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Painting Contractor
Painting contractor licensing is state-regulated, with requirements varying significantly across the country. Some states require specific painting contractor licenses, others include painting under general or home improvement contractor licenses, and some have no state-level requirement. Compare requirements across all 50 states.
51
Total States
23
States Requiring License
14
States Requiring Exam
8
States Requiring Bond
Painting contractor licensing is regulated at the state level, with requirements varying from comprehensive licensing to simple business registration. Here are the three key areas.
About 30 states require some form of contractor license for painting work. This can be a specific painting contractor license (like California's C-33 or Nevada's C-4), a general contractor license, or a home improvement contractor registration. License thresholds range from all work (any value) to projects over $50,000.
States with licensing often require 2-4 years of trade experience and passing a trade exam and/or business and law exam. Some states accept equivalent education or apprenticeship completion in lieu of experience. EPA RRP certification is required federally for work on pre-1978 homes.
Most states require general liability insurance and workers' compensation coverage for employers. Approximately 12 states require a surety bond for painting contractors, ranging from $5,000 to $100,000. Insurance protects both the contractor and their clients.
Side-by-side fees, hours, exams, and timelines across all 50 states. Sort by cost, hours, or any column.
Compare All StatesFind out if your license transfers to another state and what extra steps are needed.
Check ReciprocityBrowse approved programs by state — compare costs, requirements, and timelines.
Click any column header to sort. Click a state to view full requirements.
| State | License Req. | License Type | Exam | Experience | Bond | Total Fees | Renewal | Confidence | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama(AL) | Yes | Painting and Wall Covering Contractor License | Yes | — | Yes | $450-$1,100 | Annual | medium | March 2026 |
| Alaska(AK) | Yes | Specialty/General Contractor License | No | — | No | $400-$750 | Biennial | medium | March 2026 |
| Arizona(AZ) | Yes | Specialty Contractor License (C-34 Painting and Wall Covering) | Yes | 2 yrs | No | $425-$900 | Biennial (2-year license) | medium | March 2026 |
| Arkansas(AR) | Yes | Home Improvement / General Contractor License | Yes | — | No | $350-$850 | Annual | medium | March 2026 |
| California(CA) | Yes | C-33 Painting and Decorating Specialty License | Yes | 4 yrs | Yes | $680-$1,410 | Biennial (2-year period) | medium | March 2026 |
| Colorado(CO) | No | null | No | — | No | $50-$100 | N/A — no state license | medium | March 2026 |
| Connecticut(CT) | Yes | Home Improvement Contractor Registration (HIC) | No | — | No | $340-$695 | Annual (expires March 31st each year) | medium | March 2026 |
| Delaware(DE) | Yes | Contractor Registration | No | — | No | $75-$200 | Annual | medium | March 2026 |
| District of Columbia(DC) | No | — | No | — | No | $75-$400 | N/A — no state license | medium | March 2026 |
| Florida(FL) | Yes | Certified or Registered Contractor (painting included) | Yes | 4 yrs | No | $549-$1,199 | Biennial | medium | March 2026 |
| Georgia(GA) | No | — | No | — | No | $50-$300 | N/A — no state license | medium | March 2026 |
| Hawaii(HI) | Yes | C-33 Painting and Decorating contractor (specialty classification) | Yes | 4 yrs | No | $270-$550 | Biennial — all licenses renew by September 30 of every even-numbered year | medium | March 2026 |
| Idaho(ID) | No | — | No | — | No | $100-$200 | N/A — no state license required for painting contractors | medium | March 2026 |
| Illinois(IL) | No | — | No | — | No | $150-$500 | N/A — no state license | medium | March 2026 |
| Indiana(IN) | No | — | No | — | No | $50-$200 | N/A — no state license | medium | March 2026 |
| Iowa(IA) | Yes | Construction Contractor Registration | No | — | No | $50-$100 | Annual | medium | March 2026 |
| Kansas(KS) | No | null — no state painting contractor license type exists | No | — | No | $50-$165 | N/A — no state painting contractor license to renew | medium | March 2026 |
| Kentucky(KY) | No | null | No | — | No | $40-$100 | N/A — no state license | medium | March 2026 |
