Painting is one of the least-licensed trades in the country, and that’s exactly why the rules trip people up. There’s no federal painting license and no national exam. What exists is a patchwork: a handful of states with true painting classifications (California’s C-33, Arizona’s R-34, Nevada’s C-4), a bigger group that sweeps painters into general contractor or home improvement registration, and 21 states that don’t license painters at all.
The one rule that applies everywhere is federal. EPA’s lead Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) rule covers paid work that disturbs paint in homes built before 1978, whether you’re in Alabama or Wyoming. A painter in a “no license” state can still get fined five figures per violation for skipping it.
We checked all 50 states and DC against the licensing agency, statute or regulation wherever we could find one, and we flag the few spots where we couldn’t. Current as of November 2026.
Quick answer: 26 states plus DC require a license or registration for at least some paid painting work, usually above a dollar threshold. 3 more (Massachusetts, New York and North Carolina) regulate it partly or locally. 21 states have no statewide painting requirement. Separately, EPA’s lead rule applies in all 50 states to paint-disturbing work in pre-1978 homes.
On this page
The Big Picture
States regulate painters in three different ways, and knowing which kind of state you’re in tells you most of what you need to know.
1. A real painting classification. These states license painting as its own trade inside a contractor licensing system, usually with exams, experience requirements and a bond: California (C-33), Hawaii (C-33), Arizona (R-34, C-34, CR-34), Nevada (C-4), Utah (S270, shared with drywall and plaster), Tennessee (BC-11), Virginia (the PTC specialty) and Arkansas (home improvement specialty No. 28). South Carolina names “Painters/Wallpaperers” on the residential side and puts commercial painting under Nonstructural Renovation.
2. A general license or registration that catches painters. Here painting isn’t its own classification; it’s swept into a contractor or home improvement license or registration that applies to anyone working on someone else’s property. Washington, Oregon, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Maryland, Rhode Island, Vermont, Iowa, Idaho, Nebraska, Montana, Alaska and DC work this way. Expect insurance and sometimes a bond; only Oregon and Maryland add an exam. Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and North Dakota license by job size instead, so painters only cross the line on bigger jobs.
3. No state rule. 21 states have no statewide painting requirement. Painting also gets carved out on purpose in places that otherwise regulate contractors: West Virginia’s contractor law excludes painting by name, Michigan dropped it from its maintenance and alteration license in 2018, New York City excludes paint-only work from its home improvement license, Massachusetts covers exterior painting but not interior, and Florida bars cities and counties from licensing painters at all.
For most painting businesses, the dollar threshold matters more than the license name. The line sits at $300 in DC, $500 in South Carolina, $1,000 in California, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon and Virginia, $1,500 in Hawaii, $2,000 in Arkansas and Idaho, $4,000 in North Dakota, $7,000 in Utah, $7,500 in Louisiana, and $10,000 in Vermont, Alabama and Mississippi. If your typical job is a $3,500 interior repaint, those numbers decide whether you need a license at all.
Where You Need a Painting License or Registration
These are the 26 states plus DC that require a license or registration for at least some paid painting work, followed by the three that regulate it only partly or locally. Thresholds are labor plus materials unless noted.
| State | What You Need | When It Kicks In | Painting Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | HBLB license (residential); GC Board license (commercial) | Residential jobs over $10,000; commercial $100,000+ | — |
| Alaska | Specialty contractor registration | Any paid job (handyman tier up to $10,000) | — |
| Arizona | ROC license | $1,000+ or any permit | R-34 / C-34 / CR-34 |
| Arkansas | Home improvement license | Residential over $2,000; commercial $50,000+ | Specialty No. 28 |
| California | CSLB license | $1,000+, any permit, or any employee | C-33 |
| Connecticut | Home improvement registration | Residential jobs over $200 | — |
| District of Columbia | Home improvement license | Residential contracts of $300+ | — |
| Hawaii | Contractor license | Over $1,500 or any permit | C-33 |
| Idaho | Contractor registration | Projects over $2,000 | — |
| Iowa | Contractor registration | $2,000+ a year | — |
| Louisiana | Home improvement registration; residential or commercial license | Residential $7,500+ (license over $50,000); commercial $50,000+ | — |
| Maryland | MHIC license | Residential painting, interior or exterior | — |
| Mississippi | Residential remodeler license; commercial certificate | Residential over $10,000; commercial $50,000+ | — |
| Montana | Contractor registration | Any contractor with employees | — |
| Nebraska | Contractor registration | Any contractor doing business in NE | — |
| Nevada | NSCB license | $1,000+ or any permit | C-4 (C-4a–C-4g) |
| New Jersey | Home improvement registration | Residential home improvement | — |
| North Dakota | Contractor license | Jobs over $4,000 | — |
| Oregon | CCB license | Any paid job (narrow exemption under $1,000) | — |
| Pennsylvania | HICPA registration | $5,000+ a year residential | — |
| Rhode Island | Contractor registration | Residential work | — |
| South Carolina | Residential specialty registration; commercial license | Residential over $500; commercial over $10,000 | Painters/Wallpaperers; Nonstructural Renovation |
| Tennessee | State license; home improvement license in 9 counties | $25,000+ statewide; residential $3,000–$25,000 in listed counties | BC-11 |
| Utah | DOPL license | $7,000+ (insurance affirmation over $3,000) | S270 |
| Vermont | Residential contractor registration | Residential contracts of $10,000+ | — |
| Virginia | DPOR contractor license | Jobs over $1,000 | PTC |
| Washington | L&I specialty registration | Any paid job | — |
| Partial or local regulation | |||
| Massachusetts | HIC registration (exterior only) | Exterior work on owner-occupied 1–4 family homes | — |
| New York | Local only (Nassau, Suffolk, Yonkers; NYC if part of a remodel) | Varies by county or city | Suffolk commercial painter license |
| North Carolina | GC license may apply | $40,000+ | — |
The Federal Rule Every Painter Needs: EPA RRP
The license question changes from state to state, but this one doesn’t. EPA’s Renovation, Repair and Painting rule applies to anyone paid to disturb painted surfaces in housing built before 1978 or in child-occupied facilities such as schools and day cares. Painting is literally in the rule’s name.
