Posted by mel on 20. August 2010 13:39
Looking to hire a contractor can be a daughting task--I know. I work with the companies and had to find these resources myself. A big part of that task is finding the information you need to know. (Please do NOT assume you know, that is how people get into trouble.) A step-by-step process is available in my book, Hiring a Contractor which is available on Amazon. Links to finding your local information are listed here. The information is listed by state, click on the link that corresponds to your state.
Good luck and feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
If you find other information that needs to be included / updated please contact Mel DePaoli at mel [at] omicle.com. Thanks for your help and good luck!
Last updated: August 2010
General Resources:
Angie’s List: www.AngiesList.com
Contractor’s License Reference Site: http://contractors-license.org/
EPA’s Requirements: http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/renovation.htm
http://www.nahb.org/generic.aspx?sectionID=715&genericContentID=121061
Federal Trade Commission’s Cooling-Off Rule: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/products/pro03.shtm
National Contractor License Service (State List): http://clsi.com/state_contractor_license_board.htm
Service Magic: http://www.servicemagic.com/
United States Department of Labor on Construction: http://www.bls.gov/oco/cg/cgs003.htm
What Is A Lien?: http://www.remodelingmyspace.com/legal-issues/contractor-laws/what-is-a-lien-and-are-you-at-risk.htm
States:
Alabama*
Office of Work Force Development
RSA Union, 6th Floor
PO Box 303500
Montgomery, AL 36130-3500
Phone: 334-242-3460
http://www.alalabor.alabama.gov/
List of Local Building Departments—Online
http://www.bc.state.al.us/
Attorney General
500 Dexter Avenue
Montgomery, AL 36130
Phone: (334) 242-7300
http://www.ago.state.al.us/
Housing & Property Resources—Online
http://www.alabama.gov/portal/secondary.jsp?id=housing
Home Builders Licensure Board
P. O. Box 303605
Montgomery, AL 36130-3605
445 Herron Street
Montgomery, AL 36104
Phone: (334) 242-2230
Fax: (334) 263-1397
http://www.hblb.alabama.gov/content/Consumers/consumers.aspx
Licensing Board for General Contractors
2525 Fairlane Drive Montgomery,
Alabama 36116
Phone: (334) 272-5030
Fax: (334) 395-5336
http://www.genconbd.state.al.us/
Electrical Contractors Board—Online Search
Phone: (334) 269-9990
http://www.aecb.state.al.us/Search.aspx
Heating & Air Conditioning Contractors (HVAC)—Online Search
100 N Union Street, Suite 630
Montgomery, AL 36130-5025
Phone: (334) 242-5550
Fax: (334) 353-7050
http://www.hvacboard.state.al.us/Lic_Search/searchform.asp
Plumbers & Gas Fitters Examining Board—Online Search
11 West Oxmoor Road, Suite 104
Birmingham, AL 35209
Phone: (205) 945-4857
Fax: (205) 945-9915
http://www.pgfb.state.al.us/Inquiry.aspx
Alaska
Department of Labor & Workforce Development
http://labor.alaska.gov/
List of Local Building Departments—Online
http://www.law.alaska.gov/department/civil/civil.html
Attorney General
P.O. Box 110300
Juneau, AK 99811-0300
Phone: (907) 465-2133
Fax: (907) 465-2075
http://www.law.alaska.gov/department/about.html
Verify Worker’s Compensation Insurance—Online
https://www.ewccv.com/cvs/
Regulation of Construction Contractors
P.O. Box 110806
Juneau, AK 99811-0806
