, no dollar threshold<\/td>\n<td>Board of Building Regulations and Standards<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"100\">$100 supervisor license<\/td>\n<td>Included in application<\/td>\n<td>No state bond<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"50\">Every 2 years, $100<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplywise.com\/blog\/massachusetts-contractor-license\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Full guide<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Michigan<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"1\">Yes, residential. No dollar threshold<\/td>\n<td>Michigan LARA, Bureau of Construction Codes<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"195\">$195 residential builder<\/td>\n<td>Included in application<\/td>\n<td>No state bond; some city bonds<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"50\">Every 3 years, $150<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplywise.com\/blog\/michigan-general-contractor-license\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Full guide<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Minnesota<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"1\">Yes, residential. Two or more special skills<\/td>\n<td>Minnesota DLI<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"185\">$185 with education assessment<\/td>\n<td>Included in application<\/td>\n<td>No state bond; liability insurance<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"90\">Every 2 years, $180 plus fund<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplywise.com\/blog\/minnesota-contractor-license\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Full guide<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Mississippi<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"1\">Yes. Commercial over $50,000; residential over $10,000<\/td>\n<td>Mississippi State Board of Contractors<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"50\">$50 residential<\/td>\n<td>Included in application<\/td>\n<td>No bond; liability insurance<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"100\">Annual, $100 residential<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.msboc.us\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Mississippi MSBOC<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Missouri<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"0\">No. Cities license general contractors<\/td>\n<td>No state GC board; cities issue GC<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"-1\">No statewide fee<\/td>\n<td>No statewide fee<\/td>\n<td>City or trade specific<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"-1\">No statewide fee<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplywise.com\/blog\/missouri-contractor-license\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Full guide<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Montana<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"1\">Registration for businesses with employees<\/td>\n<td>Montana DLI, Contractor Registration<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"70\">$70 for two years<\/td>\n<td>Included in registration<\/td>\n<td>No bond; workers comp<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"35\">Every 2 years, $70<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/erd.dli.mt.gov\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Montana DLI<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Nebraska<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"1\">Yes, registration. All contractors<\/td>\n<td>Nebraska Department of Labor<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"25\">$25, rises to $40 on August 1, 2026<\/td>\n<td>Included in registration<\/td>\n<td>No bond; workers comp if employees<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"25\">Annual, $25, rising to $40<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/dol.nebraska.gov\/LaborStandards\/Contractors\/Overview\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Nebraska DOL<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Nevada<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"1\">Yes. Any amount<\/td>\n<td>Nevada State Contractors Board<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"300\">$300<\/td>\n<td>$600, every 2 years<\/td>\n<td>Board set bond, $1,000 to $500,000<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"300\">Every 2 years, $600<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplywise.com\/blog\/nevada-contractor-license\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Full guide<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>New Hampshire<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"0\">No. Per trade only<\/td>\n<td>No state GC board; OPLC, trade boards only<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"-1\">No statewide fee<\/td>\n<td>No statewide fee<\/td>\n<td>None statewide<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"-1\">No statewide fee<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.oplc.nh.gov\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">New Hampshire OPLC<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>New Jersey<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"1\">Yes, registration. No dollar threshold<\/td>\n<td>NJ Division of Consumer Affairs<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"110\">$110<\/td>\n<td>Included in registration<\/td>\n<td>No bond; $500,000 liability<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"90\">Annual, $90<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplywise.com\/blog\/new-jersey-home-improvement-contractor-license\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Full guide<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>New Mexico<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"1\">Yes. Nearly all contracting<\/td>\n<td>Construction Industries Division<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"30\">$30<\/td>\n<td>$200 for two years, general building<\/td>\n<td>$10,000 