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The Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors issues contractor licenses, among them Commercial and Residential licenses. The statute's contractor definition turns on project value: fifty thousand dollars or more for commercial work and new residential structures, seven thousand five hundred dollars or more for residential improvements or repairs and for mold remediation, and less for some classifications.
Louisiana · Contractor licenseVerified 2026-10-09
State license
License (residential and commercial)
The Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors says its statutes provide for four basic license types; a Commercial license and a Residential license each cover the work the board's Types of Licenses page lists under them. Act No. 422 of the 2025 Regular Session lists building construction, residential construction and home improvement among the major classifications, and the board's July 13, 2026 memorandum gives the changes Act 757 of 2026 made from August 1, 2026, including the liability insurance minimum and the residential roofing rule.
An applicant designates a qualifying party for each classification and for the Louisiana business and law requirement; for Commercial, Residential and Mold applicants, the qualifying party passes any required examination or provides any credential required for a classification, and completes the Business & Law course. The board may exempt any qualifying party from the required examinations, and exempts from testing for a residential construction license a person who holds a building construction license issued by the board
License (residential and commercial). The Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors says its statutes provide for four basic license types; a Commercial license and a Residential license each cover the work the board's Types of Licenses page lists under them. Act No. 422 of the 2025 Regular Session lists building construction, residential construction and home improvement among the major classifications, and the board's July 13, 2026 memorandum gives the changes Act 757 of 2026 made from August 1, 2026, including the liability insurance minimum and the residential roofing rule.
Threshold. The law defines a contractor as a person who undertakes, bids on or offers to construct, supervise, perform or otherwise take charge of work on any building, highway, road, railroad, sewer, grading, excavation, pipeline, public utility structure, project development, housing or other construction undertaking for which the project value is fifty thousand dollars or more when the property is to be used for commercial purposes; any new residential structure for which the project value is fifty thousand dollars or more when the property is used for residential purposes; any improvements or repairs to an existing residential structure for which the project value is seven thousand five hundred dollars or more; or any mold remediation for which the project value is seven thousand five hundred dollars or more. A contractor in the hazardous materials classification is defined by work with a project value of one dollar or more, and the board's Types of Licenses page lists electrical, mechanical and plumbing projects exceeding $10,000 among the projects a Commercial license is required for. Commercial means any construction project except residential structures intended to be primarily occupied as a residence with no more than two separate dwelling units incorporated into one structure. The project value includes the entire cost of the labor, materials, rentals, and all direct and indirect project expenses; the cost of materials, rentals, and direct and indirect expenses is included regardless of who pays the costs or if they are donated.
The statutes of the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC) provide for four basic license types.
A Commercial license is required for: Commercial projects with a value of $50,000 or more (including labor and materials) when the property is to be used for commercial purposes.
"Contractor" means any person who undertakes to, attempts to, or submits a price or bid or offers to construct, supervise, superintend, oversee, direct, perform, or in any manner assume charge of the construction, alteration, repair, improvement, movement, demolition, putting up, tearing down, furnishing labor, or furnishing labor together with material or equipment, or installing material or equipment for any of the following:
La. R.S. 37:2150.1(5)(a), in LSLBC, Contractors Licensing Law and Rules (effective August 1, 2026) · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-08
(i) Any building, highway, road, railroad, sewer, grading, excavation, pipeline, public utility structure, project development, housing, or housing development, improvement, or any other construction undertaking for which the project value is fifty thousand dollars or more when the property is to be used for commercial purposes.
La. R.S. 37:2150.1(5)(a)(i), in LSLBC, Contractors Licensing Law and Rules (effective August 1, 2026) · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-08
(ii) Any new residential structure for which the project value is fifty thousand dollars or more when the property is used for residential purposes.
La. R.S. 37:2150.1(5)(a)(ii), in LSLBC, Contractors Licensing Law and Rules (effective August 1, 2026) · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-08
(iii) Any improvements or repairs to an existing residential structure for which the project value is seven thousand five hundred dollars or more.
La. R.S. 37:2150.1(5)(a)(iii), in LSLBC, Contractors Licensing Law and Rules (effective August 1, 2026) · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-08
(iv) Any mold remediation for which the project value is seven thousand five hundred dollars or more.
La. R.S. 37:2150.1(5)(a)(iv), in LSLBC, Contractors Licensing Law and Rules (effective August 1, 2026) · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-09
(c) A contractor holding a license in the major classification of hazardous materials, or any subclassifications thereunder, is defined in terms of work performed for which the project value is one dollar or more.
