Verify a contractor license in Massachusetts.

The official source

Office of Public Safety — CSL / HIC — www.mass.gov/orgs/board-of-building-regulations-and-standards

Structural work needs a Construction Supervisor License; home improvement contractors also register (HIC), which is what qualifies you for the guaranty fund.

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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We list top-rated pros in hundreds of cities — and every listing exists to be verified, not taken on faith. That is the point.