- Commercial: license needed at $50,000 or more. Residential: license needed at $50,000 or more or for structural work. Home improvement: registration needed over $7,500 up to $50,000.
- Plan for a trade exam and a business and law exam.
- Licenses expire on the anniversary of the issue date. Renewal terms of one, two or three years are allowed, but state law bars multiyear terms for licenses that depend on insurance, such as residential. Residential contractors need six hours of approved continuing education each year.
Do you need a state license in Louisiana?
Louisiana licenses general contractor work at the state level through the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC). Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
Commercial: license needed at $50,000 or more. Residential: license needed at $50,000 or more or for structural work. Home improvement: registration needed over $7,500 up to $50,000.
Parishes and cities charge their own permit fees for inspections. A local occupational license is not a contractor license.
Louisiana license types for general contractor work
Louisiana 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 |
|---|---|
| Commercial license (Building Construction, major classification 1) | Commercial projects of $50,000 or more, including labor and materials |
| Residential Building Contractor (major classification 9) | New homes and home improvement projects of $50,000 or more, or any job with structural work |
| Home Improvement registration | Work on existing homes over $7,500 and up to $50,000 |
Steps to get licensed in Louisiana
- Decide which license fits: commercial, residential, or home improvement registration, based on the size of your jobs.
- Name a qualifying party for the business.
- Complete the LSLBC Business and Law course.
- Pass the PSI trade exam for your classification, if one applies.
- Gather a financial statement showing $50,000 net worth, and for residential, proof of $100,000 liability and workers comp.
- Apply online through the LSLBC portal and pay the fees.
- Renew on time and, for residential, finish six hours of continuing education each year.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
The license to apply for. Residential Building Contractor license or Commercial license (Building Construction).
Louisiana general contractor exams
Trade exam. Residential Construction (9) and Building Construction (1) each have a trade exam, given through PSI.
Business and law exam. The qualifying party must complete the board's Business and Law course.
What it costs in Louisiana
The board lists 4 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 |
|---|---|
| Examination fee, state law maximum | $50 |
| License fee, state law maximum | $100 |
| Renewal fee, state law maximum | $100 |
| Home improvement fee, state law maximum | $50 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. Residential and home improvement applicants must show at least $100,000 general liability and proof of workers comp. Commercial applicants do not submit insurance proof.
Bond. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Licenses expire on the anniversary of the issue date. Renewal terms of one, two or three years are allowed, but state law bars multiyear terms for licenses that depend on insurance, such as residential. Residential contractors need six hours of approved continuing education each year.
Reciprocity. Out of state companies applying for a commercial or residential license can ask for reciprocity by sending a request form completed by their home state, if that state has a reciprocal agreement. Check with the board for which states qualify.
Good to know in Louisiana
- Commercial and residential applications need a financial statement showing at least $50,000 net worth, dated within 12 months.
- Electrical, mechanical and plumbing work on commercial projects needs a license above $10,000.
- Asbestos, hazardous waste, lead paint abatement and underground storage tank work needs a license at any price.
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 Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC) and the official pages below, checked October 8, 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the board before you file.