Louisiana Contractor License Verification

Where to Verify

The LSLBC maintains a public license verification database at arlspublic.lslbc.gov. This is the only authoritative source — third-party sites that aggregate contractor data may carry outdated or incomplete records.

The database lets you search by business name, license number, parish, or qualifying party name. For property owners hiring a contractor, it's the fastest way to confirm whether someone actually holds the credential they claim.

What to Check Beyond "Active"

License status is the starting point, but a verification that stops at "active" misses critical details:

Classifications: An active license doesn't mean the contractor is authorized for your specific type of work. A contractor with a commercial Building Construction license can't legally perform residential roofing under Act 422 without the Residential Construction license or Residential Roofing subclassification. Check that the listed classifications cover the scope of your project.

Insurance standing: The LSLBC records whether a residential, HIC, or mold remediation licensee has current insurance certificates on file. Since Act 757 raised the GL minimum to $500,000, a contractor whose policy was renewed at the old $100,000 level may show active status but carry insufficient coverage.

Disciplinary actions: The public database shows past enforcement actions — fines, suspensions, or revocations. A contractor with a reinstated license after a suspension is technically active, but the disciplinary history tells you whether they've had compliance problems.

Qualifying party: The record shows who serves as the contractor's qualifying party. If the qualifying party recently changed, check whether the LSLBC was notified within 30 days and a replacement was designated within the allowed window; the license can be suspended if the qualifier is not replaced.

What the LSLBC Database Doesn't Cover

The state database verifies state licensing only. It does not confirm whether a contractor:

• Has registered with your specific parish or municipality
• Holds a valid local occupational license
• Has pulled building permits for your project
• Carries active workers' compensation (commercial licensees are exempt from filing with the LSLBC)

For local verification, contact your parish permit office directly. In New Orleans, the Department of Safety and Permits maintains its own contractor registration through the One Stop App. In East Baton Rouge, the Permitting and Development Division runs a separate local registration system.

When to Verify

Before signing a contract: Confirm the contractor's license is active, their classifications cover your project scope, and there are no unresolved disciplinary actions.

Before releasing final payment: Verify the license hasn't lapsed or been suspended during the project. Insurance certificates can expire mid-project, and if the contractor didn't renew, any incident during the gap falls outside coverage.

If something goes wrong: The LSLBC accepts complaints against licensed contractors. The public database shows prior disciplinary actions, which helps establish whether a problem is isolated or part of a pattern.

Filing a Complaint

If a contractor performs substandard work, abandons a project, or operates without the proper classification, you can file a complaint through the LSLBC. The board investigates complaints and can impose penalties ranging from fines to license revocation.

For a full understanding of how the licensing system works — from state classifications to parish-level permits — our Louisiana General Contractor License Guide covers the entire regulatory framework.

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