bond<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"100\">Every 2 years, $200<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rld.nm.gov\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">New Mexico CID<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>New York<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"0\">No. Local only, such as New York City<\/td>\n<td>No state authority; NYC DCWP and counties<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"-1\">No statewide fee<\/td>\n<td>No statewide fee<\/td>\n<td>Local; NYC $200 fund or $20,000 bond<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"-1\">No statewide fee<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplywise.com\/blog\/new-york-home-improvement-contractor-license\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Full guide<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>North Carolina<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"1\">Yes. Jobs of $40,000 or more<\/td>\n<td>NC Licensing Board for General Contractors<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"75\">$75 limited tier<\/td>\n<td>Included in application<\/td>\n<td>Net worth, working capital, or bond<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"75\">Annual, $75<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplywise.com\/blog\/north-carolina-general-contractor-license\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Full guide<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>North Dakota<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"1\">Yes, no exam. Jobs over $4,000<\/td>\n<td>North Dakota Secretary of State<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"100\">$100 Class D<\/td>\n<td>Included in application<\/td>\n<td>No bond; liability insurance<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"30\">Annual, $30 Class D<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/sos.nd.gov\/business\/licensing-registration\/contractors\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">North Dakota SOS<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Ohio<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"0\">No. Cities register general contractors<\/td>\n<td>No state GC board; OCILB licenses trades<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"-1\">No statewide fee<\/td>\n<td>No statewide fee<\/td>\n<td>City set, about $25,000<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"-1\">No statewide fee<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplywise.com\/blog\/ohio-contractor-license\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Full guide<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Oklahoma<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"0\">No. Cities register general contractors<\/td>\n<td>No state GC board; CIB licenses trades<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"-1\">No statewide fee<\/td>\n<td>No statewide fee<\/td>\n<td>Trade or city specific<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"-1\">No statewide fee<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplywise.com\/blog\/oklahoma-contractor-license\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Full guide<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Oregon<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"1\">Yes, registration. Almost all paid work<\/td>\n<td>Oregon Construction Contractors Board<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"400\">Up to $400 for two years<\/td>\n<td>Included in registration<\/td>\n<td>Bond by endorsement, $15,000 to $25,000 residential<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"200\">Every 2 years, up to $400<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplywise.com\/blog\/oregon-contractor-license\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Full guide<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Pennsylvania<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"1\">Yes, registration. Home improvement over $5,000 a year<\/td>\n<td>PA Office of Attorney General<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"100\">$100, every 2 years<\/td>\n<td>Included in registration<\/td>\n<td>No bond; liability insurance<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"50\">Every 2 years, $100<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplywise.com\/blog\/pennsylvania-home-improvement-contractor-license\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Full guide<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Rhode Island<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"1\">Yes, registration. Almost all work<\/td>\n<td>Contractors Registration and Licensing Board<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"150\">$150<\/td>\n<td>Included in registration<\/td>\n<td>No GC bond; liability insurance<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"75\">Every 2 years, $150<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/crb.ri.gov\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Rhode Island CRLB<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>South Carolina<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"1\">Yes. Commercial over $10,000; residential over $5,000<\/td>\n<td>South Carolina LLR, two boards<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"350\">$350 commercial<\/td>\n<td>Included in initial licensure<\/td>\n<td>Residential builder $15,000 bond; commercial statement or bond<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"67.5\">Every 2 years commercial, $135<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplywise.com\/blog\/south-carolina-contractor-license\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Full guide<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>South Dakota<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"0\">No competency license. Free excise tax license only<\/td>\n<td>South Dakota Dept of Revenue<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"0\">None, free<\/td>\n<td>None, free<\/td>\n<td>None<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"0\">Ongoing