Two credentials, two checks
A contractor who says they are licensed may mean either of two things. Both matter, and they are not interchangeable.
| Credential | Who needs it | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| Home improvement registration | Contractors who do or offer home improvement work, including kitchen remodeling. | The contractor is registered with the Department of Consumer Protection. It must be held before advertising or starting work. |
| Trade license | People who do electrical, plumbing, heating, HVAC and similar jobs. | The person holds the matching Connecticut license for that trade. It is in addition to the registration. |
| EPA lead-safe certification | Firms paid to disturb painted surfaces in homes built before 1978. | The firm is certified to follow lead-safe work practices. |
Check it yourself in five minutes
- Get the name and number from the contractThe contract has to show the contractor’s name, address and registration number. If it does not, that is the first problem.
- Open the state lookupSearch the Department of Consumer Protection’s license lookup at elicense.ct.gov. You can usually search by name or number.
- Compare what you findCheck that the name and business match the contract, and that the registration is current.
- Ask who does the electrical, plumbing and heatingAsk for each trade person’s name and license number and look them up the same way.
- Ask for the lead-safe certificate if the house is oldHouses built before 1978 call for an EPA lead-safe certified firm if painted surfaces will be disturbed.
- Keep a recordSave a screenshot or printout of each lookup with the contract and the permit papers.
Your checklist
Use this before you sign. Tick each item only when you have confirmed it yourself. Your ticks stay on your own device.
This interactive tool needs JavaScript. The same information is in the text around it.
Red flags
- No registration number on the contract, the estimate or the advertising. Contractors must be registered before they advertise.
- Pressure to sign today. Connecticut gives you a three-day right to cancel, and a good contractor does not need you to rush.
- Changes agreed by handshake. A written contract is required for every home improvement job, including all changes to it.
- A large payment up front with no link to finished work.
- No answer to who is pulling the permit, or a suggestion to skip it.
- Reluctance to give the names and license numbers of the electrician or plumber.
The Home Improvement Guaranty Fund
The Department of Consumer Protection runs a Home Improvement Guaranty Fund. It may offer help to a homeowner who holds a court judgment over poor work but cannot collect from the contractor. It is a last resort, not a replacement for checking first.
If something goes wrong
Complaints about contractors go to the Department of Consumer Protection, with copies of your contract, receipts and permits. The department’s consumer pages describe the complaint form and where to send it. Complaints about this site or a referral are covered in our complaints policy.
About the remodelers we refer
We refer you to remodelers registered in Connecticut, and we still tell you to check. Registration status and trade licenses can change, and only you can see the contract you are about to sign. How it works explains the referral.
Does a small job still need a registered contractor?
The Department of Consumer Protection’s home improvement guide says home improvement work cannot lawfully be performed or offered without a valid registration. If someone says your job is too small to need one, ask the department.
Is a business license the same as a registration?
No. A general business filing says a company exists. The home improvement registration is the one the Department of Consumer Protection issues for this kind of work.
Can I trust a number on a business card?
Look it up. A number on a card or a truck proves nothing until you see it on the state lookup with a matching name.