Before you hire · Alabama

Verify a contractor license in Alabama.

Thirty seconds on the official lookup beats a year of regret. Here is where Alabama keeps the records, and what to actually check.

The official source

Licensing Board for General Contractorsgenconbd.alabama.gov/

General contractors above a project-value threshold must hold a state license; electricians and plumbers/gas fitters have their own state boards. Search the board site before signing anything.

What to check, in order

  • The license exists and is active — not expired, not suspended. Match the exact business name or license number from the bid.
  • The classification fits your job — a handyman registration is not a roofing license; several states cap the dollar size of jobs by license class.
  • Bond and insurance are current — where the state lookup shows them, read them. Where it doesn't, ask for certificates and call the carrier.
  • Complaint or discipline history — one old complaint means little; a pattern means everything.

Three questions that expose problems fast

  • "What name is your license under?" — evasive answers here end conversations.
  • "Who carries your liability policy?" — legitimate pros answer instantly.
  • "Will the permit be pulled under your license?" — a contractor asking you to pull the permit is often working around a license they don't have.

Keep going

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