Do you need a general contractor license in District of Columbia?
Yes, a license. In District of Columbia, anyone engaged in general contracting or construction management must apply for a basic business license with a General Contractor/Construction Manager endorsement, issued in five classes by project value. A Class A license has no project-value limit, and Classes B through E cap a single contract project at $10 million, $5 million, $2 million and $500,000; a license is valid for two years. The definition of general contractor excludes subcontractors working under a licensed general contractor, a person doing general contracting work on his or her own single-family primary residence, and a property owner making minor nonstructural repairs. The District’s statutory general contractor licensing part (D.C. Code § 47-2853.78 et seq.) is marked Not Funded in the official code. Cities and counties can add their own licensing on top of the state’s. This is 17 DCMR §§ 3900, 3901, 3999.
| What | District of Columbia |
|---|---|
| General contractors | General Contractor/Construction Manager license |
Source
Read the statute in the Code of the District of Columbia (DC Council): code.dccouncil.gov.
Checked against the statute on November 13, 2026.
This is a summary of a published statute, not legal advice. Rules change, local ordinances can add to them, and the terms of a specific lease may differ. Check the citation and speak to a lawyer before acting.
How Seayora uses this rule
A contractor on Seayora keeps each license with its issuing state, its expiry date and the last four digits of its number, and the business is warned before one lapses — on the website and both phone apps. A customer finding a pro on Seayora sees whether a license is on file.
Guides on this rule
- Contractor License Requirements by State: Every Trade — Which states require a state license for electricians, plumbers, HVAC, general and home improvement contractors, with the statute for each.
Compare this rule in every state
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