333 Willoughby Avenue, 9th Floor
Juneau, AK 99801
http://www.dced.state.ak.us/occ/pcon.htm
Plumbing, Electrical, Asbestos, Abatement, Hazardous Paint, Explosives, or Boiler Contractor
3301 Eagle Street, Suite 302
Anchorage, AK 99503
Phone: (907) 269-4925
Fax: (907) 269-4932
http://labor.state.ak.us/lss/mihome.htm
Arizona
Workforce Development
http://www.azcommerce.com/Workforce/
Workforce Connection
1700 W. Washington Street, Ste. 600
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Phone: (602) 771-1100
http://www.arizonaworkforceconnection.com/
Attorney General
Phoenix Office
1275 West Washington Street
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Phone: (602) 542-5025
Fax: (602) 542-4085
Tucson Office
400 West Congress
South Building, Suite 315
Tucson, AZ 85701-1367
Phone: (520) 628.6504
Fax: (520) 628.6530
http://www.azag.gov/
Registrar of Contractors—Online
http://www.azroc.gov/forms/contractorsearch.html
Hiring a Licensed Contractor—Online
http://www.azroc.gov/Consumer_menu.html
Helmets to Hardhats—for Military, Reservists, and guardsmen to transition from active duty to a career in the construction industry
Phone: 866-741-6210
http://www.helmetstohardhats.org/
Arkansas
Department of Labor
10421 West Markham
Little Rock, Arkansas 72205
Phone: (501) 682-4500
Fax: (501) 682-4535
http://www.arkansas.gov/labor/
Attorney General
323 Center Street, Suite 200
Little Rock, Arkansas 72201
Phone: (501) 682-2007
http://www.arkansasag.gov/index.html
Building Authority
501 Woodlane Drive, Suite 101N
Little Rock, AR 72201
Phone: (501) 682-1833
Fax: (501) 682-5589
http://www.arkansasbuildingauthority.com/construction/
Contractors Licensing Board
4100 Richards Road
North Little Rock, AR 72117
Phone: (501) 372-4661
Fax: (501)372-2247
http://www.state.ar.us/clb/
Contractor Licenses—Online Search
http://www.state.ar.us/clb/search.html
Electrician Licenses –Online Search
https://www.ark.org/labor/electrician/roster_download/index.php
Asbestos Abatement License and Certifications—Online Search
http://www.adeq.state.ar.us/air/asb_lead/license/lic_asb_sql.asp
Landscape Architects—Online Search
http://www.arkansas.gov/asbla/find_landscape_architect.html
California
Labor & Workforce
801 K Street, Suite 2101
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 327-9064
http://www.labor.ca.gov/
Contractors State License Board
9821 Business Park Drive
Sacramento, CA 95827
Phone: (800) 321-2752
http://www.cslb.ca.gov
Attorney General
Attn: Public Inquiry Unit
P.O. Box 944255
Sacramento, CA 94244-2550
Phone: (916) 322-3360
http://ag.ca.gov
Diamond Certified Companies—Online search companies rated highest in quality
504 Redwood Blvd., Suite 210
Novato, CA 94947
Phone: (800) 738-1138
Fax: (800) 643-9963
http://www.diamondcertified.org/
Department of Consumer Affairs: Contractors State License Board—Online
https://www2.cslb.ca.gov/OnlineServices/CheckLicenseII/CheckLicense.aspx
Take Charge! Home – Building/Remodeling (Hiring contractors and architects)—Online
http://www.takechargeca.ca.gov/besmart/home_building.shtml
Verify a Contractor’s License—Online
http://www2.dca.ca.gov/pls/wllpub/wllquery$.startup
Colorado
Department of Labor & Employment
633 17th Street, Suite 201
Denver, CO 80202-3660
Phone: (303) 318-8000
http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/CDLE-Main/CDLE/1240336821467