- Firm certification. The company needs RRP firm certification. EPA charges $300 for five years. In the 15 authorized states you certify with the state instead.
- A certified renovator on every job. At least one certified renovator, trained in an 8-hour accredited course, is assigned to each job, directs the lead-safe work, and trains the rest of the crew on site. The refresher keeps you certified for five years with a hands-on component, three without.
- The minor-repair exception is small. The rule doesn’t kick in if you disturb less than 6 square feet per interior room or 20 square feet on the exterior. Window replacement never qualifies for the exception.
- Banned methods. Open-flame burning or torching, machine sanding, grinding or blasting without a HEPA shroud and vacuum, and heat guns at 1,100°F or hotter are prohibited on regulated jobs, whatever the job size.
- Paperwork. Give the owner or occupant EPA’s Renovate Right pamphlet before work starts, and keep your records for three years.
- Penalties. Up to $49,772 per violation, per day, at EPA’s 2025 inflation-adjusted figure.
The 15 states that run their own program: Alabama, Delaware, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin. Most mirror EPA’s rule. Vermont is stricter: its trigger is 1 square foot per interior room, and it requires a state firm license plus a licensed supervisor on site. Everywhere else, you certify through EPA’s RRP program.
Recent Law Changes You Need to Know
If you only read one section: Utah’s no-license ceiling jumped to $7,000. California’s is $1,000, but only if you have no employees and no permit. South Carolina’s commercial line moved to $10,000, and Washington’s bonds more than doubled. Vermont’s lead rules are stricter than EPA’s.
Small-job ceiling raised: Utah’s exemption goes from $3,000 to $7,000
Utah’s HB 483 (2024) raised the unlicensed small-job limit from $3,000 to just under $7,000 in labor and materials. The catch: jobs over $3,000 require a one-time affirmation to DOPL that you carry liability insurance (and workers’ comp for any employees). Utah’s insurance floor was also in motion in 2026, reportedly rising to $1,000,000 / $2,000,000 by rule. Check DOPL’s current number before you renew.
Minor-work exemption doubled: California’s $1,000 rule (2025)
AB 2622 raised California’s minor-work exemption from $500 to $1,000 on January 1, 2025, with three conditions: no building permit, no employees on the job, and ads that say you’re not licensed. A separate law, SB 1455, pushed the requirement for every CSLB licensee to carry workers’ comp from 2026 to January 1, 2028.
Commercial threshold doubled: South Carolina’s line moves to $10,000
Act 69 of 2023 raised the point where South Carolina’s Contractor’s Licensing Board license applies from $5,000 to $10,000. Commercial painting sits in the Nonstructural Renovation classification.
Commercial threshold doubled: Alabama goes to $100,000
Act 2024-277 moved the Alabama General Contractors board’s threshold from $50,000 to $100,000 on October 1, 2024. Residential work over $10,000 is still the Home Builders Licensure Board’s territory.
Bonds more than doubled: Washington (July 2024)
Washington’s specialty contractor bond went from $6,000 to $15,000 and the general contractor bond from $12,000 to $30,000 on July 1, 2024. Existing registrants phase in the new amounts at renewal over two years.
Fees up: Oregon and Nebraska
Oregon’s CCB raised its application fee from $325 to $400 on July 1, 2025. Nebraska’s contractor registration became $40 a year on August 1, 2026.
New license coming: Rhode Island structural work (2028)
Starting January 1, 2028, Rhode Island adds a license for new-home builders and structural remodelers. According to the board, nonstructural home improvement and commercial work are excluded, so painters should stay on plain registration.
Stricter than EPA: Vermont’s own lead program
Vermont’s RRPM program has been EPA-authorized since October 1, 2022. It’s tougher than the federal rule: a 1-square-foot trigger per interior room, a state firm license, and a licensed supervisor on site for the whole job.
Old guides still get these wrong: Michigan, Florida and West Virginia
Michigan took painting out of its maintenance and alteration license in 2018 (Public Act 527). Florida’s local painting registrations ended after July 1, 2023 under HB 735. And West Virginia’s contractor law excludes painting outright. If a guide tells you otherwise, it’s out of date.
State-by-State Breakdown
Every state and DC, with the agency, what triggers the requirement, and the lead-program detail that matters for pre-1978 work. Red chips in the jump bar are states that require a license or registration.
Jump to your state
Alabama License Over $10K (Residential)
Issuing Agency: Alabama Home Builders Licensure Board (residential) and Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors (commercial)
Residential: Alabama has no painting-specific license. The Home Builders Licensure Board licenses residential remodeling, repair and improvement work once the job costs more than $10,000, so a whole-house repaint can cross the line. Under that, you need local business licenses only.
Commercial: Since October 1, 2024 (Act 2024-277), the General Contractors board’s license applies to commercial jobs of $100,000 or more, up from $50,000.
Lead: Alabama runs its own EPA-authorized lead program, so firms working on pre-1978 homes certify with the state instead of EPA.
