Note: Restoration licensing is a stack — contractor cards, mold boards, asbestos credentials, and city permits pull in different directions. This is 2026 research from agency materials and statutes for restoration company owners and operators — not legal advice and not a DIY flood-cleanup guide. Verify with the cited board or building department before you advertise, hire, or bid a market. Fees and thresholds shown are approximate.
Still true — September 2026
IICRC is not a license. WRT/AMRT look great on an insurance panel; they do not replace authority. Florida runs separate DBPR mold assessor/remediator licenses plus CILB contractor rules and §468.8419 conflict bans. Texas TDLR mold program is still live — SB 1255 (Sep 1, 2025) repealed the supervised-employee exemption; it did not repeal the program. New York DOL Article 32 + NYC Local Law 61 filings. Louisiana LSLBC Mold Remediation at $7,500+. California has no mold-named CSLB class — B / B-2 / specialties + C-22 asbestos when ACM shows up. Carrier preferred-vendor ≠ licensed. No statewide “restoration” card ≠ free to operate.
Ask a restoration owner if they need a license and you get three answers before the dehumidifier finishes its cycle: “we’re IICRC certified,” “the carrier put us on the list,” and “this state doesn’t have a restoration license.”
All three can be true and still leave you unlicensed for the scope you just sold. Water mitigation is rarely one trade. Extraction and structural drying sit next to demolition, mold remediation, asbestos disturbance, plumbing isolation, HVAC drying, and rebuild. Regulators do not care that your invoice says “mitigation.” They care which boards you crossed.
This guide is the honest 2026 operator map for all 50 states — written for multi-crew shops that dispatch emergency water calls, not for homeowners Googling wet carpet tips.
On this page
IICRC certification is not a state license
Same pattern as NABCEP for solar and ASE for mobile mechanics. The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification issues widely respected credentials — Water Damage Restoration Technician (WRT), Applied Structural Drying (ASD), Applied Microbial Remediation Technician (AMRT), Fire & Smoke Restoration Technician (FSRT), and others. Insurers and TPA networks love them. Training matters.
None of that is a government contractor license. You can hang every IICRC wallet card on the van and still be illegal the moment you open a wall in a state that wants a CSLB, CILB, ROC, TDLR, or DOL credential. Treat IICRC as training + marketing + panel access. Treat the state board as permission to contract.
Operator rule: Put IICRC certs in the marketing kit. Put license numbers on the contract, the invoice, and the dispatch roster. If a tech only has the cert, they do not get the structural or mold ping.
The layers that actually matter
Read every state below through these silos. Missing one can idle a crew even when the others look fine.
- Contractor / GC / home-improvement authority — thresholds for paid repair, demolition, drywall, flooring, cabinets, and rebuild. Named as specialty contractor, residential builder, HIC, or city registration depending on the state.
- Mold assessment & remediation licenses — separate boards in Florida (DBPR), Texas (TDLR), New York (DOL Article 32), Louisiana (LSLBC). Conflict-of-interest rules often split assessor from remediator.
- Asbestos / lead / hazardous materials — when demo hits ACM drywall, floor tile, or popcorn ceilings. California C-22 / ASB is the textbook example; EPA and state asbestos programs apply widely on pre-1980 stock.
- Fire/smoke vs water-only — usually the same contractor card, different IICRC standards and contents protocols. Do not invent a “fire restoration license” that the board does not issue.
- Local permits + insurance relationships — building permits, right-of-entry, and adjuster networks. Preferred vendor ≠ licensed.
Mold vs water-only: do not blur the invoice
Category 1 clean-water extraction that never opens a wall is the lightest stack in many markets. Category 2/3 losses, delayed drying, and visible microbial growth pull mold statutes into the job. A shop that markets “water damage restoration” without a mold plan is lying to itself about what hurricane and pipe-burst weeks look like.
