
Check the Contractor Before You Sign
Search a name or license number, or pick a state to see its license rules. No paid rankings and no sold leads.
What Is construction.broker?
construction.broker is a free U.S. contractor directory built on official records. It shows 110,136 active records from Washington and Oregon licenses and New York’s public-work registry, including bond and insurance details where published, plus 13,830 map listings in other states, license rules for 51 jurisdictions and free bid tools.
Construction Cost Calculator
Rough budget by project and size, with contingency, before you ask for bids.
Free ToolCompare Contractor Bids
Line up three bids on price, license, insurance, schedule and warranty.
Free ToolPayment Schedule
Turn a contract price into milestone payments, so you never pay ahead of the work.
Every Kind of Contractor

General Contractors
Remodels, additions and new builds, managing the trades, schedule and permits.

Public-Work Contractors
Businesses registered to bid on New York public work. The registry does not state a trade, and this is not a license.

Roofing Contractors
Roof replacement and repair, flashing, gutters and storm damage.

Electricians
Wiring, panels, EV chargers, lighting and code corrections.

Plumbers
Pipes, drains, water heaters, sewer lines and fixtures.

HVAC Contractors
Furnaces, air conditioners, heat pumps, ducts and refrigeration.

Concrete & Masonry
Foundations, driveways, slabs, brick, block and stonework.

Carpenters & Framers
Framing, finish carpentry, cabinets, decks and millwork.

Painters & Drywall
Interior and exterior painting, drywall and plaster repairs.

Flooring & Tile
Hardwood, vinyl, carpet, tile and countertops.

Excavation & Demolition
Site work, grading, land clearing, trenching and demolition.

Landscaping & Fencing
Hardscape, planting, irrigation, fences and outdoor work.

Windows, Siding & Insulation
Replacement windows, glass, siding and insulation.
Hiring and Cost Guides

How to Check a Contractor License
The five-minute check before you sign: the number, the name, the status, the class and what to do where no state license exists.

How to Hire a Contractor
Scope, permits, bids, license checks, contract and payments, in the order you actually do them.

General Contractor vs Specialty Contractor
When to hire a general contractor, when to go direct to a trade and what the markup pays for.

What a Contractor Contract Should Include
Twelve items for a home construction contract, and the clauses worth reading twice.

How Much Deposit Should You Pay a Contractor?
What is reasonable, where the law sets a limit and how to keep payments behind the work.

Cost to Build a House
A plain budget method for a new house, with planning ranges and the costs that people forget.
Contractors by State
- Washington 60,406
- Oregon 37,715
- New York 13,292
- California 1,100
- Arizona 929
- Texas 929
- Pennsylvania 751
- Florida 708
- Ohio 554
- New Jersey 488
- Colorado 482
- Michigan 433
- Illinois 432
- North Carolina 394
- Virginia 385
- Georgia 376
- Wisconsin 314
- Maryland 290
- Minnesota 282
- Indiana 275
- South Carolina 273
- Massachusetts 272
- Idaho 231
- Montana 212
- Connecticut 199
- Missouri 184
- Oklahoma 182
- Tennessee 180
- Iowa 175
- Kansas 135
- Utah 129
- New Hampshire 127
- Louisiana 125
- Alabama 117
- Maine 92
- Kentucky 89
- South Dakota 88
- Arkansas 85
- New Mexico 72
- Nebraska 68
- Nevada 67
- West Virginia 52
- Wyoming 52
- Hawaii 43
- Mississippi 42
- Vermont 39
- Alaska 29
- Delaware 26
- Rhode Island 22
- North Dakota 15
- District of Columbia 9
Questions
How do I check if a contractor is licensed?
Ask for the license number and the exact business name, then look it up on the state board’s website. Type a name or number above to search Washington, Oregon and New York records here, or pick your state to see its rules and official site. Match the name, status and expiry date before you sign.
Does every state license general contractors?
No. Some states have a full license, some only registration, some regulate only home improvement work, and others leave it to cities and counties. Electricians and plumbers are often licensed separately. Use the state picker above, then confirm with the official site or your local building department.
If a contractor is not found here, are they unlicensed?
No. Our official license records cover Washington, Oregon and New York only, and only records active when we downloaded them. Always check the state board directly. California, Florida and other states run their own lookups, which we link from each state page.
Do contractors pay to be listed or ranked here?
No. Every record comes from public data and nobody can pay for a higher position. We do not sell leads or ask for your phone number: you contact contractors directly.