tax account<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/dor.sd.gov\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">South Dakota DOR<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Tennessee<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"1\">Yes. Jobs of $25,000 or more<\/td>\n<td>Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"250\">$250<\/td>\n<td>Included in application<\/td>\n<td>No bond for main license; financial statement<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"100\">Every 2 years, $200<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplywise.com\/blog\/tennessee-contractor-license\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Full guide<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Texas<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"0\">No. Local registration only<\/td>\n<td>No state GC authority; TDLR and TSBPE license trades<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"-1\">No statewide fee<\/td>\n<td>No statewide fee<\/td>\n<td>No state GC bond<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"-1\">No statewide fee<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplywise.com\/blog\/texas-contractor-license\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Full guide<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Utah<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"1\">Yes. No dollar threshold<\/td>\n<td>Utah Division of Professional Licensing<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"176\">$175 plus $1 surcharge<\/td>\n<td>Included in application<\/td>\n<td>No statewide bond; liability insurance<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"64\">Every 2 years, $128<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplywise.com\/blog\/utah-contractor-license\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Full guide<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Vermont<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"1\">Yes, registration. Residential $10,000 or more<\/td>\n<td>Vermont Office of Professional Regulation<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"75\">$75 individual<\/td>\n<td>Included in registration<\/td>\n<td>No bond; liability insurance<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"37.5\">Every 2 years, $75<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/sos.vermont.gov\/opr\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Vermont OPR<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Virginia<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"1\">Yes. Contracting over $1,000<\/td>\n<td>Virginia DPOR Board for Contractors<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"260\">$235 Class C plus $25 fund<\/td>\n<td>Included in application<\/td>\n<td>Net worth or $50,000 bond alternative<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"125\">Every 2 years, $220 plus $30 fund<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplywise.com\/blog\/virginia-dpor-contractor-license\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Full guide<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Washington<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"1\">Yes, registration. Any construction work<\/td>\n<td>Washington Dept of Labor and Industries<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"150.20\">$150.20 for two years<\/td>\n<td>Included in registration<\/td>\n<td>$30,000 general bond, $15,000 specialty<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"75.1\">Every 2 years, $150.20<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplywise.com\/blog\/washington-contractor-license\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Full guide<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>West Virginia<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"1\">Yes. Residential $5,000 or more; commercial $25,000 or more<\/td>\n<td>West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"90\">$90 annual at application<\/td>\n<td>Included in $90 annual<\/td>\n<td>No contractor bond; wage bond may apply<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"90\">Annual, $90<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/wvclboard.wv.gov\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">West Virginia CLB<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Wisconsin<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"1\">Yes, two credentials. Tied to dwelling permit<\/td>\n<td>Wisconsin DSPS<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"-1\">Set in state portal at application<\/td>\n<td>Set in state portal at application<\/td>\n<td>$25,000 bond or $250,000 liability<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"25\">Dwelling Contractor $25 a year<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplywise.com\/blog\/wisconsin-contractor-license\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Full guide<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Wyoming<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"0\">No. Local only<\/td>\n<td>No state GC board; localities license<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"-1\">No statewide fee<\/td>\n<td>No statewide fee<\/td>\n<td>Local<\/td>\n<td data-sort=\"-1\">No statewide fee<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/wsfm.wyo.gov\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Wyoming SFM<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<p><a class=\"sw__download\" href=\"https:\/\/www.simplywise.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/contractor-license-cost-by-state-2026.csv\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Download the full dataset (CSV)<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"sw__tablenote\">The dataset is free to download and reuse. If you cite it, a link back to this page is all we ask.