Permits & rules · 50 states + DC
Which permits does your project need?
Permits are local, licensing is state-level, and nobody explains either without trying to sell you something. This is the neutral reference: what typically needs a permit, who issues it, and the official license-lookup for your state.
25 states license GCs 14 states leave it to cities
Pick your state
Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming
The short version
What usually needs a permit, anywhere
| Project | Typical permits |
|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | BuildingElectricalPlumbing |
| Bathroom remodel | BuildingPlumbingElectrical |
| Roofing | Building |
| HVAC replacement | Mechanical |
| Window replacement | Building |
| Basement finishing | BuildingElectricalPlumbing |
| Deck | Building |
| Fence | Sometimes zoning |
| Interior painting | Usually none |
| Flooring | Usually none |
Rule of thumb: touching structure, electrical, plumbing, or gas needs a
permit. Paint, floors, and fixtures usually don’t. Your city or county building
department has the final word.