Verify NJ Contractor License: How to Look Up Any Contractor's Registration

Why Verification Matters Before Signing a Contract

New Jersey law requires every contractor performing covered home improvement work valued at $500 or more to carry an active 13VH registration number issued by the Division of Consumer Affairs. Operating without one is a per se violation of the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act, exposing the contractor to serious financial risk. Before you sign a contract or hand over a deposit, a two-minute lookup can confirm whether the contractor you're hiring is legally authorized to work.

The stakes aren't theoretical. An unregistered contractor has no active HIC registration or compliance bond on file, so confirming active registration is an important first check before you hire.

How to Use the DCA Online Verification System

The Division of Consumer Affairs maintains a public license verification portal through its Home Improvement Contractor page. Here's how to run a lookup:

1. Navigate to the verification page — go to the DCA's Regulated Business Section and select "License Verification"
2. Search by business name, owner name, or registration number — if the contractor gave you a 13VH number, enter it directly for the fastest result
3. Review the status field — look for "Active" status with a current expiration date past March 31 of the current year
4. Check the business name match — the name on the verification result must match the entity name on the contract exactly, not a trade name or DBA

If the search returns no results, the contractor either never registered or their registration lapsed. Either way, they cannot legally perform home improvement work exceeding $500 in New Jersey.

What the Registration Number Tells You

Every registered NJ home improvement contractor carries a 13-digit number beginning with "13VH." This number must appear on the contractor's vehicles, business cards, estimates, invoices, and all advertising materials. If a contractor can't produce this number on request, that's a red flag worth taking seriously.

The lookup confirms registration status. Separately, since April 2025, registered HIC contractors must maintain a tiered compliance surety bond ($10,000, $25,000, or $50,000 depending on contract volume) and at least $500,000 in commercial general liability insurance per occurrence.

What Verification Won't Show You

The DCA lookup confirms registration status, but it has limits. It doesn't cover:

• Specialty trade licenses — electrical, plumbing, and HVACR contractors are licensed by separate boards within the DCA. A master electrician's license number won't appear in the HIC verification system.
• Local municipal licenses — cities like Newark and Atlantic City require their own contractor licenses. The state lookup doesn't include these.
• Public works registration — contractors on government-funded projects register through the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, not Consumer Affairs.
• New home builder registration — builders constructing 100% new residential structures register through the Department of Community Affairs, not the HIC program.

What to Do If a Contractor Fails Verification

If your search returns an expired or missing registration, you have several options:

• Ask the contractor directly — sometimes a lapsed registration is a renewal oversight, not a sign of fraud. Give them a chance to show proof of active registration.
• File a complaint with the DCA — the Division's Consumer Protection office accepts complaints online at njconsumeraffairs.gov. An unregistered contractor performing work over $500 faces fines up to $10,000 per violation.
• Hire a verified contractor instead — use the lookup to search by business name, owner name, or registration number and confirm active status.

If you're a contractor navigating the registration process yourself, the New Jersey General Contractor License Guide walks through every step from entity formation through your first active 13VH number, including the compliance bond requirements and insurance minimums that the verification system checks.

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