Where mold is separately licensed, expect:
- Assessor / remediator separation (NY hard ban; FL 12-month company conflict rules; TX protocol vs work-plan structure)
- Insurance minima that name mold or pollution coverage
- Project notifications (TX at 25 contiguous sq ft for licensees; NYC DEP filings over 10 sq ft in covered buildings)
- Employee credentials (especially Texas after SB 1255)
High-signal states operators argue about
Florida — mold board + contractor board (do not merge them)
DBPR Mold-Related Services licenses individuals as Mold Assessor (MRSA) and Mold Remediator (MRSR) under Chapter 468 Part XVI. Experience pathways commonly cited: associate degree + 1 year, or HS + 4 years with documented invoices; water/mold/respiratory training; approved exam; background check. Active status needs insurance often cited at $1M GL with mold-related claims (remediator) or $1M GL + $1M E&O (assessor). Renewals hit July 31 even years (~$105 + 14 hrs CE — confirm live).
Fla. Stat. §468.8419 is the money statute: assessor companies generally cannot remediate a structure they assessed within 12 months (and remediator companies cannot assess one they remediated), with narrow Division I contractor carve-outs that still need homeowner disclosure. Separately, structural rebuild / openings usually need a CILB certified or registered contractor under Chapter 489. IICRC does not satisfy either board.
Texas — TDLR mold program still live (SB 1255 was not a repeal)
TDLR still licenses mold assessment technicians/consultants/companies and mold remediation contractors/companies/workers under Occupations Code Chapter 1958. Company licenses commonly cite an $850 fee, Texas office, $1M per-occurrence CGL, and a responsible licensed individual. Small-area exemptions around 25 contiguous square feet and owner/tenant exemptions exist — they are not a business model for commercial restoration shops.
SB 1255 (effective September 1, 2025) repealed §1958.102(b), the supervised-employee exemption. Employees doing assessment/remediation generally need their own credential. TDLR’s September 2025 implementation notice and March 2026 Chapter 78 readoption confirm the program continues. Ignore blogs that announce a full repeal.
Texas still has no statewide general contractor license for typical private rebuild — cities register contractors and issue permits. Mold + municipal registration is the real TX restoration stack.
New York / NYC — DOL Article 32 + city filings
NYS Department of Labor Mold Program licenses mold assessors, remediation contractors, and abatement workers under Labor Law Article 32. Approved training, insurance (liability commonly cited at $50k statutory floor — carry more), and separate individual/business applications via MPWR. Same party cannot assess and remediate the same project. NYC Local Law 61 / DEP mold abatement filings kick in for >10 sq ft in buildings with 10+ apartments or large commercial floor area. Rebuild still collides with local contractor / home-improvement rules, including NYC DCWP where applicable.
California — no mold card; CSLB classes + asbestos
CSLB does not issue a mold-named license. Opening walls, removing finishes, and rebuilding typically need B, B-2, and/or specialty C-classes at the $1,000 aggregate threshold. C-61/D-64 Non-specialized appears in classification texts for work that truly fits nowhere else — do not assume CSLB will hand you D-64 for ordinary restoration. C-22 Asbestos Abatement / ASB certification when ACM is in play. CSLB has publicly dinged unlicensed “restoration/cleanup” firms that tear into structures.
Louisiana — named Mold Remediation classification
LSLBC Mold Remediation is required when project value exceeds $7,500. Expect 24 hours board-approved mold remediation/assessment training, Business & Law, ~$25k net-worth statement, WC, and ~$50k GL. LSLBC FAQ language: dewatering (removing water / water-damaged materials) often does not require the mold license; structural removal/replacement can trigger residential, commercial, or home-improvement thresholds. Hurricane markets live here — get the classification right before the next named storm.
| State | Signal | What to remember |
|---|---|---|
| Florida | Mold-named + CILB | MRSA/MRSR + §468.8419 conflict; contractor for rebuild |
| Texas | TDLR mold live | SB 1255 tightened employees; cities own rebuild registration |
| New York | DOL Article 32 | Assessor ≠ remediator same job; NYC DEP filings |
| Louisiana | LSLBC mold class | $7,500+; dewatering vs structural split |
| California | CSLB classes | No mold card; B/B-2/C-22 as scope requires |
| Virginia | No DPOR mold license | Repealed 2012; HB 2195 VCPA certification overlay |
| Maryland | Mold subtitle dead | Terminated 2019; MHIC still covers home-improvement rebuild |
Money traps competitors still botch
- IICRC-as-license folklore. Panels and franchises push certs. Boards issue licenses. Confuse them and you advertise unlicensed contracting.
