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Hiring a bathroom contractor
Who licenses remodelers in your state, and the questions that separate a good installer from a costly mistake.
7-point checklist
- Verify the license or registration on the state lookup and match the name on the estimate.
- Ask for a certificate of general liability insurance and workers' comp, sent directly from the insurer.
- Get a written, line-item estimate: demo, plumbing, waterproofing, tile, fixtures, permit.
- Ask who pulls the permit. It should be the contractor, in their name.
- Ask which waterproofing system they use behind tile and whether it carries a warranty.
- Keep the deposit modest and tie later payments to finished milestones, not dates.
- Get labor and product warranties in writing before work starts.
Licensing rules change and dollar thresholds vary. Always confirm on the state or local agency's own license lookup before signing.
Licensing by state
| Alabama | Residential remodeling over the state threshold requires a license from the Alabama Home Builders Licensure Board. |
| Alaska | Contractors must register with the Alaska Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing, with a residential endorsement for home work. |
| Arizona | Remodelers must hold a license from the Arizona Registrar of Contractors, which also runs a recovery fund for residential customers. |
| Arkansas | Residential remodeling above the state threshold requires a home improvement license from the Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board. |
| California | Jobs above the small-job threshold require a license from the Contractors State License Board (CSLB); look for a B (general) or C-36 (plumbing) classification. |
| Colorado | Colorado has no statewide remodeling license; cities and counties license contractors and issue permits locally. |
| Connecticut | Home improvement contractors must register with the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection. |
| Delaware | Contractors need a Delaware business license from the Division of Revenue; plumbing is licensed by the Board of Plumbing, Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Examiners. |
| District of Columbia | Home improvement contractors must be licensed by the DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection. |
| Florida | Structural and plumbing work requires a contractor licensed through the Florida DBPR Construction Industry Licensing Board; some counties also license tile and remodeling trades. |
| Georgia | Residential contractors are licensed by the Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors above the state dollar threshold. |
| Hawaii | Contractors must be licensed by the Hawaii Contractors License Board for jobs above the small-job threshold. |
| Idaho | Contractors must register with the Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses. |
| Illinois | Illinois has no statewide general remodeling license; plumbing is licensed by the state and many cities license contractors. |
| Indiana | Indiana licenses plumbers at the state level; remodeling contractors are licensed or registered by cities and counties. |
| Iowa | Contractors must register with the Iowa Division of Labor. |
| Kansas | Kansas licenses contractors locally; check your city or county building department. |
| Kentucky | Kentucky licenses plumbers statewide; general remodelers are regulated locally. |
| Louisiana | Residential home improvement above the state threshold requires registration with the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors. |
| Maine | Maine does not license general remodelers, but requires a written contract for home construction jobs above the state threshold; plumbers are state-licensed. |
| Maryland | Home improvement contractors must be licensed by the Maryland Home Improvement Commission, which also runs a guaranty fund. |
| Massachusetts | Home improvement contractors must register with the Office of Consumer Affairs; structural work also needs a Construction Supervisor License. |
| Michigan | Remodelers need a residential builder or maintenance and alteration contractor license from LARA. |
| Minnesota | Residential remodelers must be licensed by the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry. |
| Mississippi | Residential remodeling above the state threshold requires a license from the Mississippi State Board of Contractors. |
| Missouri | Missouri licenses contractors locally; check your city or county. |
| Montana | Contractors with employees must register with the Montana Department of Labor and Industry. |
| Nebraska | Contractors must register with the Nebraska Department of Labor. |
| Nevada | All contractors must be licensed by the Nevada State Contractors Board. |
| New Hampshire | New Hampshire licenses plumbers and electricians; general remodelers are regulated locally. |
| New Jersey | Home improvement contractors must register with the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs. |
| New Mexico | Contractors must be licensed by the New Mexico Construction Industries Division. |
| New York | New York licenses home improvement contractors locally, for example NYC, Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester and Rockland counties. |
| North Carolina | Projects above the state threshold need a contractor licensed by the NC Licensing Board for General Contractors; plumbing is licensed separately. |
| North Dakota | Contractors on jobs above the state threshold must be licensed through the North Dakota Secretary of State. |
| Ohio | Ohio licenses plumbing contractors statewide through the OCILB; remodelers are registered by cities and counties. |
| Oklahoma | Oklahoma licenses plumbers through the Construction Industries Board; general remodelers are regulated locally. |
| Oregon | Contractors must be licensed by the Oregon Construction Contractors Board. |
| Pennsylvania | Home improvement contractors must register with the Pennsylvania Attorney General. |
| Rhode Island | Contractors must register with the Rhode Island Contractors' Registration and Licensing Board. |
| South Carolina | Residential remodelers and specialty contractors are licensed by the SC Residential Builders Commission. |
| South Dakota | South Dakota licenses plumbers statewide; general remodelers are regulated locally. |
| Tennessee | Residential and home improvement contractors above state thresholds are licensed by the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors. |
| Texas | Texas has no statewide remodeling license; plumbing must be done by a plumber licensed by the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners. |
| Utah | Contractors must be licensed by the Utah Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL). |
| Vermont | Residential contractors on jobs above the state threshold must register with the Vermont Office of Professional Regulation. |
| Virginia | Contractors must be licensed by the Virginia DPOR Board for Contractors (Class A, B or C by job size). |
| Washington | Contractors must register with the Washington Department of Labor & Industries and carry a bond. |
| West Virginia | Contractors must be licensed by the West Virginia Division of Labor. |
| Wisconsin | Contractors who pull permits on homes need a Dwelling Contractor credential from Wisconsin DSPS. |
| Wyoming | Wyoming licenses contractors locally; check your city or county. |