La. R.S. 37:2150.1(5)(c), in LSLBC, Contractors Licensing Law and Rules (effective August 1, 2026) · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-09
Electrical/Mechanical/Plumbing projects exceeding $10,000 including labor and materials.
(2) "Commercial " means any construction project except residential structures intended to be primarily occupied as a residence with no more than two separate dwelling units incorporated into one structure.
La. R.S. 37:2150.1(2), in LSLBC, Contractors Licensing Law and Rules (effective August 1, 2026) · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-08
The project value includes the entire cost of the labor, materials, rentals, and all direct and indirect project expenses. The cost of materials, rentals, and direct and indirect expenses shall be included regardless of who pays the costs or if they are donated.
La. R.S. 37:2150.1(4), in LSLBC, Contractors Licensing Law and Rules (effective August 1, 2026) · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-08
License classes
Class
Scope
Source
Building construction
A major classification under the Commercial license, which covers construction undertakings for which the project value is fifty thousand dollars or more when the property is to be used for commercial purposes
A major classification under the Residential license: new residential structures for which the project value is fifty thousand dollars or more when the property is used for residential purposes; a residential contractor also includes any person bidding or performing home improvement for which the project value is seven thousand five hundred dollars or more. The board defines a residential structure as a building or structure used primarily for occupancy by a person as a residence, including single family dwellings and duplexes not more than three floors in height and structures that are part of or adjacent to them
A major classification since Act No. 422. A home improvement contractor takes charge of a home improvement project for which the project value is at least seven thousand five hundred dollars but less than fifty thousand dollars, and shall not perform any structural work that is integral to the structural integrity of any new or existing structure, including footings, foundations, outside walls, skeleton, bearing columns and interior load bearing walls, floor slabs, or roofing systems
A subclassification of residential construction. On and after January 1, 2026, a person who offers, bids on or performs any construction, modification, repair, or maintenance of any portion of a roofing system on a residential structure for which the project value is seven thousand five hundred dollars or more holds the classification of Residential Roofing or Residential Construction, subject to applicable exemptions; for residential roofing only, a building used as a residence with no more than four separate dwelling units in one structure counts as a residential roofing project. A residential roofing contractor passes the residential roofing trade examination and meets all other licensure requirements of a residential contractor
If the residential building contractor also holds a valid, current commercial license in one or more of the major classifications of 1) Building Construction; 2) Highway, Street and Bridge Construction; 3) Heavy Construction; 4) or Municipal and Public Works Construction, the six-hour requirement is considered to have been met.
(b) “Residential contractor” includes both of the following: (i) Any person bidding or performing home improvement for which the project value is seven thousand five hundred dollars or more.
La. R.S. 37:2150.1(24)(b), in LSLBC, Contractors Licensing Law and Rules (effective August 1, 2026) · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-08
Residential structure is defined as a building or structure that is used primarily for occupancy by a person as a residence. Such structures or buildings include but are not limited to single family dwellings and duplexes which are not more than three floors in height and structures that are part of or adjacent to the building or structures to be used as a residence.
(13) "Home improvement contractor" means any person who undertakes or attempts to undertake or submits a price or bid or offers to construct, supervise, superintend, oversee, direct, perform, or in any manner assume charge of a home improvement project for which the project value is at least seven thousand five hundred dollars but less than fifty thousand dollars. A home improvement contractor shall not perform any structural work that is integral to the structural integrity of any new or existing structure, including but not limited to footings, foundations, outside walls, skeleton, bearing columns and interior load bearing walls, floor slabs, or roofing systems to any type.
La. R.S. 37:2150.1(13), in LSLBC, Contractors Licensing Law and Rules (effective August 1, 2026) · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-08
C. Residential roofing is a subclassification of residential construction.
La. R.S. 37:2156.4(C), in LSLBC, Contractors Licensing Law and Rules (effective August 1, 2026) · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-08
A. On and after January 1, 2026, any person who advertises, solicits, undertakes, attempts, offers, or submits a price, bid, quote or estimate to construct, supervise, direct, oversee, or perform any construction, modification, repair, or maintenance of any portion of a roofing system on a residential structure for which the project value is seven thousand five hundred dollars or more shall hold the classification of Residential Roofing or Residential Construction.
La. R.S. 37:2156.4(A), in LSLBC, Contractors Licensing Law and Rules (effective August 1, 2026) · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-08
Subject to applicable exemptions, a person who advertises, solicits, quotes, bids, contracts, supervises, or performs roofing work with a project value of $7,500 or more must hold the Residential Roofing or Residential Construction classification.