- “Texas repealed mold licensing.” False. SB 1255 changed employee credentialing; TDLR program remains.
- Same-truck assessor + remediator. Illegal or tightly restricted in NY and FL. Bad optics everywhere.
- Carrier preferred = licensed. Network agreements do not waive CSLB, DBPR, TDLR, DOL, or city registration.
- Asbestos surprise on demo day. Pre-1980 drywall/tile jobs without ACM screening are how restoration shops buy OSHA/EPA years.
- Local-only shrug. No statewide “restoration” specialty does not mean Columbus, Denver, or Kansas City will let unregistered crews pull permits.
- Storm fly-ins. Emergency declarations are narrow. They are not a national hall pass for unlicensed mold or rebuild work.
Pattern: The extraction invoice is easy. The mold board, the contractor threshold, and the asbestos trigger are where multi-crew shops get sideways — especially when dispatch sends whichever van is closest instead of whichever van is legal for the scope.
Operator compliance checklist
- Map the scope before the sale. Extraction-only, demolition, mold, asbestos, rebuild? Each silo can demand a different card.
- Check mold conflict rules. If you assessed it, can your company remediate it here? NY/FL answer carefully.
- Match contractor geography. Statewide certified vs registered/local vs city registration. Do not send a locally registered crew across a county line cold.
- Screen for ACM / lead on pre-1980 stock before demo. Hold or subcontract the right abatement credentials.
- Tag credentials in dispatch. Mold-licensed techs, asbestos-cleared crews, and rebuild-legal GCs should not share one undifferentiated GPS ping.
- Audit the website. “Licensed & IICRC certified” needs a real license number behind it in every state you advertise.
All 50 states
Jump to your state
Red = mold/remediation-named state program. Orange = statewide contractor/specialty required for typical rebuild. Tint = conditional / threshold / HIC. Gray = local-only. We do not fake green “no rules” chips for permit-heavy markets.
Alabama Conditional — HBLB / LCB Thresholds
Agency: Alabama Home Builders Licensure Board (HBLB); commercial scopes often via Licensing Board for General Contractors (LCB)
Alabama does not issue a statewide water-damage or mold-named restoration license. Residential builder / home-builder pathways through HBLB commonly capture rebuild once project value crosses the residential licensing line (often discussed near $10,000 — confirm live HBLB materials). Larger commercial undertakings may trigger LCB general/subcontractor licensing.
Pure extraction and drying without structural alteration sit lighter; opening walls, replacing drywall, and cabinetry rebuild usually do not. Coastal counties layer hurricane permitting expectations on top of the license conversation.
Trap: treating Alabama like a no-rules mitigation market. Confirm which board owns your dollar amount and scope, then match municipal permits. IICRC WRT does not satisfy HBLB or LCB.
Alaska Specialty / Contractor Required
Agency: Alaska Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing (DCBPL) — Construction Contractors
Alaska requires state construction contractor licensing for most for-hire building trades, including restoration scopes that alter structures. Expect bond ranges commonly discussed in the $10,000–$25,000 band (verify current schedule), insurance, and board paperwork.
No separate statewide mold-named license. Microbial work still sits under contractor authority plus OSHA/EPA practices. Owner-builder exemptions are not a storm-crew business model.
If you mobilize for remote losses, confirm Alaska entity, qualifier, and bond before the first dehumidifier hits the plane. Shipping gear is hard; fixing an unlicensed-contracting citation from Fairbanks is harder.
Arizona Specialty / Contractor Required — ROC
Agency: Arizona Registrar of Contractors (ROC)
Arizona does not name a standalone water-damage restoration specialty the way it names roofing (R-42/C-42/CR-42). Typical mitigation-plus-rebuild work falls under ROC general building or appropriate specialty classifications once contracts hit the $1,000 threshold.