Alaska Registration Required
Issuing Agency: Alaska Division of Corporations, Business & Professional Licensing
What you need: Alaska makes contractors register with the state, and painters register as specialty contractors. Registration means a surety bond, liability insurance, and workers’ comp if you have employees. There’s no painting exam.
Bonds: $10,000 for a specialty contractor. If every job stays at or under $10,000 in labor and materials, you can register as a handyman instead and post a $5,000 bond.
Insurance: State law (AS 08.18.101) sets the floor at $20,000 for property damage and $50,000 per person / $100,000 per occurrence for bodily injury.
Arizona License Required ($1,000+)
Issuing Agency: Arizona Registrar of Contractors (ROC)
Classifications: R-34 Painting and Wall Covering (residential), C-34 Painting and Wall Covering (commercial), or the dual CR-34. The C-34 scope covers surface prep plus paint, wallpaper, wall covering, decorative texture, and liquid floor and wall coatings.
When it kicks in: At $1,000 in labor and materials, or on any job that needs a building permit. The handyman exemption below that is for casual or minor work only, and exempt workers must advertise as “not a licensed contractor.”
Residential extras: Residential licensees pay into the Residential Contractors’ Recovery Fund or post a separate $200,000 bond, on top of the license bond. The qualifying party has to pass the ROC’s exams.
Unlicensed work: Contracting without a license is a class 1 misdemeanor (A.R.S. 32-1164), and an unlicensed contractor can’t sue to collect (A.R.S. 32-1153).
Arkansas License Over $2,000 (Residential)
Issuing Agency: Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board
Residential: A home improvement license is required once a residential project is more than $2,000 in labor and materials. Painting has its own home improvement specialty, No. 28 “Painting, Wallcovering.” A Residential Remodeler license covers every specialty at once.
Commercial: A commercial license applies at $50,000 or more in labor and materials.
Lead: EPA runs the lead RRP program here, so pre-1978 jobs need federal firm and renovator certification.
California License Required ($1,000+)
Issuing Agency: Contractors State License Board (CSLB)
Classification: C-33 Painting and Decorating. You need four years of journey-level experience within the last ten years, the Law & Business exam plus the C-33 trade exam (PSI charged $51.43 per exam in 2025), and a $25,000 contractor bond.
The $1,000 line: Since January 1, 2025 (AB 2622), unlicensed work is legal only under $1,000 in labor and materials, only when no permit is needed, and only if you don’t employ anyone on the job. Unlicensed ads must say you’re not licensed, and bidding a job over $1,000 without a license can bring enforcement on its own.
Workers’ comp: C-33 licensees with no employees can still certify exempt. The rule requiring every licensee to carry workers’ comp was pushed from 2026 to January 1, 2028 (SB 1455).
Unlicensed work: Business and Professions Code 7031 bars an unlicensed contractor from suing to get paid and lets the customer sue to recover everything already paid.
Colorado No State License
Colorado has no statewide painting or general contractor license. Denver and some other cities license contractors who pull building permits, and paint-only work rarely needs a permit.
Still required: Secretary of State business registration and any city business license. EPA runs the lead RRP program here, so pre-1978 jobs need federal firm and renovator certification.
Connecticut Registration Required
Issuing Agency: Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP)
What you need: Home Improvement Contractor registration. The statute doesn’t name painting, but its definition (repair, remodeling and improvement of a residence) is broad. Treat residential repaints as covered, and get DCP’s answer if you’re unsure.
Threshold: The statutory definition starts at jobs over $200, and DCP’s contractor guide says you must register once you charge more than $1,000 in home improvement contracts within 12 months.
Cost and insurance: $220 a year, and registrations lapse March 31. You need general liability coverage of at least $20,000. Salespeople who sell your jobs need their own salesperson registration.
Delaware Business License Only
Issuing Agency: Delaware Division of Revenue
Delaware has no trade license for painting, but every contractor needs a state business license ($75 a year, renewed by December 31) and pays gross receipts tax of 0.6537% after a $100,000-a-month exclusion.
Out-of-state painters: Non-resident contractors post a bond equal to 6% of any Delaware contract over $20,000, and the business that hires them files Form 5060 within 10 days.
Lead: Delaware runs its own EPA-authorized RRP program through the Division of Public Health.
District of Columbia License Required ($300+)
Issuing Agency: DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP)
What you need: A Home Improvement Contractor basic business license for residential contracts of $300 or more. Repeat contracts with the same homeowner within 12 months are added together. The regulation doesn’t name painting, but it defines home improvement as any alteration, improvement, repair or replacement of residential property.
Requirements: A $288.20 fee, a $25,000 surety bond, liability insurance, tax registration, a police criminal history report, and at least one licensed Home Improvement Salesperson.
Lead: Pre-1978 work also needs EPA RRP certification.
Florida No State License
Florida doesn’t license painters at the state level. HB 735 (2021) also bars counties and cities from licensing job scopes the state doesn’t license, and painting is one of them. Local painting registrations that existed before 2021 were phased out after July 1, 2023.
Still required: A local business tax receipt, workers’ comp once you hire, and EPA RRP certification for pre-1978 homes. If you add work the state does license, such as roofing or structural repair, the state construction licensing rules apply.
Georgia No State License
Georgia’s contractor licensing law lists “Painting and Special Coatings” as a traditional specialty trade, outside both the residential and the general contractor license. No state license and no exam.
Still required: A local occupation tax certificate (Georgia’s business license). Georgia is EPA-authorized for RRP, so firms doing pre-1978 work certify with the state’s lead program.
