How to verify a Massachusetts contractor license

Before you sign a contract with any Massachusetts home-services contractor, spend ten minutes verifying their license. The state runs free lookup tools for every regulated trade. If a contractor is properly licensed, that search takes seconds. If they push back when you ask for a license number, that is a signal.

Who needs a Massachusetts license

Massachusetts requires licensing or registration for most home-services work:

• Construction Supervisor License (CSL), issued by the Office of Public Safety and Inspections, is required for anyone who supervises construction, reconstruction, or alteration of any structure 35,000 cubic feet or smaller. There are different restrictions (1-2 family, unrestricted, masonry, etc.).
• Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) registration, issued by the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation, is required for anyone doing residential remodeling work on an existing 1-to-4 unit, owner-occupied home.
• Plumbing License, issued by the Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters. Journeyman and Master licenses are separate.
• Electrician License, issued by the Board of State Examiners of Electricians. Journeyman and Master licenses are separate.
• Refrigeration / Sheet Metal Licenses for HVAC work.

Landscaping does not require a state license in Massachusetts, though individual pesticide applicators and arborists do.

How to run the lookup

Step 1. Use the state eLicensing portal

The Massachusetts Division of Professional Licensure publishes a public license lookup at elicensing.mass.gov. You can search by license number, business name, or individual name. The portal shows the license type, status, issue date, and expiration date.

If the license is expired, that is not automatically a disqualifier. Licenses renew regularly. You still want to see current status before any work begins.

Step 2. Check HIC registration separately

HIC registration is a different system. You can search the HIC registration database by name or registration number. Every HIC-registered contractor has a number that must appear on contracts over $1,000.

Step 3. Confirm the license matches the work

A CSL covers new construction and structural alterations. An HIC registration covers residential remodeling. A plumbing job needs a licensed plumber, not a handyman or a general contractor. Match the scope of work to the scope of the license.

Step 4. Document what you found

Screenshot or save the license lookup result. If there is ever a dispute, you want a dated record of what you verified and when.

What to ask in writing

When you request quotes, ask each contractor for:

1. Their CSL or HIC number, by license type.
2. Their license status (active or expired).
3. Proof of general liability insurance, with the policy number and carrier.
4. Proof of workers’ compensation if they have employees.

A contractor running a clean operation will provide this within a day. A contractor who cannot or will not is telling you something.

A note on signing

Massachusetts law requires HIC-governed residential work over $1,000 to have a written contract with specific disclosures. A missing contract is not only a red flag, it is a statutory violation. If a contractor asks you to skip the paperwork, walk away.