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sw__inner\">\n<h2>Three real examples, start to finish<\/h2>\n<ul class=\"sw__steps\">\n<li>\n<h3>Nebraska, a low-cost registration<\/h3>\n<p>Nebraska runs a statewide contractor registration through the Nebraska Department of Labor, with no exam and no bond. The fee is $25 on the July 22, 2026 access date and rises to $40 on August 1, 2026, and there is no separate license fee, so the first-year state cost is $25. Renewal is $25 a year, and a contractor with employees files a workers compensation certificate.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3>Nevada, the most expensive of the 33 computable states<\/h3>\n<p>Nevada requires a license from the Nevada State Contractors Board for any amount of work, with two exams. The application fee is $300 and the license fee is $600 for two years, so the first-year state cost is $900. The board sets a surety bond between $1,000 and $500,000 based on your monetary limit, and renewal is $600 every two years.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3>Texas, no statewide license<\/h3>\n<p>Texas has no statewide general contractor license and no state dollar trigger. Trades such as electrical and plumbing are licensed through TDLR and TSBPE, and a general contractor registers with the city where the work sits. There is no state application fee, license fee, or state contractor bond, so a Texas general contractor prices the local registration, not a state credential.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"sw__inline-cta\">Landed the license and now bidding the work? <a href=\"https:\/\/swcostestimator.app.link\/ce-ai\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">SimplyWise Cost Estimator<\/a> turns a job photo into an itemized estimate in about 6 seconds. Free to try.<\/p>\n<h2>The numbers worth quoting<\/h2>\n<div class=\"sw__statgrid\">\n<div class=\"sw__stat\"><b>$25 to $900<\/b><span>First-year state cost range, of the 33 computable states<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"sw__stat\"><b>$176<\/b><span>Median first-year state cost<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"sw__stat\"><b>15<\/b><span>States with no statewide license<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"sw__stat\"><b>22<\/b><span>States that require a competency exam<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Across the 33 states where a first-year cost resolves to a single defensible number, the median first-year state cost is $176, and the median application fee is $120. Utah is the median state, at $175 for the application plus a $1 surcharge.<\/p>\n<p>The five cheapest states are Nebraska at $25, rising to $40 on August 1, 2026, then Iowa and Mississippi tied at $50, Montana at $70, and North Carolina and Vermont tied at $75. The five most expensive are Nevada at $900, California at $650, Arizona at $500, Maryland at $403.75, and Oregon at $400.<\/p>\n<p>Fifteen states have no statewide general contractor credential at all, so a contractor there is licensed by a city or county, or only for a specific trade. Of the states that do issue a statewide credential, 13 require no competency exam, 22 require an exam, and 9 require a mandatory surety bond on at least one standard statewide path.<\/p>\n<div class=\"sw__callout\">\n<p><strong>An honesty note on the averages.<\/strong> Two states that do license contractors, Georgia and Wisconsin, are left out of every median and ranking above. Georgia&#8217;s fees are set by its board and are not published, and Wisconsin&#8217;s initial fees are calculated inside a state portal at the moment of application. Neither publishes a single first-year figure, so every median and superlative here is stated as of the 33 computable states.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sw__promo\">\n<h2>Price the job while you sort the paperwork<\/h2>\n<p>Getting licensed is step one. Winning the work is step two. The SimplyWise Cost Estimator turns a job photo into an itemized estimate in about 6 seconds, so your bid looks sharp before the license even clears. Free to try with a 7-day free trial.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"sw__btn sw__btn--lg\" href=\"https:\/\/swcostestimator.app.link\/ce-ai\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">SimplyWise Cost Estimator<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<h2>When there is no statewide license<\/h2>\n<p>In fifteen states there is no statewide general contractor license to buy. That does not mean the work is unregulated. It means the rules live somewhere other than a single state board.<\/p>\n<p>New York is the clearest case. There is no statewide credential, so New York City licenses home improvement contractors through its Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, with a license fee near $100 plus a $200 Trust Fund contribution or a $20,000 surety bond, and Suffolk, Nassau, and Westchester counties run their own separate schemes.<\/p>\n<p>Texas works the same way from the other direction. There is no state license and no dollar trigger at all. Electrical and plumbing are licensed through TDLR and TSBPE, while general contractors register city by city.<\/p>\n<p>A few of these states still regulate the deal itself. Maine licenses no general contractors but requires a written contract for any home construction or repair over $3,000 and caps a deposit at one third of the price. South Dakota&#8217;s only statewide contractor credential is a free excise tax license, which is a tax registration and not a proof of competency.<\/p>\n<p>The practical takeaway is simple. In a no statewide license state, find the city or county building department where the job sits, because that is who sets the fee, the bond, and the paperwork.<\/p>\n<h2>How we built this table<\/h2>\n<p>Every figure on this page was read from a primary source, a state licensing authority or the statute or rule it points to, and independently checked on July 22, 2026.