D. For purposes of residential roofing only, any structure or building used as a residence and containing no more than four separate dwelling units within a single structure shall be considered a residential roofing project and shall be subject to the same licensure requirements.
La. R.S. 37:2156.4(D), in LSLBC, Contractors Licensing Law and Rules (effective August 1, 2026) · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-08
B. A residential roofing contractor shall pass the residential roofing trade examination and meet all other licensure requirements of a residential contractor.
La. R.S. 37:2156.4(B), in LSLBC, Contractors Licensing Law and Rules (effective August 1, 2026) · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-08
Financial. Net worth of fifty thousand dollars or more for residential and commercial licenses, their subclassifications, and all specialty classifications except labor only specialty; twenty-five thousand dollars or more for home improvement, mold remediation, and labor only specialties. An applicant without the required net worth may satisfy the requirement by submitting an irrevocable letter of credit in the amount of the net worth requirement plus the amount of any negative net worth. Source: La. R.S. 37:2156.1(B)(2), in LSLBC, Contractors Licensing Law and Rules (effective August 1, 2026)
Financial. A financial statement on the board's form, current to within twelve months of the application, prepared and signed by an accountant, bookkeeper, or certified public accountant and signed by the applicant; a current financial statement prepared by a certified public accountant may be attached in lieu of a certified public accountant's signature on the form. Source: La. R.S. 37:2156.1(B)(1), in LSLBC, Contractors Licensing Law and Rules (effective August 1, 2026)
E.(1) An applicant for licensure shall designate a qualifying party for each classification and for the Louisiana business and law requirement. The qualifying party shall meet all application requirements and shall satisfy any examination and credential requirement.
La. R.S. 37:2156.1(E)(1), in LSLBC, Contractors Licensing Law and Rules (effective August 1, 2026) · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-08
Examinations – For Commercial, Residential and Mold Applicants, a Qualifying Party(s) must be added to the license and must pass any examination(s) and/or provide any credential required for a classification.
(4) The board may exempt any qualifying party from the required examinations. The board shall exempt from testing for a residential construction license any person who holds a building construction license that was issued by the board.
La. R.S. 37:2156.1(E)(4), in LSLBC, Contractors Licensing Law and Rules (effective August 1, 2026) · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-08
(2) Residential and commercial licenses, their subclassifications, and all specialty classifications with the exception of labor only specialty, shall have a net worth of fifty thousand dollars or more. Home improvement, mold remediation, and labor only specialties shall have a net worth of twenty-five thousand dollars or more. An applicant without the net worth required by this Paragraph may satisfy the net worth requirement for all purposes by submitting an irrevocable letter of credit in the amount of the net worth requirement plus the amount of the applicant’s negative net worth if any.
La. R.S. 37:2156.1(B)(2), in LSLBC, Contractors Licensing Law and Rules (effective August 1, 2026) · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-08
An applicant shall submit a financial statement on a form supplied by the board, current to within twelve months of the date of filing the application, prepared and signed by an accountant, bookkeeper, or certified public accountant and signed by the applicant, attesting the statement is true and correct. In lieu of a signature by a certified public accountant on the board’s form, a current financial statement prepared by a certified public accountant may be attached.
La. R.S. 37:2156.1(B)(1), in LSLBC, Contractors Licensing Law and Rules (effective August 1, 2026) · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-08
Residential construction, its subclassifications and specialties, mold remediation, and home improvement applicants and licensees must maintain at least $500,000 in liability insurance or qualifying liability protection through an authorized liability trust fund.
Residential construction and its subclassifications, mold remediation, and home improvement applicants shall be required to submit certificates evidencing workers‘ compensation coverage in compliance with Title 23 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, and liability insurance in a minimum amount of five hundred thousand dollars or liability protection provided by a liability trust fund as authorized by R.S. 22:46(9)(d) in a minimum amount of five hundred thousand dollars.
La. R.S. 37:2156.1(F)(1), in LSLBC, Contractors Licensing Law and Rules (effective August 1, 2026) · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-08
(3) Coverage shall be for a minimum of six months and shall include all scopes of work for which an applicant is licensed to perform.
La. R.S. 37:2156.1(F)(3), in LSLBC, Contractors Licensing Law and Rules (effective August 1, 2026) · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-08
(4) The policy shall list the board as a certificate holder.
La. R.S. 37:2156.1(F)(4), in LSLBC, Contractors Licensing Law and Rules (effective August 1, 2026) · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-08
Required workers' compensation and liability protection must remain continuously in effect while the license or registration is active.
B. (1) An applicant and a qualifying party for a license or registration shall be a United States citizen or legal resident of the United States.