No statewide mold-named license. Mold remediation that includes demolition and reconstruction still needs the correct ROC class. Dual residential/commercial classifications matter if you bounce between tract homes and light commercial.
Money insight: monsoon and plumbing-loss season fills ROC complaint queues with unlicensed “emergency restoration” ads. Keep Active status and exact class codes on the ROC lookup before subcontracting or advertising.
Arkansas Conditional — Contractors Licensing Board
Agency: Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing / Contractors Licensing Board materials
Arkansas regulates residential and commercial contracting through state pathways rather than leaving all restoration to pure local discretion. Thresholds and classification names change — confirm the live Contractors Licensing Board schedule before you print yard signs.
No Arkansas mold-named statewide license comparable to Texas or Florida. Demo and rebuild still trigger contractor rules; asbestos/lead overlays apply on older stock.
Storm-alley reality: after hail-driven roof leaks and tornado water, unlicensed out-of-state crews show up fast. Insurers increasingly ask for license numbers on estimates.
California Specialty / Contractor Required — CSLB
Agency: Contractors State License Board (CSLB)
California has no mold-named CSLB classification. Water damage restoration that alters a fixed structure — opening walls, removing drywall, flooring, insulation, or rebuilding — generally requires an appropriate contractor license at the $1,000 aggregate threshold (AB 2622). Common fits: B General Building, B-2 Residential Remodeling, plus specialty C-classes (C-36 plumbing, C-20 HVAC, C-33 painting) as scope requires.
C-61/D-64 Non-specialized appears in CSLB classification texts for work that truly fits no other class. Do not assume CSLB will issue D-64 for ordinary restoration if B or another specialty already covers the work. C-22 Asbestos Abatement and ASB/HAZ certifications matter when ACM is present — common on pre-1980 California housing stock.
CSLB has publicly cited unlicensed “restoration/cleanup” companies that tore into walls during mold investigations. Surface-only cleaning under the minor-work threshold without structural alteration is the narrow lane; most real water losses leave that lane quickly. IICRC WRT/AMRT is training — not a CSLB substitute.
Colorado Local Only — Cities / Counties
Agency: Municipal building departments; Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) for related trades
Colorado has no statewide water-damage or mold-named restoration license for typical private work. Cities and counties own contractor registration, permits, and business licensing — Denver, Aurora, Colorado Springs, and mountain towns each run their own desk.
Electrical, plumbing, and HVAC scopes still pull state trade licenses when you leave pure drying and enter mechanical rooms. Asbestos/lead rules apply on older stock.
Trap: “Colorado has no restoration license” is half-true and fully expensive when a city registration or permit stop-work lands mid-dry-down.
Connecticut Conditional — DCP Home Improvement
Agency: Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) — Home Improvement
Connecticut home-improvement contractor registration commonly captures residential repair and rebuild scopes tied to water losses. Confirm current HIC definitions and exemptions for your exact invoice language.
No statewide mold-named remediator license comparable to Florida/Texas. New York’s Article 32 does not automatically cover CT jobs — do not blur borders on a Metro New York marketing site.
Insurance panels still ask for IICRC; DCP asks for registration numbers. Put both on the contract when required.
Delaware Specialty / Business Contractor License
Agency: Delaware Division of Revenue / local contractor licensing; environmental rules as applicable
Delaware uses state business/contractor frameworks and local permitting rather than a water-damage-named specialty. Most paid structural restoration needs proper business licensing and permits.
No Delaware mold-named statewide program on the Florida/Texas model. Follow contractor and environmental rules when demolition begins.
Coastal flood and nor’easter work still wants documented credentials for adjusters even when the board name is not “restoration.”
Florida Required — DBPR Mold + CILB Contractor
Agency: DBPR Mold-Related Services; DBPR / CILB Construction Industry
Two boards, one loss. Mold assessment and remediation are licensed individually by DBPR under Chapter 468 Part XVI (Mold Assessor MRSA / Mold Remediator MRSR). Structural contracting sits under Chapter 489 CILB (certified statewide vs registered local). Opening walls and rebuilding after a pipe burst or hurricane typically needs the contractor path; microbial remediation needs the mold path.
