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Idaho contractor licenses
Check an Idaho contractor license
Check an Idaho contractor license on the Idaho DOPL license search.1
Where do you check an Idaho contractor license?
The Idaho DOPL license search search is where you check an Idaho general contractor license.
| Work | License | Where to check |
|---|---|---|
| General contractor | State registration | Idaho DOPL license search |
| Electrical | – | Idaho DOPL license search |
| Plumbing | – | Idaho DOPL license search |
| HVAC | – | Idaho DOPL license search |
| Roofing | – | Idaho DOPL license search |
How do you read the result?
The status is the board's word for the license today. Boards word it a little differently; these are the common ones.
- Active or current
- The contractor can take work in the classes listed. Check the expiry date is after your job ends.
- Expired or lapsed
- The license wasn't renewed. Don't sign or pay until it shows active again.
- Suspended or revoked
- The board stopped the license, often over a complaint, a bond or an insurance lapse. Don't hire.
- Inactive
- The holder parked the license and can't contract until it's reactivated.
If the record lists a bond or insurance policy, check its end date too. A record with no policy on it doesn't prove there is none, so ask the contractor's agent for a certificate of insurance.
What bond and insurance must an Idaho contractor carry?
Bond. Idaho does not require a bond for contractor registration. Homeowners can require a bond at their own expense on residential jobs over $2,000.2
Liability insurance. You must file a certificate showing a general liability policy of at least $300,000 single limit, including products and completed operations coverage, from an insurer authorized in Idaho.2
Workers' comp. You must file a certificate showing workers' compensation coverage, or a statement explaining why coverage is not required for you.2
What if the contractor isn't in the lookup?
Treat the contractor as unlicensed until the board or city shows a license.
- Search by license number. Names are often filed under the legal business name, not the name on the truck.
- Try the qualifier's name. Many states license the business through one person who holds the license.
- Check the trade board. Electrical, plumbing and HVAC licenses are often on a different search from the general contractor's.
- Call the board if you still can't find it, and don't pay a deposit in the meantime.
What should you check before hiring?
What to ask before you hire
- Get the license number in writing. The name on the license should match the name on your contract and invoice.
- Check the class covers the job. A license for one trade doesn't cover another. Idaho license classes
- Ask for a certificate of insurance sent to you by the insurance agent, not handed over by the contractor. How to read a COI
- Ask who will be on site. If a crew works on your property, ask for proof of workers' comp. If the contractor says it has no employees, ask who will do the work.
- 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
- Don't sign or pay a deposit until the board shows the license active again.
- Ask the contractor why. For a bond or insurance lapse, ask for proof that the new bond or policy was filed with the board, then check again.
- If work has started, hold further payments, keep the contract, receipts and photos, and file a complaint with the state board.
- Check another contractor. Idaho license lookup
Sources
- Idaho DOPL license search: license search (edopl.idaho.gov, 2026-10-28)
- Idaho DOPL: bond (dopl.idaho.gov, 2026-10-27)
- Idaho DOPL: Con (dopl.idaho.gov, 2026-10-27)
- Idaho DOPL: General Contractor Business Application Feb 2024 (dopl.idaho.gov, 2026-10-27)
- Idaho DOPL: Public Works Program Fact Sheet (dopl.idaho.gov, 2026-10-27)