Before you hire · Maine
Verify a contractor license in Maine.
Thirty seconds on the official lookup beats a year of regret. Here is where Maine keeps the records, and what to actually check.
The official source
Office of Professional & Occupational Regulation — www.maine.gov/pfr/professionallicensing/
No general contractor license; electricians and plumbers are state-licensed. Maine law does require written contracts for home construction over $3,000.
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
How to collect bids that can actually be compared · Track and compare your quotes (free, no signup)
We list top-rated pros in hundreds of cities — and every listing exists to be verified, not taken on faith. That is the point.