<\/p>\n<p>We sorted each state into one of three groups. A state is a full license state if you must pass a competency exam to hold the statewide credential. It is a registration state if the state issues a statewide credential without an exam. It is a no credential state if there is no statewide general contractor credential at all. North Dakota is a license with no exam and Oregon is a registration that still requires a test, so both were placed by the exam rule rather than the label on the paperwork.<\/p>\n<p>For every state that has a statewide credential, the first-year cost is the application fee plus the license fee on the cheapest mandatory path a general contractor can actually take. Where fees are tiered, we used the lowest class. Where a state splits a fee between a sole owner and a company, we used the sole-owner number. When the state says the application fee is also the issuance fee, we counted it once. Exam vendor fees, bond premiums, and insurance were left out, because a contractor pays those to a testing company or a surety, not to the state. A fixed recovery or guaranty fund fee was included only where the state quotes it next to the license fee as part of getting the credential, as Maryland, Connecticut, and Virginia do.<\/p>\n<p>Renewals were put on a yearly basis so states compare fairly. A two-year renewal was divided by two and a three-year renewal by three, using the same lowest tier.<\/p>\n<p>When a fee could not be pinned to a single defensible number, we set the state aside rather than guess. That is why Georgia and Wisconsin sit out of every median and ranking on this page. We review this table at least once a year and reprice any fee a state changes.<\/p>\n<div class=\"sw__sources\">\n<h2>Primary sources<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.commerce.alaska.gov\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Alaska Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.labor.arkansas.gov\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/revenue.delaware.gov\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Delaware Division of Revenue<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cca.hawaii.gov\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Hawaii Contractors License Board<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/dial.iowa.gov\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/dopl.idaho.gov\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Idaho State Contractors Board<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/erd.dli.mt.gov\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Montana Department of Labor and Industry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.msboc.us\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Mississippi State Board of Contractors<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/dol.nebraska.gov\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Nebraska Department of Labor<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rld.nm.gov\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">New Mexico Construction Industries Division<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sos.nd.gov\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">North Dakota Secretary of State<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/crb.ri.gov\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Rhode Island Contractors Registration and Licensing Board<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/dor.sd.gov\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">South Dakota Department of Revenue<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sos.vermont.gov\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Vermont Office of Professional Regulation<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/wvclboard.wv.gov\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/wsfm.wyo.gov\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Wyoming State Fire Marshal<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ag.ks.gov\/\">Kansas Attorney General (roofing registration)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.maine.gov\/ag\/\">Maine Attorney General (consumer protection)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.oplc.nh.gov\/\">New Hampshire OPLC<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"font-size:14.5px;color:#5a6088;margin:14px 0 0;\">For the 31 states with a full SimplyWise guide, each guide names that state&#8217;s board and statute. Every fee was verified on July 22, 2026 against the authority shown.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"sw__inline-cta\">Running the numbers on a job in one of these states? <a href=\"https:\/\/swcostestimator.app.link\/ce-ai\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Start from a photo<\/a> and let SimplyWise build the itemized estimate. Free to try.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"sw__faq\">\n<div class=\"sw__inner\">\n<h2>Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n<details>\n<summary>Which state is cheapest and which is most expensive for a contractor license?<\/summary>\n<div>\n<p>Of the 33 states where a first-year cost resolves to a single figure, Nebraska is the cheapest at $25 for its registration, a fee that rises to $40 on August 1, 2026. Nevada is the most expensive at $900, followed by California at $650 and Arizona at $500. Two states that do license contractors, Georgia and Wisconsin, sit out of that ranking because their initial fees are set by a board or a state portal and are not published as a single number.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details>\n<summary>Do all states require a general contractor license?<\/summary>\n<div>\n<p>No. Fifteen states have no statewide general contractor credential at all: Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming. In those states a general contractor is licensed by a city or county, or only for a specific trade such as plumbing or electrical. The other 35 states issue a statewide license or a statewide registration.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details>\n<summary>Can I use one contractor license in multiple states?