How the District handles contractor licensing
The District's credential for contractors is the basic business license. The D.C. Code says that a person doing business in the District of Columbia must maintain one in accordance with the basic business license subchapter [2]. The DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP), Business Licensing Division, issues it, and its Contractor and Construction Services category names two business activities [1].
A separate law, D.C. Law 25-244, would set up a Board of Construction Managers and General Contractors and lay down eligibility criteria for the licensure of construction managers and "residential and commercial contractors" [3]. A note in the D.C. Code says the new license section depends on the law's fiscal effect being included in an approved budget and financial plan, and that it has not been implemented [4]. By its own terms, the law applies upon the later of January 1, 2026, or 120 days after that inclusion [3].
Contractor activities and what each one lists
The two activities are General Contractor (A, B, C, G & H)/Construction Manager and Home Improvement Contractor. DLCP gives both the same category description: services that involve planning, building, altering, repairing, improving or demolishing a structure or appurtenance, among other tasks [1].
The two document lists share most items, among them liability insurance and tax registration with a Clean Hands certificate, and differ on a few: the general contractor list names a contract, while the home improvement list names a home improvement contract and a police criminal history report [1].
The bond is listed for one activity only. A $25,000 surety bond appears on the Home Improvement Contractor list and not on the General Contractor/Construction Manager list [1].
DLCP also requires every Home Improvement Contractor, and every General Contractor doing residential contracting, to designate at least one home improvement salesperson and maintain a basic business license for that salesperson [1].
License terms and what they cost
DLCP offers the basic business license in 6-month, 2-year and 4-year terms, and the shortest term is limited by activity [1]. As of October 3, 2026, the 6-month license (General Contractor/Construction Manager only) is $49 per six months [1]. The Home Improvement Contractor activity cannot take the 6-month term [1]. As of October 3, 2026, the 2-year license is $99 per two years [1].
DLCP's fee page says a renewal costs the same as the original license fee [5].