Hawaii License Over $1,500
Issuing Agency: Hawaii Contractors License Board
Classification: C-33 Painting and decorating contractor, with sub-classes C-33a Wall coverings, C-33b Taping and C-33c Surface treatment.
When it kicks in: Hawaii’s exemption covers work of $1,500 or less in labor and materials, and only when no building permit is needed (HRS 444-2). Above that, you need the license, which takes documented experience and the board’s exams.
Lead: EPA runs the lead RRP program here, so pre-1978 jobs need federal firm and renovator certification.
Idaho Registration Over $2,000
Issuing Agency: Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses
What you need: Contractor registration, not a license (no exam), once a project tops $2,000.
Insurance: $300,000 in general liability, plus workers’ comp if you have employees. Registration renews every year.
Lead: EPA runs the lead RRP program here, so pre-1978 jobs need federal firm and renovator certification.
Illinois No State License
Illinois licenses roofers, not painters, and has no state general contractor license.
Local: Chicago and many suburbs license general contractors for permitted work, and paint-only jobs rarely pull permits. EPA runs the lead RRP program here, so pre-1978 jobs need federal firm and renovator certification.
Indiana No State License
Indiana has no state painting or general contractor license. Indianapolis and other cities license contractors for permitted work.
EPA runs the lead RRP program here, so pre-1978 jobs need federal firm and renovator certification.
Iowa Registration ($2,000+/yr)
Issuing Agency: Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing
What you need: Contractor registration once you earn $2,000 or more a year in construction, and the state names painters explicitly. The fee is $50, with no exam.
Lead: Iowa runs its own EPA-authorized lead program, so firms and renovators working on pre-1978 housing certify with the state.
Kansas No State License
Kansas has no state painting license. Some cities and counties license contractors, mostly for permitted work.
Lead: Kansas runs its own EPA-authorized RRP program through KDHE, so firms doing pre-1978 work certify with the state.
Kentucky No State License
Kentucky licenses electrical, plumbing and HVAC work, not painting, and has no state general contractor license.
Local business licenses and occupational taxes apply. EPA runs the lead RRP program here, so pre-1978 jobs need federal firm and renovator certification.
Louisiana Registration $7,500+
Issuing Agency: Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC)
Residential: Home improvement work on an existing home is regulated from $7,500, and past $50,000 it needs a residential license.
Commercial: A commercial license applies at $50,000 or more, and subcontractors and specialty trades on those jobs need one too.
Lead abatement: Louisiana licenses lead-based paint abatement and removal from the first dollar. That’s abatement, not routine repainting. Ordinary pre-1978 renovation falls under EPA’s RRP rule.
Maine No State License
Maine has no state painting or general contractor license.
Maine’s home construction contracts law requires a written contract for residential jobs over $3,000. EPA runs the lead RRP program here, so pre-1978 jobs need federal firm and renovator certification.
Maryland License Required (MHIC)
Issuing Agency: Maryland Home Improvement Commission (MHIC)
What you need: An MHIC contractor license. MHIC’s own FAQ is blunt about it: painting houses is home improvement, including interior, exterior and decorative painting.
Requirements: Two years of trade experience, the PSI exam, and $50,000 in liability insurance. The 2-year license costs $281.25 plus a $22.50 processing fee and a $100 Guaranty Fund assessment. Renewal is $281.25 plus $175 to the Fund.
Lead: Work in pre-1978 rental units can also trigger Maryland’s rental lead law (MDE), on top of EPA’s RRP rule.
Massachusetts Exterior Only
Issuing Agency: Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation (HIC program)
What you need: Home Improvement Contractor registration for exterior painting on existing owner-occupied 1- to 4-family homes. The state’s guidance chart marks interior painting “no.” The chart covers jobs over $500, or more than $5,000 a year in total.
Cost: $150 to register, plus a Guaranty Fund payment from $100 (0 to 3 employees) up to $500 (more than 30). Renewal is $100 every two years, with no exam.
Lead: Massachusetts runs its own RRP program. Firms doing paint-disturbing work in pre-1978 homes need a state lead-safe renovation contractor license.
Michigan No License Since 2018
Michigan used to require a maintenance and alteration license for painting and decorating. Public Act 527 of 2018 (HB 4608) took painting out of that license, so paint-only contractors need no state license.
If you also do trades that still fall under the residential builder or maintenance and alteration licenses, such as carpentry, siding or roofing, those rules still apply. EPA runs the lead RRP program here, so pre-1978 jobs need federal firm and renovator certification.
Minnesota No License (One Skill)
Issuing Agency: Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry
Minnesota licenses residential contractors who offer more than one “special skill.” A contractor who provides only one skill doesn’t need a state license, and a paint-only shop is a one-skill business.
The catch: Painting appears in three of the eight skill categories (interior finishing, exterior finishing, and drywall and plaster), so whatever else you sell decides whether you’ve crossed into a second skill. Add work from another category and you need a residential remodeler license. Very small operators (under $15,000 a year in residential receipts) can use a certificate of exemption instead.
EPA runs the lead RRP program here, so pre-1978 jobs need federal firm and renovator certification.
Mississippi License Over $10K (Remodel)
Issuing Agency: Mississippi State Board of Contractors
Residential: A residential remodeler license applies to work on an existing home that costs more than $10,000. There’s no painting-specific class.
Commercial: A commercial certificate of responsibility is required at $50,000 or more (Miss. Code 31-3-1).
Lead: Mississippi is EPA-authorized, so firms working on pre-1978 homes certify with the state (MDEQ).
Missouri No State License
Missouri has no state painting or general contractor license. Kansas City, St. Louis and other cities require business licenses, and some license contractors for permitted work.