Department of Local Affairs
1313 Sherman Street, #500
Denver, CO 80203
Phone: (303) 866-2033
http://dola.colorado.gov/cdh/index.html
Attorney General
1525 Sherman St.
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: (303) 866-4500
Fax: (303) 866-5691
http://www.coloradoattorneygeneral.gov/
License Verification / Division of Registrations
1560 Broadway, Suite 1350
Denver, CO 80202
Phone: (303) 894-7800
Fax: (303) 894-7693
https://www.doradls.state.co.us/alison.php
Office of Economic Development and International Trade
1625 Broadway, Ste. 2700
Denver, CO 80202
Phone: (303) 892-3840
Fax: (303) 892-3848
http://www.colorado.gov/oed/industry-license/32IndDetail.html
Examining Board of Plumbers
1560 Broadway Suite 1350
Denver, CO 80203
Phone: (303)892-2300
Fax: (303)894-2310
http://www.dora.state.co.us/plumbing/
State Electrical Board
1560 Broadway Suite 1500
Denver, CO 80202
Phone: (303)894-2300
Fax: (303)894-2310
http://www.dora.state.co.us/electrical/
Connecticut
Connecticut Department of Labor
200 Folly Brook Blvd.
Wethersfield, CT 06109
Phone: (860) 263-6000
http://www.ctdol.state.ct.us/
Department of Consumer Protection
165 Capitol Avenue
Hartford CT 06106
Phone: 800-842-2649
http://www.ct.gov/dcp/site/default.asp
Attorney General
55 Elm Street
Hartford, Connecticut 06106
Phone: (860) 808-5318
http://www.ct.gov/ag/site/default.asp
eLicense Verification—Online
https://www.elicense.ct.gov/Lookup/LicenseLookup.aspx
Attorney General Guide to Home Improvement—Online
http://www.ct.gov/ag/cwp/view.asp?A=2066&Q=292736
Delaware
Department of Labor
19 West Lea Boulevard
Wilmington, DE 19802
Phone: (302) 761-6598
http://www.delawareworks.com/default.shtml
Attorney General
Carvel State Office Bldg
820 N. French Street
Wilmington, DE 19801
http://attorneygeneral.delaware.gov/
License Verification—Online
https://dpronline.delaware.gov/mylicense%20weblookup/Search.aspx?facility=Y
District of Columbia
Workforce Investment Council
64 New York Avenue, NE, 3rd Floor
Washington, DC 20002
Phone: (202) 671-1661
http://dcwic.dc.gov/dcwic/site/default.asp?dcwicNav_GID
Attorney General
441 4th Street, NW, Suite 1145S
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: (202) 727-3400
Fax: (202)347-8922
http://occ.dc.gov/occ/site/default.asp
Industrial Trade Board of Plumbers—Online Licensing Services
https://www.asisvcs.com/services/licensing/DCOPLA/search_page.asp?CPCAT=4909STATEREG
Industrial Trade Board of Electricians—Online Licensing Services
https://www.asisvcs.com/services/licensing/DCOPLA/search_page.asp?CPCAT=3609STATEREG
Industrial Trade Board of Refrigeration & Air Conditioning—Online Licensing Services
https://www.asisvcs.com/services/licensing/DCOPLA/search_page.asp?CPCAT=RA09STATEREG
List of Neighborhood Websites—Online
http://rrc.dc.gov/rrc/cwp/view,a,1193,q,445658,rrcNav_GID,1415.asp
Florida
Workforce Florida
1580 Waldo Palmer Lane, Suite 1
Tallahassee, FL 32308
Phone: (850) 921-1119
Fax: (850) 921-1101
http://www.workforceflorida.com/
Attorney General
State of Florida
The Capitol PL-01
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1050
Phone: (866) 966-7226
http://myfloridalegal.com/
Department of Business Professional Regulation—License Verification
1940 North Monroe Street
Tallahassee FL 32399
Phone: (850) 487-1395
http://www.myfloridalicense.com/
Construction Industry Licensing Board
1940 North Monroe Street
Tallahassee FL 32399
Phone: (850) 487-1395
http://www.myfloridalicense.com/dbpr/pro/cilb/index.html
Electrical Contractors’ Licensing Board
1940 North Monroe Street
Tallahassee FL 32399
Phone: (850) 487-1395
http://www.myfloridalicense.com/dbpr/pro/elboard/index.html
Asbestos Licensing Unit
1940 North Monroe Street
Tallahassee FL 32399
Phone: (850) 487-1395
http://www.myfloridalicense.com/dbpr/pro/asbest/index.html
Helpful Construction Links from the Department of Community Affairs
Building Codes and Standards
2555 Shumard Oak Boulevard
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2100
Phone: (850) 487-1824
http://www.dca.state.fl.us/fbc/construction_links/1_construction.htm
* State website has a live chat. Live chat allows you to chat with a person to help you find the information you are looking for.