La. R.S. 37:2156.1(B)(1), in LSLBC, Contractors Licensing Law and Rules (effective August 1, 2026) · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-08
C. The applicant, each principal, and each designated qualifying party shall complete an application and pass a background investigation.
La. R.S. 37:2156.1(C), in LSLBC, Contractors Licensing Law and Rules (effective August 1, 2026) · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-08
Fees
Fee
Amount
As of
Source
Basic license fee: set by the board at not more than one hundred dollars by statute; the fee for additional classifications is a lesser amount set by the board
Additional fee of one hundred dollars per year on each license renewal, dedicated to accredited construction management or construction technology schools; the renewal form offers an optional election not to participate
Classification fee for adding a classification to an existing license (charged initially for 1 year; more may be due if the license was renewed for multiple years)
Business and Law course fee on the form for adding a classification to an existing license, required to take or hold the Business and Law for the company, even if previously taken
Exam research/waiver fee on the form for adding a classification to an existing license, charged by LSLBC where no trade exam is required (reciprocity, a previously passed exam or other reasons); trade exam fees are collected by PSI when the qualifying party registers for an exam
however, the basic license fee shall be the sum of not more than one hundred dollars and the fee for additional classifications shall be a lesser amount as set by the board.
La. R.S. 37:2156(B)(1), in LSLBC, Contractors Licensing Law and Rules (effective August 1, 2026) · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-08
Contractors Licensing Law – LA R.S. 37 / Rules & Regulations Effective August 01, 2026 (CURRENT VERSION)
K. (1) The board shall assess on each license renewal issued to a contractor an additional fee of one hundred dollars per year to be dedicated and allocated as provided in this Subsection to any public university in this state or any community college school of construction management or construction technology in this state that is accredited by either the American Council for Construction Education or the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. The board shall include on each license renewal form issued to a contractor an optional election whereby the contractor may choose to not participate in the remission of the additional one-hundred-dollar dedication fee.
La. R.S. 37:2156(K)(1), in LSLBC, Contractors Licensing Law and Rules (effective August 1, 2026) · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-08
1. Classification Fee (per classification per year*) $95.00
Note: The classification fee is initially charged for 1 year; however, if your company renewed for multiple years then additional classification fees may be due at the end of the Add Class process of $95.00 per year per classification.
Please note: In instances where no trade exam is required due to reciprocity, previously passed exam, or other reasons, an Exam Research/Waiver Fee of $150.00 will be charged by LSLBC after the Qualifying Party has been approved, but before being added to the license.
Effective August 5, 2025, All trade exams will be administered by PSI Exams. Trade exam fees will be collected directly through PSI when the Qualifying Party registers for an exam.
Term and renewal. Licenses expire on the anniversary of the date on which the license was originally issued. Licensees elect upon renewal one-, two-, or three-year renewal terms, but licenses dependent on insurance requirements or certifications are not eligible for multiple-year renewal. A license not renewed within one year from its expiration is no longer eligible for renewal; an application for a new license may be submitted.
Continuing education. A residential building contractor completes a minimum of six (6) hours of continuing education annually by a board-approved provider; the requirement is considered met if the contractor also holds a valid, current commercial license in building construction; highway, street and bridge construction; heavy construction; or municipal and public works construction.
H. (1) Licenses and renewals issued pursuant to the provisions of this Chapter shall expire on the anniversary of the date on which the license was originally issued. Licensees shall elect upon renewal one-, two-, or three-year license renewal terms,
La. R.S. 37:2156(H)(1), in LSLBC, Contractors Licensing Law and Rules (effective August 1, 2026) · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-08
Licenses dependent on insurance requirements or certifications shall not be eligible for multiple-year renewal.
La. R.S. 37:2156(H)(1), in LSLBC, Contractors Licensing Law and Rules (effective August 1, 2026) · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-08
J. If a license is not renewed within a period of one year from the date of its expiration, it is no longer eligible for renewal. An application for a new license may be submitted and upon approval, a new license shall be issued.
La. R.S. 37:2156(J), in LSLBC, Contractors Licensing Law and Rules (effective August 1, 2026) · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-08
A residential building contractor is required to complete a minimum of six (6) hours of continuing education annually by a board-approved provider.
Engaging in the business of contracting, or acting as a contractor as the chapter defines it, without an active license is unlawful; on conviction the fine is not to exceed five hundred dollars per day of violation, or three months in prison, or both. A person without a license from the board who violates the section and causes harm or damage to another in excess of three hundred dollars faces, on conviction, a fine of five hundred to five thousand dollars, or imprisonment with or without hard labor for six months to five years, or both. Separately, a person who violates any provision of the chapter is liable to the board, after notice and a hearing, for a fine of up to ten percent of the total contract or the value of the work bid or being performed.