EPA runs the lead RRP program here, so pre-1978 jobs need federal firm and renovator certification.
Montana Registration (Employers)
Issuing Agency: Montana Department of Labor & Industry
What you need: Construction contractor registration is mandatory for every contractor with employees, painting shops included. The application fee is $70, and you’ll need Montana workers’ comp for the crew.
Solo painters without employees fall outside the registration mandate, though many general contractors will ask for an Independent Contractor Exemption Certificate. EPA runs the lead RRP program here, so pre-1978 jobs need federal firm and renovator certification.
Nebraska Registration Required
Issuing Agency: Nebraska Department of Labor
What you need: Every contractor doing business in Nebraska registers with the Department of Labor. The definition covers repairs and alterations on someone else’s property, which takes in painting. There’s no exam.
Cost: The annual fee rose to $40 on August 1, 2026. Contractors with employees must keep a workers’ comp certificate on file, or they drop off the registered list.
EPA runs the lead RRP program here, so pre-1978 jobs need federal firm and renovator certification.
Nevada License Required ($1,000+)
Issuing Agency: Nevada State Contractors Board
Classification: C-4 Painting and decorating, with sub-classes C-4a Painting, C-4b Wallcovering, C-4c Taping and finishing, C-4d Sandblasting, C-4e Drywall, C-4f Sheet metal studs and C-4g Acoustical tile (NAC 624.220).
When it kicks in: The handyman exemption covers repair and maintenance under $1,000 including labor and materials, and it disappears if the job needs a building permit.
Licensing: Expect exams, verified experience, a financial review and a bond the board sets from your monetary limit. An unlicensed contractor can’t sue to collect (NRS 624.320).
Lead: EPA runs the lead RRP program here, so pre-1978 jobs need federal firm and renovator certification.
New Hampshire No State License
New Hampshire doesn’t license painters or general contractors. Town business rules vary.
EPA runs the lead RRP program here, so pre-1978 jobs need federal firm and renovator certification.
New Jersey Registration Required
Issuing Agency: New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs
What you need: Home Improvement Contractor registration. The Division’s FAQ lists painting among covered home improvements.
Cost and insurance: $110 to register, then $90 to renew each year by March 31 ($115 if late). You need commercial general liability of at least $500,000 per occurrence.
EPA runs the lead RRP program here, so pre-1978 jobs need federal firm and renovator certification.
New Mexico No Painting License
Issuing Agency: New Mexico Construction Industries Division
New Mexico’s current classification rule (NMAC 14.6.6.9) has no painting class. The GS list covers drywall (GS-7), plastering and stucco (GS-30), siding (GS-31) and more, but not paint.
The catch: If a paint job turns into drywall, stucco or remodeling, you’re in licensed territory (GS-7, GS-30 or GB-2). EPA runs the lead RRP program here, so pre-1978 jobs need federal firm and renovator certification.
New York Local Licenses Only
Issuing Agencies: NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection and county consumer affairs offices
State: New York State doesn’t license painters. Licensing happens at the city and county level.
New York City: The city’s Home Improvement Contractor license excludes “painting or decorating” that isn’t incidental or related to home improvement work (Admin. Code 20-386). A paint-only job doesn’t need it, but painting inside a remodel does once the contract reaches $200. The license runs on a two-year cycle ($200 for a full term) and requires a 30-question exam plus either a $200 Trust Fund payment or a $20,000 bond.
Long Island: Nassau County’s home improvement license explicitly covers interior and exterior painting. Suffolk County licenses residential painters as home improvement contractors and has a separate license for commercial and industrial painters, with $1,000,000 in required liability coverage.
Westchester and Yonkers: Westchester County licenses home improvement contractors, so ask the county whether your paint-only work counts. Yonkers’ city license covers painting of private homes ($400, with $100,000/$300,000 liability and $25,000 property damage coverage).
Lead: EPA runs RRP in New York, and NYC adds its own lead rules for older multiple dwellings.
North Carolina No License Under $40K
Issuing Agency: North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors
North Carolina has no painting license. The general contractor law (G.S. 87-1) applies to any “improvement or structure” costing $40,000 or more, and several guides read that to include large painting contracts. We couldn’t find a board ruling either way, so if you’re bidding a $40,000+ repaint, get the board’s answer in writing before you sign.
Lead: North Carolina runs its own EPA-authorized RRP program through the Department of Health and Human Services, so firms doing pre-1978 work certify with the state.
North Dakota License Over $4,000
Issuing Agency: North Dakota Secretary of State
What you need: A contractor license for any job over $4,000, painting included. Licenses are classed A through D by how large a job you can take. Fees run from $100 (Class D) to $450 (Class A), and licenses renew by March 1 each year.
EPA runs the lead RRP program here, so pre-1978 jobs need federal firm and renovator certification.
Ohio No State License
Ohio’s state contractor licenses cover commercial electrical, HVAC, plumbing, hydronics and refrigeration, not painting. Many Ohio cities require contractor registration, so check the city where the job is.
EPA runs the lead RRP program here, so pre-1978 jobs need federal firm and renovator certification.
Oklahoma No State License
Oklahoma has no painting license. Its statewide contractor registration covers roofers. Local business licenses apply.
Lead: Oklahoma’s Department of Environmental Quality runs the state’s EPA-authorized RRP program.
Oregon License Required
Issuing Agency: Oregon Construction Contractors Board (CCB)
What you need: A CCB license for any paid construction work, and the board lists painting by name. Applicants take 16 hours of pre-license training and pass an open-book, 80-question exam (70% to pass, $60).
