Louisiana General Contractor License Requirements
Official classification: Building Construction classification (Commercial) and Residential Building Contractor license · Issued by the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC).
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In Louisiana, general contractors must hold the Building Construction classification (Commercial) and Residential Building Contractor license, issued by the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC), and no state surety bond is required. Full requirements — experience, exams, fees, insurance, renewal and reciprocity — are detailed below.
How to become a licensed general contractor in Louisiana
Follow these steps to earn your Building Construction classification (Commercial) and Residential Building Contractor license. Every figure is verified against the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC); full detail for each step is further down the page.
- Build the required experience. No fixed statutory experience-hour requirement; the company's qualifying party must pass the required trade and business/law exams.
- Pass the Building Construction trade examination (commercial) and Residential Building Contractor / Business and Law examination exams. Providers, passing scores and fees are in the Exams section below.
- Secure your surety bond. Louisiana requires No board-mandated surety bond. Applicants short of the $10,000 net worth may post a bond/letter of credit for the shortfall as an alternative.
- Line up insurance. You'll need liability insurance (Commercial: not mandated (exempt from the board insurance filing). Residential and Home Improvement: general liability of at least $100,000 required at application and renewal.), and workers' compensation coverage.
- Clear the background check. A Background Financial Investigation is conducted on applicants (the board charges an investigation fee). No statewide criminal fingerprint check is specified in the licensing law.
- Meet the credit / financial requirement. Financial statement showing net worth of at least $10,000 (current within 12 months) for both commercial and residential licenses; a shortfall may be covered by a bond or letter of credit. (The codified law sets $10,000 — not the higher figures some sources cite.)
- Submit your application and fees. Apply through the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC) — License/application fee is capped at $100 by statute; the board also charges processing fees on top — confirm current amounts with LSLBC. application fee, plus a $100 statutory cap (commercial and residential); additional classifications cost extra license fee. Processing time: Variable; applications are acted on at scheduled board meetings.
- Keep the license active. Renew 1, 2, or 3 years (licensee elects); expires on the anniversary of the issue date, completing Residential building contractors: minimum 6 hours annually (waived if also holding a major commercial classification). None required for commercial-only contractors.
Louisiana general contractor license lookup
To confirm a general contractor is properly licensed in Louisiana — or to check the status of your own license — search the issuing agency's official license database. The record shows whether the license is active and in good standing.
License types
- Commercial - Building Construction — Commercial building construction projects of $50,000 or more (labor + materials).
- Residential Building Contractor — New residential construction where the cost exceeds $75,000.
- Home Improvement Registration — Home improvement work between $7,500 and $75,000 (registration, not a full license).
Requirements at a glance
| Experience required | No fixed statutory experience-hour requirement; the company's qualifying party must pass the required trade and business/law exams. |
|---|---|
| Application fee | License/application fee is capped at $100 by statute; the board also charges processing fees on top — confirm current amounts with LSLBC. |
| License fee | $100 statutory cap (commercial and residential); additional classifications cost extra |
| Renewal fee | $100 statutory cap; $50 delinquent fee |
| Renewal period | 1, 2, or 3 years (licensee elects); expires on the anniversary of the issue date |
| Continuing education | Residential building contractors: minimum 6 hours annually (waived if also holding a major commercial classification). None required for commercial-only contractors. |
| Bond required | No board-mandated surety bond. Applicants short of the $10,000 net worth may post a bond/letter of credit for the shortfall as an alternative. |
| Liability insurance | Commercial: not mandated (exempt from the board insurance filing). Residential and Home Improvement: general liability of at least $100,000 required at application and renewal. |
| Property damage | Covered within the general-liability requirement for residential/home improvement |
| Workers' comp | Required under LA Title 23; a certificate must be filed for residential and home-improvement contractors |
| Background check | A Background Financial Investigation is conducted on applicants (the board charges an investigation fee). No statewide criminal fingerprint check is specified in the licensing law. |
| Credit requirement | Financial statement showing net worth of at least $10,000 (current within 12 months) for both commercial and residential licenses; a shortfall may be covered by a bond or letter of credit. (The codified law sets $10,000 — not the higher figures some sources cite.) |
| Reciprocity | As of 2024, LSLBC accepts any out-of-state exam passed without waiver or exemption in a comparable classification — there is no fixed reciprocal-state list, and the business/law portion is never waived. |
| Processing time | Variable; applications are acted on at scheduled board meetings. |
Exams
| Building Construction trade examination (commercial) | Provider: PSI · Passing: Not publicly disclosed · Fee: $50 statutory cap per classification exam |
|---|---|
| Residential Building Contractor / Business and Law examination | Provider: PSI · Passing: Not publicly disclosed · Fee: $50 statutory cap |
Local / municipal notes
Three-tier structure: commercial ($50k+), residential ($75k+ new), and home-improvement registration ($7.5k–$75k). Work below these thresholds generally does not require licensure.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Louisiana general contractor license cost?
Application: License/application fee is capped at $100 by statute; the board also charges processing fees on top — confirm current amounts with LSLBC.. License: $100 statutory cap (commercial and residential); additional classifications cost extra. Renewal: $100 statutory cap; $50 delinquent fee.
How do I look up a general contractor license in Louisiana?
Search the official license database at arlspublic.lslbc.louisiana.gov. The record shows whether the license is active and in good standing.
Do general contractors in Louisiana need a surety bond?
No board-mandated surety bond. Applicants short of the $10,000 net worth may post a bond/letter of credit for the shortfall as an alternative.
What experience is required for a Louisiana general contractor license?
No fixed statutory experience-hour requirement; the company's qualifying party must pass the required trade and business/law exams.
Is insurance required for general contractors in Louisiana?
Liability: Commercial: not mandated (exempt from the board insurance filing). Residential and Home Improvement: general liability of at least $100,000 required at application and renewal. Workers' compensation: Required under LA Title 23; a certificate must be filed for residential and home-improvement contractors
How often must a Louisiana general contractor license be renewed?
1, 2, or 3 years (licensee elects); expires on the anniversary of the issue date. Continuing education: Residential building contractors: minimum 6 hours annually (waived if also holding a major commercial classification). None required for commercial-only contractors.
Official sources
lslbc.gov/types-of-licenses
lslbc.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Rules-Regulations-Effective-March-20-2021.pdf
lslbc.gov/continuing-education
lslbc.gov/exams-classifications