Checking a contractor’s license is the single most useful step before you hire anyone for a remodel in Nevada. It takes a few minutes online, and it tells you whether the contractor may legally do your job, what kind of work the license covers and how large a contract it allows. It also affects your rights later, because the state’s Residential Recovery Fund is only open to homeowners who hired a licensed contractor.
Key takeaways
- Search the license on the Nevada State Contractors Board website.
- Check status, name, classification and monetary limit.
- Ask to see the contractor’s pocket card and compare it with the search result.
Why a license matters
The Nevada State Contractors Board explains that licensed contractors have met experience and examination requirements, must carry a bond and workers’ compensation insurance, and have established financial responsibility. With limited exceptions, anyone who contracts for construction work in Nevada must be licensed. Unlicensed contracting is a crime, and the Board warns that a contract with an unlicensed contractor is null and void by law.
Step 1: search the license
The Board has an online license search. You can search by license number, company name or the name of a principal or qualified individual. If you have only part of a name, the search allows wildcards. Every contractor must include the license number on advertising, vehicles, bids and contracts, so start with the number from the bid.
Step 2: read the result carefully
- Status: the license should be active, not expired, suspended or revoked.
- Name: the business name should match the name on your bid and contract.
- Classification: it should cover the kind of work you want done.
- Monetary limit: your contract amount must be within it.
Step 3: compare with the pocket card
The Board suggests asking to see the contractor’s pocket card, which states the classification, the license number and the monetary limit. The card and the online result should agree. If they do not, or if you have questions about a license, call the Board.
What the classifications mean
| Classification | What it covers | Remodel example |
|---|---|---|
| A: General Engineering | Heavy and site work such as grading, pools and pipelines | A pool or major site work |
| B: General Building | Buildings, including B-2 Residential and Small Commercial and B-7 Residential Remodeling | A kitchen and bath remodel with several trades |
| C: Specialty | 42 trade subclassifications such as plumbing, electrical, roofing and painting | A new roof or a rewiring job |
The Board explains that for a job with only one type of work, such as roofing, you would hire a contractor licensed for that specialty. If the job involves more than two types of work, you may hire a licensed general building contractor to coordinate licensed specialty subcontractors. More in General Building Contractor vs. Specialty Contractor.
Why the monetary limit matters
When the Board issues a license, it sets a monetary limit based on the contractor’s financial ability to complete contracts up to a certain amount. The Board states that contracts written above that limit are invalid. The Recovery Fund FAQ also says a claim may be denied if the contract exceeded the contractor’s monetary limit or was outside the license classification. Check the limit before you sign, not after.
Tip: Save or print the license search result on the day you sign and put it in your project binder. If the license status changes later, you have a record of what it was when you hired the contractor.
Check the people too
The license search lets you search by the name of a principal or qualified individual, not only by company. Make sure the person you are dealing with is connected to the licensed business, or that the salesperson’s company is the one on the contract. The Board suggests the contract include the name and address of any salesperson who solicited or negotiated it.
Handymen and small jobs
The Board does not issue a “handyman” license. Nevada law, in NRS 624.031, lists limited exemptions from licensing, and the Board’s FAQ points there for details. It is also unlawful for anyone, even an exempt person, to advertise as a contractor without the right license. For anything beyond small repairs, a licensed contractor in the right classification is the safer choice.
Other checks worth making
The Board suggests asking for written references, calling previous customers and looking at the work in person. It also mentions checking with the Better Business Bureau for complaints. The Board also notes that its online search is provided as a courtesy and may not reflect the most recent changes, so call the Board if anything looks unclear.
Common mistakes
Homeowners often check that a license exists but not the classification or the limit. Another mistake is hiring a company whose name is slightly different from the licensed name. Finally, some people check once and never look again, even though a project may run for months.
Frequently asked questions
What if the contractor says the license is “pending”?
A pending application is not a license. Wait until the license is active in the Board’s search.
Is a city business license the same thing?
No. A local business license is separate from a Nevada contractor’s license.
Who do I call with questions?
The Board’s licensing and customer service line in Southern Nevada, listed on its website.
Next, compare the bids themselves with How to Compare Three Remodel Bids.