Mold applicants generally show education/experience (associate + 1 year or HS + 4 years with documented invoices), water/mold/respiratory training, an approved exam, and a background check. Active remediators commonly carry $1M GL including mold-related claims; assessors commonly carry $1M GL + $1M E&O. Renewals July 31 even years (~$105 + 14 hrs CE — confirm live schedules).
Fla. Stat. §468.8419 conflict rules: an assessor’s company generally may not remediate a structure it assessed within 12 months (and a remediator’s company may not assess one it remediated), with narrow Division I contractor carve-outs that still require homeowner disclosure about competitive bids. Do not run “we test and tear out” as one casual package.
IICRC WRT/AMRT helps with carriers. It does not replace MRSA/MRSR or a CILB card. Preferred-vendor status with a national carrier is not a Florida license.
Georgia Conditional — Secretary of State / Local
Agency: Georgia Secretary of State / licensing boards; local contractor licensing
Georgia does not run a Florida-style statewide mold remediator card for typical work. Residential and commercial contractor licensing plus county/city cards still capture rebuild after water losses — Atlanta metro overlays are real.
Confirm whether your scope triggers state residential/light commercial contractor requirements or stays municipal. Extraction-only marketing that quietly includes drywall removal is how shops get cited.
Hurricane and tropical-storm inland flooding still brings out-of-state fly-ins. Match credentials to the county you advertise.
Hawaii Specialty / Contractor Required — DCCA
Agency: Hawaii DCCA Professional & Vocational Licensing — Contractors
Hawaii requires contractor licensing for most for-hire construction and alteration work, including restoration rebuild scopes. Classification must match the work — do not borrow California class codes.
No Hawaii mold-named license on the TDLR model. Structural drying that becomes demolition still needs the correct DCCA contractor classification. GET tax registration is part of standing up the company.
Island logistics do not create a licensing exemption. Confirm classification text before marketing “24/7 water damage” statewide.
Idaho Specialty / Contractor Registration
Agency: Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses / DBS contractor registration
Idaho requires contractor registration for most residential construction and alteration work above statutory thresholds. Water-loss rebuild typically lands here.
No statewide mold-named remediator license. Follow registration, local permits, and hazardous-materials rules on older homes.
Keep registration current before storm season marketing into Boise, Coeur d’Alene, and resort markets.
Illinois Conditional — IDFPR / Local Overlays
Agency: Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR); City of Chicago / municipal contractor rules
Illinois does not issue a statewide water-damage or mold-named restoration license comparable to Texas. Home repair and contractor rules plus aggressive city programs (especially Chicago) still bite.
Roofing has its own IDFPR act — do not assume restoration inherits that card. Plumbing/electrical/HVAC trades remain separately licensed when you leave pure drying.
Trap: treating Illinois like a pure local-only shrug while advertising citywide emergency mitigation without checking Chicago contractor and business licenses.
Indiana Local Only — Cities / Counties
Agency: Municipal contractor licensing; Indiana Professional Licensing Agency for related trades
Indiana has no statewide water-damage or mold-named restoration license for typical private work. Indianapolis and other cities run contractor licensing and permit desks that idle unregistered crews.
State plumbing/electrical/HVAC licenses still apply when scope expands. Asbestos rules on older Midwest housing stock are not optional folklore.
Local-only trap poster child: confirm city cards before you wrap trucks for the next river flood.
Iowa Specialty / Contractor Registration
Agency: Iowa Division of Labor — Contractor Registration
Iowa requires statewide contractor registration for many construction activities. Restoration rebuild that alters structures typically needs registration plus local permits.
No Iowa mold-named statewide remediator license. Document IICRC for carriers; document registration for the state.
River and derecho losses bring fly-in competition — registration status shows up on consumer and insurer checks.
