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State files updated Oct 27, 2026
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District of Columbia contractor licenses

DLCP license lookup

District of Columbia contractor licenses are checked on the boards' own sites. Pick the board for the trade.

What should you check before hiring?

What to ask before you hire

  1. Get the license number in writing. The name on the license should match the name on your contract and invoice.
  2. Check the class covers the job. A license for one trade doesn't cover another. District of Columbia license classes
  3. Ask for a certificate of insurance sent to you by the insurance agent, not handed over by the contractor. How to read a COI
  4. Ask who will be on site. If a crew works on your property, ask for proof of workers' comp. An exemption means the contractor told the DLCP it has no employees.
  5. Put it in a written contract: license number, price, start date and payment schedule. Check the license again on the day you sign.

If the license is lapsed

  1. Don't sign or pay a deposit until the DLCP shows the license active again.
  2. Ask the contractor why. For a bond or insurance lapse, ask for proof that the new bond or policy was filed with the DLCP, then check again.
  3. If work has started, hold further payments, keep the contract, receipts and photos, and file a complaint with the state board.
  4. Check another contractor. District of Columbia license lookup

Sources

  1. Dept of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP) - Business Licensing (dlcp.dc.gov)
  2. DLCP - Board of Industrial Trades (electricians, plumbers, HVAC) (dlcp.dc.gov)