How to File a Complaint Against a Louisiana Contractor

When a licensed contractor in Louisiana performs defective work, abandons a project, or operates outside their classification, the LSLBC has the authority to investigate and impose disciplinary action. Here is how the complaint and enforcement process works.

Who Can File a Complaint

Anyone can file a complaint with the LSLBC — homeowners, other contractors, subcontractors, building inspectors, or municipal officials. You do not need to have a direct contractual relationship with the contractor to report a violation.

Common complaint triggers include:

• Substandard or incomplete work
• Contractor abandonment of a project
• Operating without the proper license classification
• Failure to pay subcontractors or material suppliers after receiving client funds
• Insurance lapses discovered during a project
• Contracting with unlicensed subcontractors

The LSLBC Complaint Process

Step 1: Submit the complaint. File through the LSLBC's online complaint form or its consumer complaint form addressed to Enforcement. Include the contractor's name or license number, a description of the issue, the project address, and any supporting documentation (contracts, photos, correspondence, payment records).

Step 2: Board review. The LSLBC staff reviews the complaint to determine whether it falls within the board's jurisdiction. The LSLBC handles licensing and regulatory violations — it does not arbitrate civil contract disputes over payment amounts or change-order disagreements. If the complaint involves a licensing violation, the board opens an investigation.

Step 3: Investigation. A board investigator may inspect the project site, interview parties, and review documentation. The contractor is notified and given an opportunity to respond. Investigations can take several weeks to several months depending on complexity.

Step 4: Hearing (if warranted). If the investigation finds sufficient evidence of a violation, the board schedules a formal hearing. The contractor can attend, present evidence, and have legal representation.

Step 5: Disciplinary action. If the board finds a violation, penalties can include fines, license suspension, license revocation, mandatory corrective work, or probationary conditions on the license.

What the LSLBC Can and Cannot Do

The board can:

• Fine contractors up to $500 per day per violation
• Suspend or revoke licenses
• Issue stop-work orders
• Require corrective work
• Place conditions on a license (probation, additional training, periodic inspections)

The board cannot:

• Award monetary damages to the complainant
• Order a refund from the contractor to the homeowner
• Enforce contract terms or resolve payment disputes
• Prosecute criminal charges (though it can refer cases to law enforcement)

If you need financial recovery, you will need to pursue that through civil court or small claims court separately. The LSLBC process addresses the licensing and regulatory side only.

Act 757 Expanded Enforcement

The 2026 legislative session gave the LSLBC additional enforcement tools under Act 757. New violations that the board can now pursue include failing to pay for materials when funds have been received from the client, making misrepresentations on permit applications, damaging property to induce a contract, and executing work without providing a good-faith cost estimate.

These additions mean the board can now act on a broader range of contractor misconduct that previously fell outside its explicit statutory authority.

Checking a Contractor Before You Hire

Before hiring a contractor, verify their license status through the LSLBC's public database. You can search by business name, license number, parish, or qualifying party name. The database shows active classifications, insurance status, and any past disciplinary actions.

The Louisiana General Contractor License Guide includes a complete overview of LSLBC compliance requirements — useful for contractors who want to understand exactly what the board expects and how to avoid violations that trigger complaints.

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