North Carolina contractor license lookup, and what it tells you.

Check the licence on the official register

Search the NC Licensing Board register

The board says to search by License Name and License Number. Ask the contractor for both and type them exactly as printed on the contract. A second search link, "Find a licensed contractor", opens the board's public portal at portal.nclbgc.org.

When a licence is required

The board's consumer FAQ answers directly: "By law, a general contractor must be licensed if the total project cost is valued at $40,000 or higher." The statute behind it, G.S. 87-1, defines a general contractor as anyone who, for a fixed price, commission, fee or wage, bids on, builds or manages construction of a building, highway, public utilities, grading or other improvement or structure where the cost of the undertaking is $40,000 or more. Below $40,000 this licence is not the test under G.S. 87-1; check the local building department for any other local requirement.

Limited, Intermediate and Unlimited

A North Carolina general contractor licence is classified by the largest single project it covers. The board's 2026 Laws and Regulations book lists:

The statute excludes the cost of the land and ancillary costs to improve it from the project value. So when you read a licence result, compare the classification with the contract price: a Limited licence on a $900,000 build is a mismatch to ask about.

What to compare on the register

• The name and number on the register match the contract, the invoice and the permit.
• The classification covers the project value (the table above).
• The licence is active. The board's FAQ frames the lookup as "Is my contractor's license active?"

Building permits are a second check

G.S. 87-14 requires anyone applying for a building permit on a project of $40,000 or more to show the inspector proof that they, or the person superintending the work, are licensed or exempt, and proof of workers' compensation insurance as required by Chapter 97. An owner who claims the owner-occupant exemption must sign an affidavit that they will personally manage the work and be present for inspections. So if a contractor suggests you pull the permit yourself on a large job, that is a reason to ask why.

Worked example

You are quoted $62,000 to finish a basement. That is above $40,000, so the contractor needs a general contractor licence. You get the licence name and number, search them, and find a Limited licence, which covers up to $750,000 per project: the classification fits. If instead the search finds nothing, or the licence belongs to a different person than the one who signed, stop and ask before paying a deposit.

If something is wrong

The board takes complaints through an online form at portal.nclbgc.org. The board's page also mentions Homeowners Recovery Fund hearings, and the statute (Article 1A, G.S. 87-15.6) establishes the Fund; this page does not describe who qualifies or how much it pays, so read the statute or ask the board.

What this page does not cover

• It does not check any individual licence; the board's register is the source of truth.
• Other trade licences are outside this page; it covers only the general contractor licence.
• Bond and insurance terms beyond the workers' compensation permit proof are not covered.

FAQ

Do I need a licensed contractor in North Carolina?

By law, a general contractor must be licensed if the total project cost is $40,000 or higher, according to the NC Licensing Board for General Contractors.

How do I check a North Carolina contractor license?

Use the board's licence search with the contractor's License Name and License Number.

What do Limited, Intermediate and Unlimited licences mean?

They cap the value of a single project: Limited up to $750,000, Intermediate up to $1,500,000, and Unlimited has no cap.

Can I build my own house without a licence in North Carolina?

G.S. 87-1(b)(2) exempts an owner who builds on their own land for their own occupancy if they follow G.S. 87-14, which includes an affidavit that they will personally manage the work.

Does a building permit require proof of a licence?

For projects of $40,000 or more, yes: the applicant must furnish proof of licensure or exemption and workers' compensation insurance (G.S. 87-14).

How do I file a complaint about a North Carolina contractor?

Through the complaint form on the board's portal, linked from nclbgc.org.

Sources

Retrieved 2026-11-01. Each link was opened and checked against the claim next to it.

• NC Licensing Board for General Contractors: The $40,000 FAQ answer, the licence search instructions, the complaint form and the recovery fund hearing notice. Read through WebFetch, because the site returns 403 to curl.
• NC Licensing Board: 2026 Laws and Regulations (PDF): G.S. 87-1 definition and exemptions, the Limited, Intermediate and Unlimited limits, G.S. 87-14 permit rules and the existence of the Homeowners Recovery Fund in G.S. 87-15.6.