| Louisiana(LA) | Yes | Contractor License (painting included as specialty) | Yes | 3 yrs | No | $350-$825 | Annual | medium | March 2026 |
| Maine(ME) | No | — | No | — | No | $125-$200 | N/A — no state license | medium | March 2026 |
| Maryland(MD) | Yes | Maryland Home Improvement Commission (MHIC) Registration | No | — | Yes | $700-$402 | Biennial (2-year period) | medium | March 2026 |
| Massachusetts(MA) | No | — | No | — | No | $500-$1,000 | N/A — no state license | medium | March 2026 |
| Michigan(MI) | No | null — no specific license type for painting contractors | No | — | No | $50-$100 | N/A — no state painting contractor license to renew | medium | March 2026 |
| Minnesota(MN) | No | null — no state painting contractor license type exists | No | — | No | $155-$200 | N/A — no state painting contractor license to renew | medium | March 2026 |
| Mississippi(MS) | Yes | General Contractor License (painting included) | Yes | — | No | $300-$750 | Annual | medium | March 2026 |
| Missouri(MO) | No | — | No | — | No | $50-$150 | N/A — no state license | medium | March 2026 |
| Montana(MT) | No | null | No | — | No | $70-$200 | N/A — no state license | medium | March 2026 |
| Nebraska(NE) | No | null | No | — | No | $100-$200 | N/A — no state painting contractor license exists | medium | March 2026 |
| Nevada(NV) | Yes | Classification C-4: Painting and Decorating | Yes | 4 yrs | Yes | $675-$1,875 | Biennial (every 2 years) | medium | March 2026 |
| New Hampshire(NH) | No | — | No | — | No | $100-$200 | N/A — no state license | medium | March 2026 |
| New Jersey(NJ) | Yes | Home Improvement Contractor Registration | No | — | No | $305-$842 | Biennial (every 2 years) | medium | March 2026 |
| New Mexico(NM) | No | — | No | — | No | $50-$200 | N/A — no state license | medium | March 2026 |
| New York(NY) | No | — | No | — | No | $200-$600 | N/A — no state license | medium | March 2026 |
| North Carolina(NC) | Yes | General Contractor License | Yes | 4 yrs | No | $480-$985 | Annual | medium | March 2026 |
| North Dakota(ND) | Yes | Contractor License | No | — | No | $100-$150 | Annual | medium | March 2026 |
| Ohio(OH) | No | null | No | — | No | $99-$200 | N/A — no state license | medium | March 2026 |
| Oklahoma(OK) | No | — | No | — | No | $50-$100 | N/A — no state license | medium | March 2026 |
| Oregon(OR) | Yes | Construction Contractors Board (CCB) License | No | — | Yes | $620-$925 | Biennial | medium | March 2026 |
| Pennsylvania(PA) | No | — | No | — | No | $125-$300 | N/A — no state license | medium | March 2026 |
| Rhode Island(RI) | No | — | No | — | No | $150-$400 | N/A — no state license | medium | March 2026 |
| South Carolina(SC) | Yes | General Contractor License | Yes | 3 yrs | No | $385-$950 | Biennial | medium | March 2026 |
| South Dakota(SD) | No | — | No | — | No | $150-$200 | N/A — no state license | medium | March 2026 |
| Tennessee(TN) | Yes | Home Improvement Contractor License (HIC) or Contractor License | Yes | — | No | $370-$840 | Annual | medium | March 2026 |
| Texas(TX) | No | — | No | — | No | $300-$750 | N/A — no state painting contractor license exists | medium | March 2026 |
| Utah(UT) | Yes | Contractor License (S200 General Building Contractor or specialty) | Yes | 2 yrs | Yes | $275-$580 | Biennial (2-year renewal cycle) | medium | March 2026 |
| Vermont(VT) | No | — | No | — | No | $125-$200 | N/A — no state license | medium | March 2026 |
| Virginia(VA) | Yes | DPOR Contractor License (Class A: $120,000+, Class B: $10,000-$120,000, Class C: up to $10,000) | Yes | 2 yrs | Yes | $430-$960 | Biennial (2-year) | medium | March 2026 |
| Washington(WA) | Yes | Contractor Registration | No | — | Yes | $420-$820 | Biennial | medium | March 2026 |
| West Virginia(WV) | No | — | No | — | No | $100-$200 | N/A — no state license | medium | March 2026 |
| Wisconsin(WI) | No | null | No | — | No | $130-$250 | N/A — no state license | medium | March 2026 |
| Wyoming(WY) | No | — | No | — | No | $100-$200 | N/A — no state license | medium | March 2026 |
Painting contractors often work alongside other licensed construction professionals. Explore related licensing requirements.
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See the full comparison table above for all 51 states.
Moving to a new state?
See which states have reciprocity for Painting Contractor licenses and what's required to transfer.
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