STATE LICENSE
NoneSee what applies
There is no statewide general contractor license in Indiana. The real gate is local: Indianapolis Code § 875-101 requires anyone engaging in construction, land alteration, sewer, driveway, or excavation work in the Consolidated City to be a listed contractor, and Allen County's Building Department licenses building, residential, home-improvement, and sub-contractors serving the Fort Wayne area.
One statewide rule does apply to every residential contractor: the Home Improvement Contract Act (IC 24-5-11) requires home improvement contracts over $150 to be in writing with the price, payment schedule, detailed materials description, start and completion dates, and the contractor's name, address, and signature.
The state sets the license floor; the county or city permit office controls filing, inspections, and local rules wherever the job site sits.
The state sets contract rules (IC 24-5-11) and leaves licensing to local government. Indianapolis licenses construction contractors citywide except in the excluded cities of Lawrence, Beech Grove, Speedway, and Southport. Indiana has no statewide contractor license outside plumbing, so the license question is answered where the work is: the Consolidated City of Indianapolis (BNS, Revised Code Chapter 875) runs a real licensing program with bonds and insurance; Allen County's Building Department licenses building, residential, home-improvement, and sub-contractors for the Fort Wayne area; and cities like Lafayette and counties like Monroe run their own electrical boards. The Attorney General's own guidance is that licensing requirements vary from community to community.
The local offices section below names the exact permit desk for every Indiana county on file.
Each row names the issuing authority, cost, timeline, citation, and status behind the requirement — verified against the official source.
Published fees from the issuing authorities, as of October 2026. Local permit fees vary by project and jurisdiction — the basis is stated where a flat number does not exist.
Indianapolis general contractor licenses expire December 31 of even-numbered years — the opposite cycle from electrical, HVAC, and plumbing.
Every new Indianapolis listing, including a business entity change, must attend an orientation class within 60 days of issuance.
Indianapolis requires a typed bond with a stated expiration matching the license cycle; continuous bonds are not accepted.
A practical sequence for a new general contracting contractor in Indiana. Actual agency processing times are noted in the ledger above.
Each item names the issuing authority, cycle, and citation.
Statutory consequences with their citations — not estimates, not “commonly cited” guesses.
Construction, land alteration, sewer, driveway, or excavation work in the Consolidated City requires a listed contractor.
Residential contracts over $150 that are not in writing with the required terms violate the Home Improvement Contract Act.
Advertising, offering, or promising to pay or rebate any part of an insurance deductible to induce a home improvement contract.
Inside city limits, the city office listed here issues the permit; the county office serves unincorporated areas. Every office links to its official page.
Every fact in this file was checked against these official sources on October 2026.
Pending verification: Allen County contractor license fees, bond, and insurance amounts (the Fort Wayne guide section could not be read in full) · Fine amounts for unlicensed contracting under Indianapolis Code Chapter 875 · Civil remedy amounts available to consumers for IC 24-5-11 violations
General information, not legal advice. Always confirm requirements, deadlines, and forms with the issuing authority before filing or contracting.
Store licenses, permits, policies, and renewal dates in one place.