Check a North Carolina contractor
Type a business name to see its building permits over the last three years: how many, where, what kind of work and how recently. Then confirm its license with the state board for its trade.
3 free checks a day, or 25 with a free account.
Check the license with the state
A permit record isn't a license check. North Carolina licenses contractors by trade, and each board's search is free:
General contractors
NC Licensing Board for General ContractorsNeeded for a project costing $40,000 or more (G.S. 87-1).
Electricians
NC State Board of Examiners of Electrical ContractorsSearch by name or license number.
Plumbing, HVAC and fire sprinklers
NC State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler ContractorsUse License Search at the top of the board's site.
Contractor check: common questions
- How do I check if a contractor is licensed in North Carolina?
- Search the state board for their trade. General contractors are licensed by the NC Licensing Board for General Contractors, needed for a project costing $40,000 or more. Electricians are licensed by the State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors, and plumbing, heating and fire sprinkler contractors by the State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors. Each board has a free license search on its website.
- What does the permit record tell me about a contractor?
- How much permitted work they've done in the last three years, how recently, where, and what kind: new homes, remodels, roofing, electrical and so on. A contractor with a steady record of permits in your area is doing work the local inspectors see. It doesn't tell you about quality, price or complaints, and it isn't a license check.
- Why can't I find a contractor?
- The checker lists businesses with at least three permits in the last three years in the North Carolina permit offices TarSignal reads. A contractor may work mostly outside those offices, file under a different business name, or work where the office doesn't publish contractor names: Gaston County, Onslow County, Guilford County, Apex, Fuquay-Varina and Wake Forest name none. Try a shorter part of the name.
- Does a contractor have to pull a permit?
- For most structural, electrical, plumbing and HVAC work in North Carolina, yes, before the work starts. Ask whoever you hire who will pull the permit; if a contractor asks you to pull it yourself as the homeowner, the permit and its inspections become your responsibility.
How the permits are collected and how business names are matched is on our methodology page. Not sure a job needs a permit? Check your job.