Free Tool

What permits and licenses does your trade actually need?

Pick your trade and state and get a plain-English starting checklist of the business registrations, licenses, insurance, bonding and per-job permits a service business like yours usually needs — so you know exactly what to go confirm before you start working. Built for electricians, plumbers, HVAC techs, roofers, contractors and the rest of the trades.

No signup Free Made for tradespeople

Read this first: This is a general starting point, not legal advice. Permit and license rules vary by state, county and city — and they change. Use the checklist to know what to ask about, then always confirm with your state licensing board and local building department before you start work.

Tell us about your business

Your trade

Pick the closest match — choose “Other Service Business” if your trade isn’t listed.

Your state

We’ll point you at the right state board to confirm with.

Every checklist starts with the registrations and insurance almost every service business needs, then adds the items specific to your trade. Nothing here replaces checking with your state and city — it just tells you what to check for.

Your starting checklist

You’re all set!

Check your inbox — we’ve sent your results. We’ll follow up shortly.

How it works

An honest starting point — every item tells you what to confirm and who to confirm it with.

Pick trade & state

Electrical, plumbing, HVAC, roofing, general contracting, pest control, painting, handyman and more — in any of the 50 states.

See your checklist

The general registrations and insurance every business needs, plus the trade-specific licenses, bonds and permits yours usually requires.

Confirm & get to work

Verify each item with your state board and city, then knock them out one by one so you can take jobs legally and look legit.

Contractor license and permit requirements, explained by trade and state

Figuring out whether you need a contractor license is one of the most confusing parts of running a service business — and the answer genuinely depends on your trade and where you work. Electricians, plumbers and HVAC techs almost always need a state trade license, while general contractors, handymen, painters and landscapers run into a patchwork of state, county and city rules. This free lookup turns "do I need a contractor license?" into a concrete, plain-English checklist for your trade and state so nothing important slips through the cracks.

Pick your trade — electrical, plumbing, HVAC, roofing, general contracting, pest control, painting, handyman and more — and your state, and you'll get the licenses, certifications, bonding, insurance and per-job permits a business like yours typically needs. Every checklist starts with the registrations and insurance nearly every service business shares (an LLC or business registration, EIN, sales tax setup, general liability and workers' comp), then layers on the trade-specific permits and license requirements for your state on top.

It's built for working tradespeople who want a straight answer fast, not a law-firm-grade memo. Use it to scope what you need before you bid your first job, when you expand into a new state, or when a customer asks for your license and bond. Then confirm each item with your state licensing board and local building department — because rules change, and this is a starting point, not legal advice.

Frequently asked questions

Is the permit and license lookup free?

Yes — it is 100% free with no signup and no limit on how many checklists you generate. LeadChime builds it as a free tool for tradespeople; you only enter an email if you want your checklist sent to you.

Do I need a contractor license to work in my trade?

It depends on your trade, your state, and sometimes your county or city. Electrical, plumbing and HVAC work usually require a state trade license almost everywhere, while general contracting, handyman and landscaping rules vary widely. Pick your trade and state above to see what typically applies, then confirm with your state licensing board.

How do I find the permits and license requirements for my state?

Select your trade and your state and the tool builds a plain-English starting checklist of the business registrations, trade licenses, bonding, insurance and per-job permits you usually need. Each item tells you which board or department to confirm it with.

Is this legal advice I can rely on?

No. This is a general starting point, not legal advice. Permit and license rules vary by state, county and city and they change often, so always verify each item with your state licensing board and local building department before you start work.

Do plumbers, electricians and HVAC techs need different licenses?

Usually yes. Most states license electrical, plumbing and HVAC/mechanical work separately, each with its own exam, experience requirement and renewal. The checklist shows the trade-specific license your trade typically needs on top of the registrations every service business shares.

What about permits for a specific job?

Many jobs — panel upgrades, re-pipes, new HVAC installs, roof replacements, additions — need a per-job building or trade permit pulled from your local building department before work starts. The checklist flags the common per-job permits to ask about for your trade.

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Licensed and insured? Now look the part online

Once you're properly licensed and insured, customers still have to find you and trust you. LeadChime gives your service business a professional website that shows off your license number, insurance and reviews, captures leads, texts back missed calls and sends quotes and invoices — so all that paperwork you just sorted out actually turns into booked jobs.

Get Started — $199 setup Request a Demo