Alabama contractor license lookup: how to check and get a license
Alabama contractor license lookup: who issues home improvement contractor licenses (Alabama Home Builders Licensure Board), how to check one online, the license types, and 975 residential remodelers by county.
Do home improvement contractors need a license in Alabama?
| Who licenses them | Alabama Home Builders Licensure Board |
|---|---|
| License types | Residential Home Builder (unlimited), Residential Home Builder (limited), Residential Roofer (limited to roofing) |
| When a license is required | License required for residential building, remodeling or repair over $10,000 (residential roofing over $2,500); written contract with license number required |
Remodelers count as residential home builders. Work affecting structure or involving more than one trade needs an unlimited license. Licensees must use a written contract showing their license number, and the law provides for a Homeowners' Recovery Fund. Commercial general contractors are licensed separately by the Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors.
How do you look up a home improvement contractor's license in Alabama?
- Ask the home improvement contractor for the license number and the exact business name on the license.
- Open the Alabama contractor license lookup run by Alabama Home Builders Licensure Board.
- Search by license number first. A name search can return several people or companies with similar names.
- Check that the status is active or current, that the license type covers your job, and that the name matches the company on your contract.
- If something doesn't match, ask the home improvement contractor about it before you sign or pay a deposit, or contact Alabama Home Builders Licensure Board.
What contractor licenses does Alabama issue?
- Residential Home Builder (unlimited)
- Residential Home Builder (limited)
- Residential Roofer (limited to roofing)
How do you get a contractor license in Alabama?
Licenses are issued by the Alabama Home Builders Licensure Board. Requirements such as experience, exams, insurance and fees change, so read the current rules on the official Alabama Home Builders Licensure Board source before you apply. Already licensed? List your business on Expert Helper to get matched with customers.
How many home improvement contractors are there in Alabama?
The Census Bureau counted 975 residential remodelers with employees in Alabama in 2023. The counties with the most:
| Jefferson County | 158 |
|---|---|
| Baldwin County | 122 |
| Shelby County | 96 |
| Madison County | 87 |
| Mobile County | 80 |
| Tuscaloosa County | 38 |
| Lee County | 37 |
| Morgan County | 29 |
What do Alabama homes mean for home improvement work?
The median home in Alabama was built in 1985, 30% of households rent and 71% of homes are single-family houses. 26% of homes heat with utility gas and 67% with electricity.
How do you choose a home improvement contractor in Alabama?
- Check the contractor's license with the state or city. Many places require a home improvement license for residential work over a few hundred dollars.
- Get a written contract with the scope, materials, schedule, total price and payment schedule. Don't pay most of it upfront.
- Ask who pulls the permits. If the contractor suggests skipping a permit that the job needs, find another contractor.
- Ask for proof of liability insurance and workers' compensation, and make sure the policy is current.
- Ask for two or three recent jobs like yours that you can see or call about.
Home Improvement Contractors in other states
Sources: Alabama licensing agency (linked above); US Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 and ACS 2023 5-year estimates.