Indiana Contractor License Requirements by County

Does Indiana Require a Contractor License?

Indiana does not have a statewide general contractor license. Unlike states like California or Florida, there’s no state-level test or license required to perform general construction work in Indiana.

However, individual cities and counties set their own requirements. These range from no requirements at all to detailed licensing with exams, bonds, insurance minimums, and continuing education. The rules change dramatically depending on where your project is located.

Jurisdictions WITH Contractor Licensing Requirements

City of Evansville / Vanderburgh County — Most Comprehensive

Evansville has one of the strictest contractor licensing programs in Indiana:

• $25,000 surety bond required
• $1,000,000 general liability insurance required
• 3 hours/year continuing education required
• License Clerk: 812-436-7880

Penalties for using unlicensed contractors:

• 1st offense: $500 fine
• 2nd offense: $1,000 fine
• 3rd offense: $2,500 fine

Both the contractor AND the homeowner can face penalties.

City of Hammond — Detailed Fee Structure

Hammond requires contractors to be licensed and registered:

• Initial license fee: $200
• Annual renewal: $100
• Insurance required: $100,000/$300,000 liability
• Surety bond: $5,000

City of East Chicago — Written Exam Required

East Chicago is one of the few Indiana jurisdictions that requires a written exam for all specialty contractors (electrical, plumbing, HVAC, etc.). General contractors must also register.

City of Terre Haute — Bond and Registration

• $10,000 surety bond required
• Initial registration: $350
• Annual renewal: $175

Fort Wayne / Allen County — Registration Required

All contractors must be registered with the Allen County Building Department before pulling permits:

• Contact ACBD Licensing: 260-449-7342
• Email: ACBDLicensing@allencounty.us

Indianapolis / Marion County — Registration Required

Contractors must be registered with the Department of Business & Neighborhood Services to pull permits in Marion County.

City of Gary — Multiple License Categories

Gary maintains separate license categories:

• General Contractor
• Electrical Contractor
• Mechanical Contractor
• Roofing Contractor
• Demolition Contractor
• Drywall Contractor
• Fire Protection Contractor

Each category has its own requirements and fees.

Jurisdictions WITHOUT Contractor Licensing

City of Goshen — Most Relaxed

Goshen explicitly states that NO general contractor license or bond is required. This makes it one of the most contractor-friendly jurisdictions in Indiana. Specialty trades (plumbing, electrical) still need applicable state licenses.

South Bend / St. Joseph County

South Bend does not require general contractor licensing. Specialty contractors must hold state licenses where applicable.

Bloomington / Monroe County

No general contractor license required. Monroe County does manage a Licensing & Registration Board for electricians and plumbers specifically.

Most Rural Counties

The majority of Indiana’s rural counties have no contractor licensing requirements. Contractors can pull permits without registration or bonding. This includes counties like:

• Carroll County
• Blackford County
• Sullivan County
• Many others

Specialty Trade Licenses

Even in jurisdictions without general contractor licensing, specialty trades often require credentials:

Plumbing

Indiana requires plumbers to hold a state license for most jurisdictions. The City of Elkhart specifically requires plumbing contractors to carry a state license. Bartholomew County requires a Master Electrician license but includes plumbing in the general building permit.

Electrical

Many jurisdictions require electricians to hold state certification or local licenses:

• Bartholomew County requires Master Electrician licensing
• Monroe County manages a local Licensing & Registration Board for electricians
• Evansville includes electrical work under the Building Commission licensing program

HVAC

HVAC contractors are less commonly licensed at the local level in Indiana. Many jurisdictions simply require them to pull the appropriate trade permit.

Radon Mitigation

Indiana is one of the few states with mandatory statewide radon licensing. Anyone performing radon testing or mitigation for compensation must hold an active license from IPLA — this is a state law requirement under 410 IAC 5.1, not a local rule.

There are four IPLA radon license types: Radon Mitigator, Primary Radon Tester, Secondary Radon Tester, and Radon Laboratory Tester. Unlike general contractors, radon professionals are licensed at the state level regardless of what county they work in.

You can verify any Indiana radon contractor’s license at IN Radon Pros or directly through the IPLA verification portal.

