- Home improvement jobs over $7,500 up to $50,000 need registration. Jobs of $50,000 or more, or with structural work, need a residential license. Board pages differ on whether a job of exactly $7,500 counts, so check with the board.
- Registrants must send current insurance certificates at every renewal. State law bars multiyear terms for licenses that depend on insurance, so check the term with the board.
Do you need a state license in Louisiana?
Louisiana licenses some handyman 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 jobs over $7,500 up to $50,000 need registration. Jobs of $50,000 or more, or with structural work, need a residential license. Board pages differ on whether a job of exactly $7,500 counts, so check with the board.
A city or parish occupational license only lets you operate a business there. It is not a contractor license.
Louisiana license types for handyman work
Louisiana 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 |
|---|---|
| Home Improvement registration | Repair, remodel and renovation of existing homes over $7,500 and up to $50,000 |
| Residential Building Contractor | Home jobs of $50,000 or more, or any structural work |
Steps to get licensed in Louisiana
- Check your typical job size. Home improvement jobs over $7,500 need state registration.
- Get $100,000 general liability and workers comp coverage.
- Fill out the board's financial statement.
- Apply for home improvement registration online through the LSLBC portal and pay the fee.
- Have your insurance agent send current certificates to the board at every renewal.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
The license to apply for. Home Improvement registration.
Louisiana handyman 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 Louisiana
The board lists one fee for this license. These are the state's own numbers. Insurance, any bond, exam prep and your business registration come on top.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Home improvement fee, state law maximum | $50 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. At least $100,000 general liability and proof of workers comp. The board says there are no exceptions to the workers comp rule.
Bond. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Registrants must send current insurance certificates at every renewal. State law bars multiyear terms for licenses that depend on insurance, so check the term with the board.
Reciprocity. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Good to know in Louisiana
- Mold remediation of $7,500 or more needs its own license with 24 hours of training.
- Electrical, plumbing and mechanical work over $10,000 has separate licensing rules.
- Home improvement applicants must also send a financial statement.
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 handyman 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.
More for your trade: how handyman businesses run on Koira.