How to check a contractor license in New Hampshire
New Hampshire has no statewide general contractor license, so there is no state record to look up for a builder or remodeler. Electricians are licensed through the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification, and plumbers through its Mechanical Licensing Board. Search those trades in the OPLC license lookup, and ask any general contractor for insurance on file.
How do I check a contractor license in New Hampshire?
Check the trades the state licenses, such as electricians and plumbers, in the license lookup run by the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC). There's no state record to search for a general contractor.
- Get the electrician's or plumber's full name or license number. Ask them for it directly.
- Open the OPLC license lookup at oplc.nh.gov in a regular web browser.
- Pick the electrician or plumbing license type, then search the name or number.
- Check that the license is active and that the name matches the person doing the work.
We last checked this lookup on 2026-10-19. The OPLC site refused our scripted requests that day, so we couldn't see which details the lookup shows, and you'll need to open it in a regular web browser. If it won't load, start from the OPLC main page and use its contact details to ask for help.
Does New Hampshire require a general contractor license?
No. New Hampshire has no statewide license for general contractors or remodelers, so the state has no record to look up for a builder. The state does license some trades, including electricians and plumbers.
That leaves the checks you make yourself. Get a written contract, a current certificate of insurance from the contractor's insurance agent and the names of past customers you can call. The town building department issues permits, so ask it whether the permit is pulled in the contractor's name.
Who licenses electricians and plumbers in New Hampshire?
The Office of Professional Licensure and Certification does. Under RSA 319-C, no electrical installation may be made for pay unless an electrician or other person licensed by OPLC makes it. RSA 153 sets up master, journeyman and apprentice plumber licenses and a Mechanical Licensing Board, a unit within OPLC, and the same chapter covers fuel gas fitters.
What should you check when there is no state license?
Rely on the checks you can still make. Ask for a certificate of insurance issued by the contractor's insurance company or agent, and call to confirm the policy is in force. Make sure the permit is pulled in the contractor's name, call references, and look up the electrician and plumber on the job in the OPLC lookup.
A trade license has limits too. It shows that a person holds the license, and we couldn't confirm whether the OPLC lookup shows insurance, complaints or discipline. If a client is moving out of New Hampshire, the guides for other states cover their lookups.
A job near a state line can involve a contractor based next door, so check that state's records too. The lookups for Maine, Vermont and Massachusetts are on their own pages.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Rules change, so confirm details with the OPLC or your town building department.
Sources
- New Hampshire General Court: RSA Chapter 319-C, Electricians
- New Hampshire General Court: RSA Chapter 153, including the Mechanical Licensing Board
- New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification: License Lookup
- New Hampshire Department of Justice: Risks Involved With Hiring a Contractor (PDF)
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 New Hampshire 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.