Do you need a general contractor license in Rhode Island?
Yes, a registration. In Rhode Island, a person may not undertake, offer or bid to do work as a contractor on a commercial building or any building containing a residence without a current certificate of registration from the contractors’ registration and licensing board. A contractor is anyone who, in an independent business, constructs, alters, repairs, improves, moves or demolishes a structure. Cities, towns and the state may not issue a building permit to a contractor who must be registered and is not. Cities and counties can add their own licensing on top of the state’s. This is R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 5-65-1, 5-65-3.
| What | Rhode Island |
|---|---|
| General contractors | Registration with the Contractors’ Registration Board |
Source
R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 5-65-1, 5-65-3
Read the statute in the Rhode Island General Laws (Rhode Island General Assembly): webserver.rilegislature.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.
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The same question in other states
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