Kansas Local Only — Cities / Counties
Agency: Municipal contractor licensing (e.g., Johnson County / Wichita / Kansas City metro)
Kansas has no statewide water-damage or mold-named restoration license for typical private work. Metro Kansas City and Wichita-area registrations matter.
Trade licenses still apply for plumbing/electrical/mechanical scopes. Do not sell full rebuilds off an extraction invoice without checking the city.
Storm-alley marketing without local registration is a recurring complaint pattern.
Kentucky Conditional — Threshold / Local
Agency: Kentucky Public Protection Cabinet / local boards as applicable
Kentucky mixes local contractor licensing with limited statewide trade credentials. Confirm the city/county desk for residential restoration rebuild.
No statewide mold-named remediator card on the Florida model. Floodplain and river communities still expect documented credentials for larger claims.
Verify before advertising statewide 24/7 water response from a single Louisville or Lexington registration.
Louisiana Required — LSLBC Mold Remediation
Agency: Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC) — Mold Remediation
Louisiana names Mold Remediation as its own LSLBC classification. A license is required when project value exceeds $7,500. Scope language covers removal, cleaning, sanitizing, demolition, or other treatment of mold-contaminated materials (not purposely grown), including preventative measures that affect indoor air quality.
Applicants generally need 24 hours of board-approved mold remediation and assessment training, Business & Law compliance, a financial statement showing about $25,000 net worth, workers’ compensation, and general liability commonly cited at a $50,000 minimum (carry more for real jobs). Confirm live fee schedules on LSLBC.
LSLBC FAQ distinction operators miss: dewatering — removing water or water-damaged building materials — often does not require the mold license. Removing structural items and installing replacements can trigger residential construction, commercial, or home-improvement thresholds ($7,500 HIC band and higher commercial/residential lines). Hurricane response without the right classification is how out-of-state crews get boarded.
IICRC helps with carriers. LSLBC Mold Remediation is the license. Preferred-vendor status is neither.
Maine Conditional — Home Construction / Local
Agency: Maine Professional & Financial Regulation / municipal permits
Maine lacks a statewide water-damage or mold-named restoration specialty. Home construction contract rules and local permits still apply to rebuild scopes.
Nor’easter and coastal flood work wants documented insurance and local compliance even without a restoration-named card.
Confirm town permitting culture before marketing statewide emergency drying.
Maryland Conditional — MHIC (Mold Subtitle Terminated)
Agency: Maryland Home Improvement Commission (MHIC)
Maryland’s dedicated mold remediation licensure subtitle terminated July 1, 2019 after years of never being fully funded/implemented. MHIC’s own FAQ states no additional mold license is required on top of the home-improvement framework for that repealed subtitle.
Residential repair and rebuild after water/mold damage still generally need an MHIC contractor license when the work meets home-improvement definitions. Do not read “mold program terminated” as “unregulated rebuild.”
Competitor trap: blogs that still list Maryland as a mold-license state. Cite the termination date. Carry IICRC for panels; carry MHIC for the house.
Massachusetts Conditional — HIC / BBRS
Agency: Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs — Home Improvement Contractor; BBRS construction supervisor as applicable
Massachusetts HIC registration commonly captures residential remodel/repair scopes tied to water losses. Construction supervisor licensing can apply depending on permit and structural work.
No statewide mold-named remediator license on the Florida/Texas model. Boston and municipal permitting still idle crews mid-job.
Put HIC numbers on contracts; put IICRC on the carrier packet. They answer different questions.
Michigan Specialty / LARA Residential Builder / M&A
Agency: Michigan LARA — Residential Builders / Maintenance & Alteration
Michigan residential builder and maintenance & alteration contractor credentials commonly capture restoration rebuild. Confirm whether your scope fits residential builder or an M&A specialty classification.
No Michigan mold-named statewide remediator license comparable to TDLR. Demo and rebuild still need the LARA card when thresholds apply.
Great Lakes flood and freeze-rupture seasons fill complaint queues — advertise only with Active credentials.