Cost and bonds: $400 for a two-year license (up from $325 on July 1, 2025). Residential specialty contractors carry a $20,000 bond and residential general contractors $25,000. Commercial bonds run higher.
Small jobs: The exemption is narrow: under $1,000 per project for “casual, minor or inconsequential” work, and it’s void if you advertise as a contractor (ORS 701.010).
Lead: Oregon is EPA-authorized, and the CCB issues lead-based paint renovation contractor licenses for pre-1978 work.
Pennsylvania Registration ($5,000+/yr)
Issuing Agency: Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General (HICPA registration)
What you need: Home Improvement Contractor registration if you do $5,000 or more of home improvement work a year. Painting is included, and subcontractors have to register too.
Cost and insurance: $50 for two years. You need $50,000 in bodily injury coverage and $50,000 in property damage coverage.
EPA runs the lead RRP program here, so pre-1978 jobs need federal firm and renovator certification.
Rhode Island Registration Required
Issuing Agency: Rhode Island Contractors’ Registration and Licensing Board
What you need: Contractor registration. The board lists painters among the trades that must register.
Requirements: A 5-hour pre-registration course, $500,000 in liability insurance, workers’ comp if you have employees, a $150 fee, and 2.5 hours of continuing education at each renewal.
Coming in 2028: A new license (on top of registration) starts January 1, 2028 for builders of new homes and structural remodelers. The board says nonstructural home improvement is excluded, so paint-only shops should stay registration-only.
Lead: Rhode Island is EPA-authorized, and the Department of Health certifies lead-safe renovation work.
South Carolina Registration Over $500
Issuing Agency: South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR)
Residential: Painters and wallpaperers register as residential specialty contractors with the Residential Builders Commission once a job is over $500. There’s no exam.
Commercial: Painting falls under the Contractor’s Licensing Board’s Nonstructural Renovation classification, which also covers sandblasting, wall covering and waterproofing. A license is required when a job is over $10,000, up from $5,000 before Act 69 of 2023.
EPA runs the lead RRP program here, so pre-1978 jobs need federal firm and renovator certification.
South Dakota No State License
South Dakota licenses electricians and plumbers, not painters or general contractors. Check city business rules where you work.
EPA runs the lead RRP program here, so pre-1978 jobs need federal firm and renovator certification.
Tennessee License $25K+ (Lower in 9 Counties)
Issuing Agency: Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors
Statewide: A contractor license is required for projects of $25,000 or more. The painting classification is BC-11 “Painting, Interior Decorating” (bridge painting is HRA-C.1).
Home improvement counties: In Bradley, Davidson, Haywood, Hamilton, Knox, Marion, Robertson, Rutherford and Shelby counties, residential jobs over $3,000 and under $25,000 also need a state home improvement license, and painting counts.
EPA runs the lead RRP program here, so pre-1978 jobs need federal firm and renovator certification.
Texas No State License
Texas doesn’t license painters or general contractors. A few cities register contractors for permitted work.
Texas is also the only state where private employers can opt out of workers’ comp, though many general contractors require subs to carry it. EPA runs the lead RRP program here, so pre-1978 jobs need federal firm and renovator certification.
Utah License $7,000+
Issuing Agency: Utah Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL)
Classification: S270 Drywall, Paint, and Plastering Contractor. Its scope covers paints, varnishes, shellacs, stains, waxes and other coatings, alongside drywall, insulation and plaster.
When it kicks in: Utah’s small-job exemption now runs to just under $7,000 in labor and materials, raised from $3,000 by HB 483 in 2024. Jobs over $3,000 still require a one-time affirmation to DOPL that you carry liability insurance and, if you have employees, workers’ comp.
Insurance floor: DOPL’s rule long required $100,000 per incident and $300,000 aggregate. An insurance broker reports that a 2026 rule change raised that to $1,000,000 / $2,000,000 for new applications and renewals, and that the Construction Services Commission voted on further amendments in April 2026. We couldn’t confirm the final figure with DOPL, so check it before you renew.
Lead: Utah is EPA-authorized, and firms doing pre-1978 work certify with the state (Division of Air Quality).
Vermont Registration $10K+
Issuing Agency: Vermont Office of Professional Regulation
What you need: Residential contractor registration for any residential contract of $10,000 or more in labor and materials, and Vermont’s definition names painting. Fees are $75 for individuals and $250 for business organizations, renewed every two years.
Insurance: $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate, with a certificate of insurance uploaded at each renewal. A 2026 bill (H.718) would set up a task force on the registry rather than add licensing.
Lead (stricter than EPA): Vermont runs its own RRPM program, EPA-authorized since October 1, 2022. Firms need a Lead-Safe RRPM Firm License and a licensed supervisor on site for the whole job, and the trigger is 1 square foot of disturbed paint per interior room instead of EPA’s 6. An EPA renovator certificate alone doesn’t license you in Vermont.
Virginia License Over $1,000
Issuing Agency: Virginia DPOR, Board for Contractors
What you need: A contractor license carrying the Painting and Wallcovering specialty (PTC) for jobs over $1,000. Class C covers single jobs under $30,000 and under $250,000 a year, Class B jobs up to $150,000, and Class A anything larger.
Requirements: An 8-hour pre-license course for the business’s designee. Class A and B licenses add net-worth and experience requirements.
EPA runs the lead RRP program here, so pre-1978 jobs need federal firm and renovator certification.
Washington Registration Required
Issuing Agency: Washington Department of Labor & Industries
What you need: Contractor registration as a specialty contractor for any paid painting work. There’s no exam.
