- Home improvement contracts under $200 do not need registration. New home work with combined contracts under $3,500 for the same home does not need a new home registration.
- New home construction registrations expire every year on March 31. Major Contractor registrations expire every year on June 30. Check with the board on the home improvement renewal date.
Do you need a state license in Connecticut?
Connecticut licenses some general contractor work at the state level and leaves the rest alone. Which side of that line a job falls on decides whether you need the state license.
Home improvement contracts under $200 do not need registration. New home work with combined contracts under $3,500 for the same home does not need a new home registration.
Connecticut license types for general contractor work
Connecticut splits the work into 3 licenses. Pick the one that matches the jobs you take, since working outside its scope is the same as working without one.
| License | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Home Improvement Contractor | Permanent changes to existing homes, such as roofs, siding, porches, flooring, painting, doors and windows |
| New Home Construction Contractor | Building new homes |
| Major Contractor | Structural work on large buildings, such as 4 or more stories, 60 feet tall, 150,000 square feet, or 1,000 occupants |
Steps to get licensed in Connecticut
- Decide which registration fits: home improvement, new home construction, or Major Contractor for large threshold buildings.
- Register your business with the Connecticut Secretary of State if you are an LLC or corporation.
- Get general liability insurance of at least $20,000 for home improvement or new home work.
- Apply online with the Department of Consumer Protection and pay the fee.
- Renew before your registration expires.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. The board's pages do not list one.
The license to apply for. Home Improvement Contractor registration, New Home Construction Contractor registration, or Major Contractor registration.
Connecticut general contractor exams
Trade exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Business and law exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
What it costs in Connecticut
The board lists 5 fees along the way. These are the state's own numbers. Insurance, any bond, exam prep and your business registration come on top.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Home Improvement Contractor application | $220 |
| New Home Construction registration fee | $240 |
| New Home Construction guaranty fund fee | $120 |
| Add home improvement to a new home registration | $100 |
| Major Contractor renewal | $500 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. General liability insurance of at least $20,000 for home improvement and new home construction registrations.
Bond. The board's pages do not list one.
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. New home construction registrations expire every year on March 31. Major Contractor registrations expire every year on June 30. Check with the board on the home improvement renewal date.
Reciprocity. The board's pages do not list one.
Good to know in Connecticut
- LLCs and corporations must register with the Connecticut Secretary of State before applying.
- The new home construction fee includes a $120 guaranty fund fee, and adding home improvement services to that registration costs $100 more.
- Major Contractor applicants need two credit references, one from the trade and one from a bank or other financial institution.
After you are licensed
The license lets you take the work. Getting the work is the next job.
- Register the business. If you work under a name other than your own, register it where your state asks (often the Secretary of State, sometimes the county), and keep the name the same on your license, your truck and your invoices.
- Claim your Google Business Profile. It is the listing people see when they search for a contractor near them. Fill in your service area, hours and real photos of your work.
- Put up a website that shows the license. Customers look for it before they call. Koira builds a contractor website for you and keeps it current.
- See where you stand. The free Koira report checks how your business shows up in search and on maps against shops near you.
Where this comes from
Every fact on this page comes from the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, License Services Division and the official pages below, checked October 8, 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the board before you file.