Minnesota Conditional — DLI Residential Contractor
Agency: Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI)
Minnesota residential contractor / remodeler licensing commonly covers structural restoration after water losses. Gross-receipts exemptions exist in DLI materials — confirm live before relying on them.
No statewide mold-named remediator card. Ice dam and spring thaw losses still want documented DLI credentials for rebuild scopes.
Do not confuse voluntary IICRC with DLI licensing.
Mississippi Conditional — State Board of Contractors
Agency: Mississippi State Board of Contractors
Mississippi contractor licensing thresholds capture many residential and commercial rebuild scopes after water events. Confirm current residential/commercial dollar triggers.
No Mississippi mold-named statewide remediator license on the Louisiana model — but Louisiana’s border markets make dual-state shops common. Get both right.
Hurricane and flood seasons bring enforcement attention to out-of-state fly-ins.
Missouri Local Only — Cities / Counties
Agency: Municipal contractor licensing (St. Louis / Kansas City metro overlays)
Missouri has no statewide water-damage or mold-named restoration license for typical private work. St. Louis and Kansas City metro registrations and permits are the real gate.
Trade licenses still apply when plumbing/electrical/mechanical enter the scope. Local-only trap applies in full.
River flooding does not create a statewide emergency exemption for unregistered rebuild crews.
Montana Specialty / Contractor Registration
Agency: Montana Department of Labor & Industry — Contractor Registration
Montana requires contractor registration for most construction for hire. Restoration rebuild typically needs registration plus local permits.
No mold-named statewide remediator license. Document registration before marketing statewide emergency response.
Wildfire smoke and water combo losses still sit on the same contractor registration conversation.
Nebraska Specialty / Contractor Registration
Agency: Nebraska Department of Labor — Contractor Registration
Nebraska contractor registration applies to many construction activities. Water-loss rebuild usually needs registration and local permits.
No statewide mold-named remediator license. Storm-alley shops should still treat registration as mandatory ops hygiene.
Confirm registration status before crossing into Iowa/Kansas border jobs with different local rules.
Nevada Specialty / Contractor Required — NSCB
Agency: Nevada State Contractors Board (NSCB)
Nevada requires NSCB licensing for most contracting. Restoration rebuild falls under general building or appropriate specialty classifications — confirm classification text for demolition and remodel scopes.
No Nevada mold-named statewide remediator license. Las Vegas and Reno permit desks still stop unlicensed structural work cold.
Experience, CMS/trade exams, and bonds scale with classification. IICRC is not an NSCB substitute.
New Hampshire Local Only — Towns / Cities
Agency: Municipal building departments; state trade licenses for plumbing/electrical/gas as applicable
New Hampshire has no statewide water-damage or mold-named restoration license for typical private work. Town building officials run the practical gate.
State trade licenses still apply when you leave extraction and enter regulated trades. Local-only trap with New England permitting culture.
Do not market “statewide licensed restoration” without a credential that actually exists.
New Jersey Conditional — DCA / Local HIC Overlays
Agency: New Jersey Department of Community Affairs; municipal contractor licensing
New Jersey combines state contractor/home-improvement frameworks with strong municipal licensing. Residential water-loss rebuild commonly needs the right registration and local cards.
No NJ mold-named remediator license on the New York Article 32 model — do not assume a NY DOL mold license covers Jersey jobs.
Coastal flood and Sandy-era enforcement memory is long. Put license numbers on every estimate.
New Mexico Specialty / CID Contractor
Agency: New Mexico Regulation & Licensing Department — Construction Industries Division (CID)
New Mexico CID contractor licensing covers most construction and alteration for hire. Restoration rebuild needs the correct GB/GS or specialty classification — confirm live class lists.
No statewide mold-named remediator license. Monsoon and plumbing-loss work still wants Active CID status.
Verify classification scope before advertising full mitigation-to-rebuild packages.
New York Required — DOL Article 32 Mold + Local Contractor
Agency: NYS Department of Labor — Mold Program (Labor Law Article 32); NYC DOH/HPD/DEP; local contractor / HIC / DCWP as applicable
New York licenses mold assessors, remediation contractors, and abatement workers under Labor Law Article 32. Approved training, applications (MPWR online preferred), and insurance evidence are required. Statutory liability floors are modest ($50k cited in statute language) — carry realistic limits. Individual and business applications are separate.