Bond and insurance: A $15,000 specialty bond ($30,000 for general contractors), up from $6,000 and $12,000 on July 1, 2024. Insurance minimums are $200,000 public liability plus $50,000 property damage, or a $250,000 combined single limit. The registration fee is $150.20.
Lead: Washington is EPA-authorized, and the Department of Commerce certifies renovation firms for pre-1978 work. Unregistered contractors can’t sue to collect (RCW 18.27.080).
West Virginia Painting Excluded
Statute: W. Va. Code 30-42-3
West Virginia’s contractor licensing law expressly excludes “a person who performs landscaping or painting services for commercial or residential customers.” No state license and no exam.
The catch: Add other work (drywall, carpentry, repairs) and the contractor license applies at $5,000 for residential and $25,000 for commercial jobs. Check city business registration and B&O tax rules too.
EPA runs the lead RRP program here, so pre-1978 jobs need federal firm and renovator certification.
Wisconsin No State License
Wisconsin doesn’t license painters. The Dwelling Contractor credential applies only to contractors who pull building permits for one- and two-family homes, which paint-only jobs rarely need.
Lead: Wisconsin was the first state EPA authorized to run RRP, in 2009. Companies doing paint-disturbing work in pre-1978 housing need Lead-Safe Renovation company certification from the Department of Health Services.
Wyoming No State License
Wyoming has no state painting or general contractor license. Some cities license contractors locally.
EPA runs the lead RRP program here, so pre-1978 jobs need federal firm and renovator certification.
Thresholds are labor plus materials unless noted. Sources are the agencies, statutes and regulations linked in each state block, checked October and November 2026. We relied on secondary sources only for Virginia’s PTC specialty code, Mississippi’s residential remodeler threshold and Utah’s 2026 insurance change, and flag those in the text. Rules change, so confirm with the agency before you bid.
Employees, Subs and Working in More Than One State
The rules above get stricter as soon as your shop stops being just you.
- Your first hire changes things. California’s $1,000 exemption disappears the moment you employ anyone on the job. Montana’s registration is triggered by having employees. Workers’ comp becomes mandatory in most states once you hire, though a few only require it at three to five employees, and Texas lets private employers opt out.
- Subcontractors count too. Pennsylvania makes subs register under HICPA, and Louisiana requires licenses for subcontractors on commercial jobs of $50,000 or more. In licensing states, hiring an unlicensed sub can put your own license at risk.
- Lead certification belongs to the company. RRP firm certification is held by the business, and each pre-1978 job needs a certified renovator assigned to it. If your crew sands or scrapes lead paint, OSHA’s lead-in-construction standard (29 CFR 1926.62) applies to them as employees, separate from EPA’s rule.
- There’s no painting reciprocity worth counting on. Plan on a separate license or registration in each state you work in. Delaware even makes out-of-state contractors post a 6% bond on contracts over $20,000.
- Salespeople may need their own credential. Connecticut, DC and New York City license home improvement salespeople separately from the contractor.
City and County Rules
Local rules can matter as much as state ones, especially in New York:
- New York City. Paint-only work is excluded from the Home Improvement Contractor license, but painting that’s part of a remodel isn’t. Once the contract reaches $200, you need the license.
- Nassau County, NY. The county home improvement license explicitly covers interior and exterior painting.
- Suffolk County, NY. Residential painters fall under the home improvement license. Commercial and industrial painters need a separate county license and $1,000,000 in liability coverage.
- Yonkers, NY. The city license covers painting privately owned homes ($400, plus $100,000/$300,000 liability and $25,000 property damage coverage).
- Westchester County, NY. Home improvement contractors need a county license. Ask the Department of Consumer Protection whether paint-only work counts before you skip it.
- Tennessee’s nine home improvement counties. Bradley, Davidson (Nashville), Haywood, Hamilton (Chattanooga), Knox (Knoxville), Marion, Robertson, Rutherford and Shelby (Memphis) require a state home improvement license for residential jobs over $3,000 and under $25,000.
- Florida cities and counties. They can’t license painters at all after HB 735. If a Florida city asks for a painting certificate of competency, ask which state law authorizes it.
- Denver, Chicago and other permit-based cities. Their contractor licenses are tied to building permits, and most paint-only jobs never pull one.
Working Without a License
In the states that do license painters, the worst consequence usually isn’t the fine. It’s not getting paid.
- You can’t sue to collect. California (B&P 7031), Arizona (A.R.S. 32-1153), Nevada (NRS 624.320), Oregon (ORS 701.131) and Washington (RCW 18.27.080) all bar unlicensed or unregistered contractors from suing over unpaid work. California goes further and lets the customer sue to get back what they already paid.
- It can be a crime. Contracting without a license is a class 1 misdemeanor in Arizona, and California, Nevada and Washington also treat it as a criminal offense.
- Lead violations stack up. RRP penalties run up to $49,772 per violation per day, and they apply in every state, licensed or not.
- Customers and GCs check. General contractors and property managers routinely ask for proof of whatever license or registration the job requires, and a missing one can cost you the work.
In the 21 no-license states, “legal” still means a business registration, local business licenses, tax accounts, workers’ comp once you hire, and RRP certification for older homes.
