Painting Contractor license requirements by state
Whether you need a painting contractor license depends on where the job is. Here is every state and DC, read from each state's own licensing board.
8States with a state license
19Partly, or registration only
8Leave it to cities and counties
Painting Contractor licensing in all 50 states and DC
"Partly" means the state covers only part of the trade, such as jobs over a dollar amount or only residential work, or asks for a registration instead of a tested license. "Local only" means no state license, but your city or county may still require one. Pick a state for its full guide.
| State | State license | License to get |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Being checked | Not yet confirmed on an official page. Guide coming soon. |
| Alaska | Yes | Specialty contractor registration, Painting Contractor |
| Arizona | Yes | R-34 Painting and Wall Covering (residential), C-34 (commercial) or CR-34 (both) |
| Arkansas | Partly | Home Improvement License (homes); Commercial License (commercial jobs of $50,000 or more) |
| California | Yes | C-33 Painting and Decorating Contractor |
| Colorado | No, local only | None at state level |
| Connecticut | Partly | Home Improvement Contractor registration |
| Delaware | Partly | Contractor Registration Certificate |
| District of Columbia | Being checked | Not yet confirmed on an official page. Guide coming soon. |
| Florida | No, local only | None at state level |
| Georgia | No, local only | None at state level |
| Hawaii | Yes | C-33 Painting and decorating contractor |
| Idaho | Partly | Contractor registration |
| Illinois | Being checked | Not yet confirmed on an official page. Guide coming soon. |
| Indiana | Being checked | Not yet confirmed on an official page. Guide coming soon. |
| Iowa | Partly | Construction contractor registration |
| Kansas | Being checked | Not yet confirmed on an official page. Guide coming soon. |
| Kentucky | Being checked | Not yet confirmed on an official page. Guide coming soon. |
| Louisiana | Partly | Commercial license, Painting, Coating, and Blasting classification |
| Maine | No, local only | None at state level |
| Maryland | Partly | Maryland Home Improvement Commission (MHIC) contractor license |
| Massachusetts | Being checked | Not yet confirmed on an official page. Guide coming soon. |
| Michigan | Being checked | Not yet confirmed on an official page. Guide coming soon. |
| Minnesota | Partly | Residential remodeler or residential building contractor license (only for more than one special skill) |
| Mississippi | Partly | Commercial license, Painting specialty classification |
| Missouri | Being checked | Not yet confirmed on an official page. Guide coming soon. |
| Montana | Partly | Construction Contractor License |
| Nebraska | Partly | Contractor registration |
| Nevada | Yes | C-4 Painting and Decorating |
| New Hampshire | Being checked | Not yet confirmed on an official page. Guide coming soon. |
| New Jersey | Partly | Home Improvement Contractor Business (HICB) registration |
| New Mexico | Being checked | Not yet confirmed on an official page. Guide coming soon. |
| New York | No, local only | None at state level |
| North Carolina | Being checked | Not yet confirmed on an official page. Guide coming soon. |
| North Dakota | Partly | Contractor license (Class A, B, C or D by job size) |
| Ohio | No, local only | None at state level |
| Oklahoma | No, local only | None at state level |
| Oregon | Yes | CCB contractor license, with the right endorsement |
| Pennsylvania | Partly | Home Improvement Contractor registration |
| Rhode Island | Partly | Contractor registration |
| South Carolina | Partly | Residential specialty contractor registration, painters and wall paperers |
| South Dakota | Being checked | Not yet confirmed on an official page. Guide coming soon. |
| Tennessee | Partly | Contractor license, BC-11 Painting and Interior Decorating; Home Improvement license in some counties |
| Texas | Being checked | Not yet confirmed on an official page. Guide coming soon. |
| Utah | Yes | S270 Drywall, Paint, and Plastering Contractor |
| Vermont | Partly | Residential contractor registration |
| Virginia | Yes | Contractor license, Class C (or B or A by job size), with the right specialty |
| Washington | Partly | Specialty contractor registration (painting) |
| West Virginia | No, local only | None at state level |
| Wisconsin | Being checked | Not yet confirmed on an official page. Guide coming soon. |
| Wyoming | Being checked | Not yet confirmed on an official page. Guide coming soon. |
Each state page lists the official pages it was built from and the date they were checked. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the board before you file.
Other trades
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