Vermont Contractor License Lookup: How to Verify a Contractor

Where to Search for a Vermont Contractor

Vermont maintains two separate public databases for checking on contractors, and they serve different purposes. The first — and most commonly used — is the OPR "Find a Professional" directory run by the Secretary of State's Office of Professional Regulation. The second is the Attorney General's Home Improvement Fraud Registry, which tracks contractors with criminal convictions related to construction fraud.

Neither database requires an account. Both are free and publicly accessible.

Using the OPR Find a Professional Directory

The OPR directory at sos.vermont.gov lets you search by contractor name, business name, or registration number. For each registered contractor, you'll see:

• Registration status — whether the registration is active, expired, or suspended
• Registration type — Individual (sole proprietor, no employees) or Business (one or more employees)
• General liability insurance status — current or lapsed
• Disciplinary history — any administrative actions taken by OPR

This directory only covers contractors registered under the Residential Contractor Registration program (Act 182). If you're looking up a plumber or electrician, those licenses are administered separately by the Department of Public Safety's Division of Fire Safety.

A contractor who only does commercial work or subcontracts exclusively under general contractors may not appear in this database, since OPR registration only applies to direct residential contracts of $10,000 or more.

Checking the Home Improvement Fraud Registry

The Attorney General's office maintains a separate registry of contractors convicted of home improvement fraud under the Vermont Consumer Protection Act. This database is more limited — it only includes individuals with criminal convictions, not civil complaints or OPR disciplinary actions.

You can access it through the AG's website at ago.vermont.gov. It's worth checking alongside the OPR directory, especially for large projects. A contractor could have an active OPR registration while still appearing on the fraud registry from a prior conviction.

What the Lookup Won't Tell You

OPR's jurisdiction is strictly administrative. The directory confirms registration status and insurance, but it doesn't evaluate construction quality, mediate billing disputes, or inspect completed work. If you have a workmanship complaint, the AG's Consumer Assistance Program (CAP) handles those — not OPR.

The lookup also won't confirm local municipal permits or bonds. A contractor with active OPR registration still needs separate building and zoning permits from each municipality where they work. Those are verified through your local town clerk or building department.

Why Contractors Should Monitor Their Own Listing

If you're a registered contractor, your OPR listing is what homeowners see before hiring you. An insurance lapse — even a brief one during a policy renewal — shows as "lapsed" on your public profile until the new COI is uploaded and processed. Municipalities also check this directory before issuing local building permits.

Keep your Certificate of Insurance current in the OPR portal, and verify your listing quarterly. Disciplinary notes, once posted, remain part of your public record.

The Vermont General Contractor License Guide includes direct links to every verification portal, plus a pre-bid checklist for confirming your own compliance before each project.

See more Vermont guides →