Insurance Minimums Tied to Licensing
Most states don’t set a number, but where a license or registration comes with an insurance floor, this is it. These are minimums; many general contractors and property managers ask for $1,000,000 regardless.
| Where | Liability Minimum | Tied To |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $20,000 property damage; $50,000 per person / $100,000 per occurrence bodily injury | State statute (AS 08.18.101) |
| Connecticut | $20,000 general liability | Required for HIC registration |
| Idaho | $300,000 general liability | Required for registration |
| Maryland | $50,000 liability | MHIC license requirement |
| New Jersey | $500,000 per occurrence | Commercial general liability |
| Pennsylvania | $50,000 bodily injury + $50,000 property damage | HICPA registration |
| Rhode Island | $500,000 liability | Certificate names the board as holder |
| Utah | $100,000 / $300,000 by rule; reported $1M / $2M in 2026 | Confirm the current figure with DOPL |
| Vermont | $1,000,000 per occurrence / $2,000,000 aggregate | Registration requirement |
| Washington | $200,000 public liability + $50,000 property damage, or $250,000 combined | L&I registration |
| Suffolk County, NY | $1,000,000 public liability and property damage | Commercial and industrial painter license |
| Yonkers, NY | $100,000 / $300,000 liability + $25,000 property damage | City home improvement license |
Workers’ comp is the other half. Most states require it once you have employees (a few only at three to five), California will require it for every CSLB licensee from January 1, 2028, and Texas lets private employers opt out. For broader coverage questions, see our contractor insurance requirements by state.
Running a Painting Business Once You’re Legal
Getting licensed or registered is a one-time job. Running the business is every day:
- Pick the right software. The best dispatch software for painting contractors covers what actually matters for crews moving between job sites.
- Quote without losing the job. How to quote a job over the phone without losing it walks through quoting from the first call.
- Invoice the same day. Our free invoice generator for trades gets a clean invoice out before you leave the driveway.
- Know where handymen stop. If you also take small repair work, see handyman license requirements by state and what a handyman can do without a license.
- Adding exterior cleaning? Pressure washing license requirements by state covers the rules for washing work.
- Budget for comp and safety. Workers’ comp rate changes by state and OSHA penalty amounts show what one bad year can cost.
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FAQ
Do I need a license to paint houses?
It depends on your state and the size of the job. 26 states plus DC require a license or registration for at least some paid painting, usually above a dollar threshold: the line is $1,000 in California, Arizona and Nevada, just under $7,000 in Utah, and $10,000 in Vermont. 21 states have no statewide painting license. EPA’s lead rule applies everywhere for pre-1978 homes.
Which states have a painting-specific license classification?
California (C-33 Painting and Decorating), Hawaii (C-33 Painting and decorating), Arizona (R-34, C-34 and CR-34 Painting and Wall Covering), Nevada (C-4 Painting and decorating), Utah (S270 Drywall, Paint, and Plastering), Tennessee (BC-11 Painting, Interior Decorating), Virginia (the Painting and Wallcovering specialty) and Arkansas (home improvement specialty No. 28). South Carolina names Painters/Wallpaperers for residential registration and puts commercial painting under Nonstructural Renovation. Everywhere else, painters fall under general contractor or home improvement rules, or none at all.
How big a paint job can I do without a license?
Roughly: below $300 in DC, $500 in South Carolina (residential), $1,000 in California, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon and Virginia, $1,500 in Hawaii, $2,000 in Arkansas and Idaho, $4,000 in North Dakota, $7,000 in Utah, $7,500 in Louisiana, and $10,000 in Vermont, Alabama and Mississippi (residential). In California, Arizona, Nevada and Hawaii the exemption disappears if the job needs a building permit, and California’s also disappears if you have an employee on the job.
Is EPA lead certification the same as a painting license?
No. A state license or registration covers who can contract for painting work. EPA’s Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) rule covers how paint is disturbed in pre-1978 homes and child-occupied facilities, and it applies in every state, including the 21 with no painting license. Your firm needs RRP certification ($300 for five years from EPA, or through the state in the 15 authorized states) and a certified renovator assigned to each job.
Do I need a license to paint in New York City?
Not for paint-only work. NYC’s Home Improvement Contractor license excludes painting or decorating that isn’t incidental or related to home improvement work (Admin. Code 20-386). If painting is part of a remodel and the contract reaches $200, you need the license. Nassau and Suffolk counties are different: both license residential painters.
Does interior painting need a license in Massachusetts?
No. Massachusetts’ home improvement guidance requires HIC registration for exterior painting on owner-occupied 1- to 4-family homes and marks interior painting as not requiring it. Lead rules still apply: Massachusetts runs its own lead-safe renovation licensing for pre-1978 homes.
Can I use my painting license in another state?
Generally no. There’s no national painting license, and states don’t broadly recognize each other’s painting credentials. Plan on a separate license or registration in each state you work in, and watch for extras like Delaware’s 6% bond on out-of-state contracts over $20,000.
Do I need workers’ comp as a one-person painting business?
Usually not until you hire, but the rules differ. California will require workers’ comp for every CSLB licensee starting January 1, 2028, employees or not. Montana’s contractor registration kicks in once you have employees. Texas lets private employers opt out entirely. Even where it’s optional, many general contractors won’t hire a sub without proof of coverage or an exemption certificate.
Bottom Line
If you paint in one of the 26 states (or DC) that license or register painters, find your threshold and get the credential before your jobs grow past it. The fines are the small problem; losing the right to collect on a finished job is the big one. If you’re in one of the 21 no-license states, you still need the basics: business registration, local licenses, insurance, and workers’ comp once you hire.
Whatever state you’re in, the rule painters most often overlook isn’t a state license at all. It’s EPA’s lead rule on pre-1978 homes, and it applies everywhere. Get the firm certification and a certified renovator before you take your first older-home job.
Then put the energy where it pays: fast estimates, clean scheduling, and getting paid on the day the job is done.
