How to read a page on this site
Every state page has the same sections in the same order. This page explains once what each section means and what the labels under the tables tell you, so the state pages can stick to the facts.
The three labels under every table
Checked against the official page means we read the number straight from the government page or law linked next to it, on the date printed at the top of the page.
Still being checked means we found the rule but a person has not yet confirmed it on the official page. You will not see this on a live page; pages go live only when everything is checked.
Our estimate means we added up other numbers on the page, for example the startup cost.
What stands out
A few sentences written from that state's own numbers: the things people get wrong or do not expect. Every state's list is different.
Who gives you the license
The state office that issues the license, with a link to apply and a link where anyone, including customers, can look a license up.
The licenses and what they cost
Which license lets you run your own business, what experience you need first, whether there is an exam, and every fee we could find. Fees marked "legal maximum" are the most the law lets the state charge; the amount actually charged is usually listed too.
Insurance you must carry
The least insurance the state lets you work with. "Per claim" is the most the policy pays for one incident. "Per year, all claims" is the most it pays in total for the year. Most customers and general contractors ask for more than the state minimum, often $1,000,000 per claim.
Workers' comp is the insurance that pays a worker who is hurt on the job. Each state sets when you must carry it, usually by the number of employees, and who can opt out.
The money check
Some states look at your finances before licensing you: a credit score, a net worth figure, or a financial statement. The page says what the state wants and what you can do instead if you fall short.
Bond
A bond is a promise, backed by an insurance company, that customers can be paid if you do not finish the job or break the rules. You pay a yearly fee for it, usually a small share of the bond amount. Some states require one for every license. Some do not, but cities may before they issue permits.
Federal rules
Rules from the US government that apply on top of the state's. For HVAC, anyone who handles refrigerant needs EPA Section 608 certification.
Where your license number must appear
Most states make you print the number on ads, quotes, contracts, or invoices, and some on your vehicles. Leaving it off is one of the most common fines.
When to charge sales tax
Whether you add sales tax to your labor, to your materials, or to neither. Many states treat work that becomes part of a building differently from work on things that can be moved. Getting it wrong means overcharging customers or owing the state later.
Getting paid: notices and deadlines
If a customer or general contractor does not pay, a lien lets you claim against the property. In most states you keep that right only if you send a notice within a set number of days of starting, and file the lien within a set number of days of finishing. The page gives the deadlines with an example date.
What it costs to get started
The government fees on the page added up. It leaves out insurance premiums, tools, a vehicle, and local permits.
This is general information, not legal, tax, or insurance advice. Trades by State is independent and not part of any government office.