<\/summary>\n<div>\n<p>It depends on the two states involved. Many states have reciprocity arrangements that let a licensed contractor apply in another state without repeating every exam, but the terms depend on the specific pair of states and the license type. The safe approach is to check both state boards before you bid across a state line, because a credential that transfers into one state may not transfer into its neighbor.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details>\n<summary>How long does it take to get a contractor license?<\/summary>\n<div>\n<p>It depends on the state and on how quickly you gather what the board asks for. A registration state with no exam can move fast once your paperwork and insurance are in order. A full license state that requires an exam, an experience record, and a financial or bond review takes longer, because each of those steps has to clear before the state issues the credential. Plan for the exam and for the board to process your application.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"sw__final\">\n<div class=\"sw__inner\">\n<span class=\"sw__eyebrow\">Trusted by 10,000+ contractors<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>License in hand? Price the next job in seconds.<\/h2>\n<p>The SimplyWise Cost Estimator turns a job photo into an itemized estimate in about 6 seconds, so a one-person shop can bid like a fifty-person firm. Free to try with a 7-day free trial.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"sw__btn sw__btn--lg\" href=\"https:\/\/swcostestimator.app.link\/ce-ai\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">SimplyWise Cost Estimator<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/article>\n<p><script>\n(function(){\n  var t=document.getElementById('licTable');\n  if(!t||!t.tHead||!t.tBodies.length)return;\n  var tb=t.tBodies[0];var ths=t.tHead.rows[0].cells;\n  function val(row,i){\n    var c=row.cells[i];if(!c)return '';\n    var d=c.getAttribute('data-sort');\n    if(d!==null&&d!==''){var n=parseFloat(d);return isNaN(n)?d.toLowerCase():n;}\n    return (c.textContent||'').trim().toLowerCase();\n  }\n  Array.prototype.forEach.call(ths,function(th,idx){\n    if(!th.classList||!th.classList.contains('s'))return;\n    var dir=1;\n    th.addEventListener('click',function(){\n      dir=-dir;\n      var rows=Array.prototype.slice.call(tb.rows);\n      rows.sort(function(a,b){var x=val(a,idx),y=val(b,idx);if(x<y)return -dir;if(x>y)return dir;return 0;});\n      rows.forEach(function(r){tb.appendChild(r);});\n      Array.prototype.forEach.call(ths,function(h){h.removeAttribute('aria-sort');});\n      th.setAttribute('aria-sort',dir===1?'ascending':'descending');\n    });\n  });\n})();\n<\/script><br \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n  \"@type\": \"BlogPosting\",\n  \"headline\": \"How Much a Contractor License Costs in Every State (2026)\",\n  \"description\": \"A verified, sortable table of contractor license application fees, bond rules, and renewals in all 50 states for 2026, plus the 15 states with no statewide general contractor license.\",\n  \"author\": {\n    \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n    \"name\": \"SimplyWise\"\n  },\n  \"publisher\": {\n    \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n    \"name\": \"SimplyWise\",\n    \"logo\": {\n      \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n      \"url\": \"https:\/\/simplywise.com\/logo.png\"\n    }\n  },\n  \"datePublished\": \"2026-07-22\",\n  \"dateModified\": \"2026-07-22\",\n  \"mainEntityOfPage\": {\n    \"@type\": \"WebPage\",\n    \"@id\": \"https:\/\/www.simplywise.com\/blog\/contractor-license-cost-by-state\/\"\n  },\n  \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.simplywise.com\/blog\/contractor-license-cost-by-state\/\"\n}\n<\/script><br \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n  \"@type\": \"Dataset\",\n  \"name\": \"Contractor License Cost by State, 2026\",\n  \"description\": \"Application fees, license fees, bond or financial proof, and renewal cost for a statewide general contractor credential in all 50 states, compiled from primary state licensing authorities and independently verified on July 22, 2026.\",\n  \"temporalCoverage\": \"2026\",\n  \"license\": \"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/\",\n  \"isAccessibleForFree\": true,\n  \"creator\": {\n    \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n    \"name\": \"SimplyWise\"\n  },\n  \"dateModified\": \"2026-07-22\",\n  \"distribution\": {\n    \"@type\": \"DataDownload\",\n    \"encodingFormat\": \"text\/csv\",\n    \"contentUrl\": \"https:\/\/www.simplywise.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/contractor-license-cost-by-state-2026.csv\"\n  }\n}\n<\/script><br \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n  \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\n  \"mainEntity\": [\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"Which state is cheapest and which is most expensive for a contractor license?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n        \"text\": \"Of the 33 states where a first-year cost resolves to a single figure, Nebraska is the cheapest at $25 for its registration, a fee that rises to $40 on August 1, 2026. 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Pricing a job while you plan the paperwork? Turn a photo [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_focuskw":"contractor license cost by state","_yoast_wpseo_title":"Contractor License Cost by State (2026): All 50 States","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Contractor license cost by state for 2026: application fees, bond rules, renewals, and the 15 states with no statewide license.","_yoast_wpseo_linkdex":"75","_yoast_wpseo_content_score":"90","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[178],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7693","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-contractor-licenses"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Contractor License Cost by State (2026): All 50 States<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" 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