How to check a contractor license in Mississippi
In Mississippi, the State Board of Contractors licenses commercial contractors, residential builders, remodelers and roofers. Search its free contractor database by name or by license number, typing the number without its letter prefix or suffix. A state license is required for new homes over $50,000 and for remodeling or roofing over $10,000.
How do I check a contractor license in Mississippi?
Search the Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC) database by the contractor's name or license number. If you search by number, type the digits only and leave off the letter prefix and suffix.
- Get the license number from the bid, the contract or the contractor's certificate of licensure.
- Open the MSBOC contractor search and enter a name or the number. We last checked this lookup on 2026-10-19.
- Confirm the license is current. Licenses renew every year, and the board says a license that has been expired for more than 180 days can't be renewed, so the contractor would have to apply again.
- Check that the business name on the record matches the name on your bid or contract. The board tells contractors to sign bids, contracts and permits in the name on their certificate, and it treats work under any other name as unlicensed contracting.
- Call the board before you rely on the record for a big decision. Its search page says circumstances may have changed since the information was published.
The board's office is in Jackson. You can reach it at 601-354-6161 or toll free at 800-880-6161.
Does Mississippi require a general contractor license?
Yes. The board says all contractors and subcontractors on commercial jobs over $50,000, including equipment installation, need a commercial license, and residential contractors need a license once a job passes the thresholds in the next section.
A few kinds of work have their own rules. Construction managers and residential solar contractors also need state licenses. Fire sprinkler work needs a license on public projects over $5,000 and on private projects over $10,000.
When does a remodeler need a license in Mississippi?
A remodeler needs a state license for residential remodeling or additions over $10,000. The board's other residential thresholds are over $50,000 for new residential construction and over $10,000 for residential roofing.
Below those amounts, the state license may not be required, but that doesn't mean no rules apply. Cities and counties can have their own requirements, so ask the local building official before the work starts.
Who licenses electricians and plumbers in Mississippi?
The State Board of Contractors does, for work on homes. Its FAQ says subcontractors doing residential electrical, mechanical, HVAC or plumbing work on a residential construction or improvement project must be licensed by the board.
That means you can look them up in the same database as the general contractor. For a small stand-alone repair outside a larger project, ask the local permit office which license applies.
What should you check beyond the license?
Check what the record can't show: the quality of the work and whether the contractor's insurance is current today. A license only means the board allows the contractor to do work of that kind and size.
- Ask the contractor for a current certificate of insurance.
- Ask who will pull the permit, and confirm it with the local building official.
- Ask past customers about the work itself, since the board's record doesn't measure quality.
Each state sets its own thresholds and runs its own search. If the contractor also works outside Mississippi, see how to check a contractor license, state by state.
A job near a state line can involve a contractor based next door, so check that state's records too. The lookups for Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee and Alabama are on their own pages.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Rules change, so confirm details with the Mississippi State Board of Contractors.
Sources
- Mississippi State Board of Contractors: contractor search
- Mississippi State Board of Contractors: home page
- Mississippi State Board of Contractors: Frequently Asked Questions
Agents can keep these contractors in Proferral
Proferral is a free app real estate agents use to keep a go-to list of the providers they trust and to remember every referral they send. Its license checks cover Oregon and Washington only, so for Mississippi you still run the lookup above by hand. Here's how Proferral's license checks work.
It's free, no credit card needed, and you're never charged unless you choose Pro.