License Requirements by Trade

Not sure what credentials your contractor should have? Here’s a breakdown by trade:

General Contractor

• State license: Not required — Indiana has no statewide GC license
• Local requirements: Vary by jurisdiction (see above)
• What to ask for: Proof of liability insurance ($1M+ recommended), surety bond (if required locally), worker’s comp certificate, written contract

Electrician

• State license: Required in many jurisdictions
• Types: Master Electrician, Journeyman Electrician
• Verify at: IPLA License Verification
• Local boards: Monroe County, Bartholomew County, and Evansville maintain their own electrical licensing boards

Plumber

• State license: Required — Indiana licenses plumbers statewide through IPLA
• Types: Master Plumber, Journeyman Plumber, Plumbing Contractor
• Verify at: IPLA License Verification or IN Plumber Pros

HVAC / Mechanical

• State license: Not required at state level for general HVAC work
• EPA certification: Required for handling refrigerants (EPA Section 608)
• Local requirements: Some jurisdictions require mechanical contractor registration
• What to ask for: EPA certification, NATE certification (voluntary but indicates competency), liability insurance

Roofer

• State license: Not required
• Local requirements: Some jurisdictions (Gary, Evansville) have specific roofing contractor categories
• What to ask for: Manufacturer certifications (GAF, CertainTeed, Owens Corning), liability insurance, worker’s comp, warranty documentation

Radon Mitigation

• State license: Required — one of the few trades with mandatory statewide licensing
• Types: Radon Mitigator, Primary Tester, Secondary Tester, Laboratory Tester
• Law: 410 IAC 5.1
• Verify at: IPLA License Verification or IN Radon Pros

Home Inspector

• State license: Required — licensed through IPLA
• Verify at: IPLA License Verification or IN Home Inspection Pros

Real Estate Appraiser

• State license: Required — licensed through IPLA
• Types: Licensed Appraiser, Certified Residential, Certified General
• Verify at: IPLA License Verification or IN Appraiser Pros

Well Driller

• State license: Required — licensed through Indiana DNR
• Verify at: IN Well Drillers

Environmental / Asbestos / Lead

• State license: Required for asbestos and lead abatement
• Verify at: IPLA License Verification or IN Environmental Pros

Verify Your Contractor’s License

For any Indiana contractor claiming to hold a state license, you can verify their status directly:

IPLA License Verification Portal →

Search by name, license number, or business name. The portal shows license type, status (active/expired/revoked), expiration date, and any disciplinary actions.

Tip: If the contractor can’t give you a license number for a trade that requires one, that’s a red flag.

What Homeowners Should Know

10 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Contractor

Use this checklist before signing any contract:

1. “Are you licensed in this jurisdiction?” — Ask for the license number and verify it yourself
2. “Can I see your insurance certificate?” — General liability ($1M minimum recommended) and worker’s compensation
3. “Do you carry a surety bond?” — Required in some jurisdictions, protects you if the contractor doesn’t finish
4. “Will you pull the permits?” — A legitimate contractor handles permits. If they ask you to pull them, they may be unlicensed
5. “Can I see 3 recent references?” — Call them. Ask about timeline, communication, and quality
6. “What’s your warranty?” — Get workmanship warranty terms in writing
7. “Who will be on-site daily?” — Know if the owner or a crew lead manages the project
8. “What’s the payment schedule?” — Never pay more than 10-20% upfront. Pay based on completed milestones
9. “Do you use subcontractors?” — If yes, confirm they’re also licensed and insured
10. “What happens if we find unexpected issues?” — Get the change order process in writing before work begins

Red Flags — Walk Away If…

• They won’t pull permits or ask you to pull them (shifting liability to you)
• They can’t provide proof of insurance or bonding
• They offer cash-only deals with no written contract
• They pressure you to skip inspections
• They demand full payment upfront
• They have no physical address or business phone
• They show up unsolicited after a storm offering “free inspections”
• They can’t provide a license number for a trade that requires one

Homeowner Permits

In most Indiana jurisdictions, homeowners can pull permits for work on their own primary residence — even in areas that require contractor licensing. You’re acting as your own contractor. However:

• You must do the work yourself (or under your direct supervision)
• The property must be owner-occupied
• You’re still responsible for meeting building code
• Inspections are still required

See our guide: Can a Homeowner Pull Their Own Permit in Indiana?

Find Your Local Requirements

Contractor licensing rules vary across Indiana’s 92 counties. Find the specific requirements and contact information for your jurisdiction on our county and city directory.

Use our Permit Fee Estimator to look up actual fees for your jurisdiction, or check if your project needs a permit with our Do I Need a Permit? tool.