How do I check if a contractor is licensed in Utah?

Q: What should I look for in the results?

Check four things: Status. It should say active. Not expired, not suspended, not revoked. Classification. The license type has to match your job. A B100 general building license covers residential and commercial work. A specialty license, like landscaping or painting, does not cover a remodel. The name. The license should match the business name on your bid. If the bid says one company and the license says another, ask why. Discipline. Citations, fines, or restrictions show up in the record. One old citation is not always a deal breaker. A pattern is.

Q: What else should I verify besides the license?

Three documents: General liability insurance. Ask for a certificate of insurance, called a COI. This covers damage the contractor causes. Workers' compensation. Required if the contractor has employees. It covers injuries on your job. The contract itself. Scope, price, schedule, and the license number in writing. Any established contractor can produce these the same day you ask. Hesitation is an answer too.

What is DOPL?

DOPL is the Utah Division of Professional Licensing. It is the state agency that licenses contractors. Every legitimate general contractor in Utah holds a DOPL license. So do plumbers and electricians.

The lookup is public and free. You do not need an account. Search by business name, personal name, or license number.

What should I look for in the results?

Check four things:

Status. It should say active. Not expired, not suspended, not revoked.
Classification. The license type has to match your job. A B100 general building license covers residential and commercial work. A specialty license, like landscaping or painting, does not cover a remodel.
The name. The license should match the business name on your bid. If the bid says one company and the license says another, ask why.
Discipline. Citations, fines, or restrictions show up in the record. One old citation is not always a deal breaker. A pattern is.

What if a contractor is not licensed?

Walk away. In Utah, unlicensed contracting is illegal above a small handyman threshold. An unlicensed contractor usually has no insurance behind them either. If their work fails or someone gets hurt on your property, you can end up holding the bill.

Price is not a reason to take the risk. The cheap unlicensed bid stops being cheap the first time something goes wrong.

Does a license mean the contractor is good?

No. A license is a floor, not a ceiling. It means the person passed the exams, carries the required insurance, and answers to the state. It does not tell you if their work is clean or their schedule is honest.

So treat the license check as step one. After that, ask for references, look at finished work, and read the contract closely. I wrote a companion piece on the questions worth asking before you sign anything.

What else should I verify besides the license?

Three documents:

General liability insurance. Ask for a certificate of insurance, called a COI. This covers damage the contractor causes.
Workers' compensation. Required if the contractor has employees. It covers injuries on your job.
The contract itself. Scope, price, schedule, and the license number in writing.

Any established contractor can produce these the same day you ask. Hesitation is an answer too.

Why am I telling you this?

Because I pass this test, and the contractors I compete with should too. I hold Utah's B100 general building license. Look me up before you call me. I would rather you check everyone, including me, than trust a logo on a truck.

If you are planning a project in St. George, Salt Lake, or the Wasatch Back, run the lookup on your short list. Then let's talk about the work itself.