DC Home Improvement Contractor License: HIC and HIS Requirements

Why the HIC License Has More Hurdles Than a General Contractor License

If you're doing remodeling, repair, or addition work on one-to-four-family residential properties in DC, you need a Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) license — not a General Contractor license. The distinction matters because the HIC pathway stacks several consumer-protection requirements on top of the standard Basic Business License (BBL) application.

A General Contractor needs class-appropriate CGL insurance; residential GC work can also require sample contracts and a designated HIS. A Home Improvement Contractor needs that plus a $25,000 surety bond, a police background check, sample contracts, and a designated Home Improvement Salesperson. Miss any one of these, and DLCP issues a deficiency notice that stalls your entire application.

The $25,000 Surety Bond

Every HIC applicant must post a $25,000 surety bond before submitting their BBL application. The bond protects residential consumers against fraud or structural negligence and must stay active for the entire two-year license period.

You purchase the bond through a surety company authorized to write bonds in DC. The cost depends on your credit and experience — expect to pay a percentage of the bond amount annually as a premium. Alternatively, you can deposit $25,000 in cash directly with DLCP, though almost no one does this in practice.

The Police Background Check

HIC applicants must submit a certified criminal history report. DC residents get Form PD-70 from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) for a $7 fee. Non-residents need an equivalent report from the police department in their home jurisdiction.

The critical detail: the report must be dated within 30 days of your BBL submission date. If your application processing drags out and you need to resubmit documents, you'll likely need a fresh background check. Budget for this timeline constraint when planning your application.

Sample Contract Requirements

You must submit two blank copies of your pre-printed residential contract. These contracts must comply with 17 DCMR § 3905, which means they must:

• Be designed for execution in at least triplicate (homeowner copy, contractor copy, regulatory copy)
• Include the mandatory "Buyer's Right to Cancel" clause, which grants homeowners the right to cancel before midnight of the third business day after signing
• Provide a specific physical address for cancellation notices — leaving the address blank triggers automatic rejection
• Include performance schedules, payment terms, and change order procedures

Uploading a contract that doesn't match these requirements is one of the most common causes of BBL deficiency notices.

The Home Improvement Salesperson (HIS) Requirement

This is the requirement most first-time applicants overlook entirely. Every HIC must designate at least one licensed Home Improvement Salesperson (HIS). If you're a sole proprietor, you can designate yourself — but you still need a separate HIS license.

The HIS application requires:

• A copy of your driver's license
• A digital passport-style photo
• A separate police background check (Form PD-70)
• An HIS designation letter from the employing HIC
• A $99 biennial licensing fee

You can submit the HIS application simultaneously with your HIC BBL application. Both process through the BOSS portal. If you designate an employee instead of yourself, that individual must maintain their HIS license for the duration of your HIC license — if their HIS lapses, your authority to solicit residential work lapses with it.

The $300 Threshold

One more detail worth knowing: the HIC license is mandatory for any home improvement project where the total contract value exceeds $300. Below that threshold, you can technically operate without one. In practice, almost every residential renovation, kitchen remodel, or bathroom update crosses $300 immediately.

What the General Contractor License Doesn't Cover

If you hold only a General Contractor BBL, you can perform commercial construction and multi-unit residential work — but not single-family home improvement projects above $300. The categories are separate. Many contractors in DC hold both, applying for the HIC license alongside their GC class license.

The District of Columbia General Contractor License Guide covers both pathways side by side, with document assembly checklists for each category.

See more District of Columbia guides →