- No license needed when the whole project, with labor, materials and taxes, is $1,500 or less and needs no building permit.
- Four years of supervisory experience in the classification within the last ten years, backed by at least three notarized certificates and a project list.
- Plan for a trade exam and a business and law exam.
- Only if the board requires one for your license.
- Every two years. All licenses expire September 30 of even numbered years. A forfeited license can be restored within 60 days.
Do you need a state license in Hawaii?
Hawaii licenses general contractor work at the state level through the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Contractors License Board. Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
No license needed when the whole project, with labor, materials and taxes, is $1,500 or less and needs no building permit.
Owner builders must register with the county building department and use licensed subcontractors.
Hawaii license types for general contractor work
Hawaii 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 |
|---|---|
| A General Engineering | Fixed works such as highways, bridges, harbors, drainage and water power |
| B General Building | Structures that need more than two unrelated building trades |
| C Specialty | Single trades, such as C-5 cabinet, millwork and carpentry remodeling and repairs |
Steps to get licensed in Hawaii
- Build four years of supervisory experience within the last ten years.
- Gather three notarized experience certificates, a project list, a financial statement with an accountant report, a credit report and a tax clearance.
- File the application with the $50 fee by the board deadline.
- After approval, pass the Prometric business and law and trade exams.
- Send insurance certificates and pay the license fee.
- Renew by September 30 of each even numbered year.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. Four years of supervisory experience in the classification within the last ten years, backed by at least three notarized certificates and a project list.
The license to apply for. "B" General Building Contractor.
Hawaii general contractor exams
Trade exam. Yes. A Part II trade exam for your classification, given by Prometric.
Business and law exam. Yes. A Part I business and law exam, given by Prometric.
What it costs in Hawaii
The board lists 7 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 |
|---|---|
| Application fee | $50 |
| Exam fee, A and B classes | $85 |
| Exam fee, all other classes | $80 |
| License fee, entity or sole proprietor | $663 or $494 depending on the year licensed |
| License fee, RME | $438 or $334 depending on the year licensed |
| Renewal, entity or sole proprietor | $353 |
| Renewal, RME | $208 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. General liability of at least $100,000 bodily injury per person, $300,000 per occurrence, and $50,000 property damage. Workers compensation if you have employees.
Bond. Only if the board requires one for your license.
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Every two years. All licenses expire September 30 of even numbered years. A forfeited license can be restored within 60 days.
Reciprocity. No. Hawaii has no reciprocity agreements. Everyone meets the same requirements and exams.
Good to know in Hawaii
- A B license automatically includes several specialty classes, such as C-5 carpentry remodeling, C-6 framing and C-12 drywall.
- Electrical and plumbing work may still have to be done by a licensed electrician or plumber.
- The principal RME of an entity must live in Hawaii while the license is in effect or a project is underway.
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 Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Contractors License Board and the official pages below, checked October 8, 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the board before you file.