- None stated for the current license. The 2024 law, once funded, calls for 4,000 hours or 2 years of experience for residential and commercial contractors.
- None listed for the general contractor license today. Under the 2024 law, once funded, a residential contractor can show financial responsibility with a $25,000 bond.
- Two or four year terms (a six month term is also offered).
Do you need a state license in the District of Columbia?
the District of Columbia licenses general contractor work at the state level through the DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP). Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
the District of Columbia license types for general contractor work
the District of Columbia splits the work into 2 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 |
|---|---|
| General Contractor/Construction Manager | General contracting, offered in several classes (A, B, C, G and H) |
| Home Improvement Contractor | Separate license category for home improvement work, with its own bond and paperwork |
Steps to get licensed in the District of Columbia
- Register your business and get DC tax registration and a Clean Hands certificate.
- Get a Certificate of Occupancy or Home Occupation Permit for your office.
- Buy liability insurance and prepare a sample contract.
- Apply for the General Contractor/Construction Manager basic business license with DLCP.
- If you do residential work, designate a licensed Home Improvement Salesperson.
- Watch for the new board and exam rules under D.C. Law 25-244.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. None stated for the current license. The 2024 law, once funded, calls for 4,000 hours or 2 years of experience for residential and commercial contractors.
The license to apply for. General Contractor/Construction Manager basic business license.
the District of Columbia 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 the District of Columbia
The board lists 3 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 |
|---|---|
| License category fee, 6 months | $49 |
| License category fee, 2 years | $99 |
| License category fee, 4 years | $198 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. A certificate of liability insurance is required.
Bond. None listed for the general contractor license today. Under the 2024 law, once funded, a residential contractor can show financial responsibility with a $25,000 bond.
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Two or four year terms (a six month term is also offered).
Reciprocity. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Good to know in the District of Columbia
- You need a Certificate of Occupancy or Home Occupation Permit, tax registration and a Clean Hands certificate.
- Contractors doing residential work must also keep at least one licensed Home Improvement Salesperson.
- D.C. Law 25-244 creates a Board of Construction Managers and General Contractors, but it applies only after its cost is included in an approved budget.
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 DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP) and the official pages below, checked October 8, 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the board before you file.