A. (1) It shall be unlawful for any person to engage or to continue in this state in the business of contracting, or to act as a contractor as defined in this Chapter, unless he holds an active license as a contractor in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter.
La. R.S. 37:2163(A)(1), in LSLBC, Contractors Licensing Law and Rules (effective August 1, 2026) · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-08
C. (1) Anyone found to be in violation of this Section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined a sum not to exceed five hundred dollars per day of violation, or three months in prison, or both.
La. R.S. 37:2163(C)(1), in LSLBC, Contractors Licensing Law and Rules (effective August 1, 2026) · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-08
(2) Notwithstanding any action taken by the board, any person who does not possess a license from the board and violates any of the provisions of this Section, and causes harm or damage to another in excess of three hundred dollars, upon conviction, shall be fined not less than five hundred dollars nor more than five thousand dollars, or imprisoned, with or without hard labor, for not less than six months nor more than five years, or both.
La. R.S. 37:2163(C)(2), in LSLBC, Contractors Licensing Law and Rules (effective August 1, 2026) · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-08
A. Any person who violates any provision of this Chapter shall, after notice and a hearing, be liable to the board for a fine of up to ten percent of the total contract or the value of the work bid or being performed for which there is a violation.
La. R.S. 37:2164(A), in LSLBC, Contractors Licensing Law and Rules (effective August 1, 2026) · Official text · retrieved 2026-10-08
The statute's definition of a contractor turns on project value: fifty thousand dollars or more for commercial property or a new residential structure, seven thousand five hundred dollars or more for improvements or repairs to an existing residential structure or for mold remediation, and one dollar or more for hazardous materials work [4]. The board requires a Commercial license for electrical, mechanical and plumbing projects exceeding $10,000 [1].
Classifications and qualifying parties
Act No. 422 of 2025 names building construction, residential construction and home improvement among the major classifications [2]. A home improvement contractor takes charge of projects of at least seven thousand five hundred dollars but less than fifty thousand dollars and may not perform structural work integral to a structure's structural integrity, such as footings, foundations, load bearing walls, floor slabs or roofing systems [4].
Residential roofing is a subclassification of residential construction. On and after January 1, 2026, roofing work on a residential structure with a project value of seven thousand five hundred dollars or more requires the Residential Roofing or Residential Construction classification, and for roofing only, a residence with up to four dwelling units counts as a residential roofing project [4].
An applicant must designate a qualifying party for each classification and for the business and law requirement [4]. For Commercial, Residential and Mold applicants, that person must pass any required exam or provide any required credential and complete the Business & Law course [6].
The statute requires a net worth of fifty thousand dollars or more for residential and commercial licenses, their subclassifications and every specialty except labor only, and twenty-five thousand dollars or more for home improvement, mold remediation and labor only specialties, with an irrevocable letter of credit allowed in its place [4].
From August 1, 2026, residential construction (with its subclassifications and specialties), mold remediation and home improvement applicants and licensees must maintain at least $500,000 in liability insurance or liability coverage through an authorized liability trust fund [3]. Residential construction (with its subclassifications), mold remediation and home improvement applicants must also submit workers' compensation certificates under Title 23 [4], and both coverages must remain continuously in effect while the license or registration is active [3].
Cost, term and education
As of August 1, 2026, the statute caps the basic license fee at one hundred dollars, with a lesser board-set amount for additional classifications [4]. As of January 30, 2026, the board's form for adding a classification to an existing license lists a $95 classification fee per classification per year [8].
A license expires on the anniversary of its original issue. At renewal the licensee must elect a one-, two- or three-year term, but licenses tied to insurance or certifications cannot renew for multiple years; after a year unrenewed, a license is no longer eligible for renewal and a new application may be filed [4].
Residential building contractors must complete at least six hours of continuing education a year with a board-approved provider, a requirement treated as met when they also hold a current commercial license in building construction, highway, street and bridge construction, heavy construction, or municipal and public works construction [5].
Penalties under the licensing law
Contracting without an active license is unlawful. On conviction, the penalty is a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars per day of violation, or three months in prison, or both [4]. Where an unlicensed violator causes harm or damage over three hundred dollars, the penalty on conviction is a fine of five hundred to five thousand dollars, or imprisonment, with or without hard labor, for six months to five years, or both [4]. After notice and a hearing, a person who violates any provision of the chapter is liable to the board for a fine of up to ten percent of the total contract or the value of the work bid or being performed [4].