Conflict rule: the same licensed party cannot perform both assessment and remediation on the same project. Remediaters need an assessor’s plan; post-remediation assessment closes the loop. Homeowners working their own property have limited exemptions — not a commercial loophole.
NYC overlay: for mold areas >10 sq ft in buildings with 10+ apartments (or large commercial floor area), owners must use NYS-licensed assessors and remediators, and licensed workers file through NYC DEP mold abatement systems under Local Law 61 / Admin. Code rules. HPD indoor allergen rules add landlord compliance pressure.
Water extraction and rebuild still collide with local contractor and home-improvement regimes, including NYC DCWP home-improvement licensing where applicable. IICRC ≠ Article 32 license. A New Jersey or Connecticut card does not travel automatically into NY.
North Carolina Conditional — NCLBGC Thresholds
Agency: North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors (NCLBGC)
North Carolina general contractor licensing triggers on undertaking thresholds commonly discussed in the $30,000–$40,000 band — verify the live NCLBGC figure before you bid a multi-room rebuild. Smaller jobs may still hit local permitting and business licensing.
No statewide mold-named remediator license on the Florida model. Hurricane and tropical-storm inland flooding still pull unlicensed contracting enforcement.
Coastal product and building-code overlays sit on top of the license conversation after named storms.
North Dakota Specialty / Contractor License
Agency: North Dakota Secretary of State / contractor licensing materials
North Dakota requires contractor licensing for many construction activities above statutory thresholds. Restoration rebuild typically qualifies.
No mold-named statewide remediator license. Flood and spring thaw losses still want documented contractor status.
Confirm thresholds and classifications before marketing across the Minnesota border.
Ohio Local Only — Cities / Counties
Agency: Municipal contractor licensing (Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Toledo, etc.)
Ohio has no statewide water-damage or mold-named restoration license for typical private work. City contractor boards are the enforcement layer that actually idles trucks.
State trade licenses apply for plumbing/electrical/HVAC. Local-only trap is identical to the garage-door pattern — “no state license” is not permission.
Preferred-vendor status with a national carrier will not satisfy Columbus or Cleveland registration desks.
Oklahoma Conditional — CIB / Trade Boards + Mold Split Rule
Agency: Oklahoma Construction Industries Board (CIB); 15 O.S. §765.4
Oklahoma has no statewide mold assessor/remediator license. It does have a consumer statute: persons who inspect houses for mold generally may not also remove the mold unless the combined inspection-and-removal charge is $200 or less and the consumer consents (15 O.S. §765.4).
Residential remodeler / builder and trade licenses (mechanical, plumbing, electrical) still capture rebuild and mechanical drying scopes when thresholds apply. Roofing registration is a separate silo.
Do not invent a TDLR-style Oklahoma mold card. Do respect the inspector/remover split and CIB trade credentials.
Oregon Specialty / Contractor Required — CCB
Agency: Oregon Construction Contractors Board (CCB)
Oregon requires CCB licensing for most construction and remodeling for hire. Water-loss rebuild is squarely in CCB territory. Endorsements and residential vs commercial paths matter.
No Oregon mold-named statewide remediator license. Lead-based paint and asbestos rules still apply on older stock during demo.
Bond, education, and endorsement mistakes are common on multi-crew restoration startups — verify the endorsement matches the work.
Pennsylvania Conditional — HIC / Local
Agency: Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General — Home Improvement Contractor; municipal licensing
Pennsylvania HIC registration commonly covers residential remodel/repair after water losses above statutory thresholds. Philadelphia and other cities add local contractor licensing.
No statewide mold-named remediator license. Do not assume a New York Article 32 credential covers PA jobs.
Put HIC numbers on contracts; confirm city cards before advertising metro-wide emergency response.
Rhode Island Conditional — Contractors’ Registration
Agency: Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation — Contractors’ Registration
Rhode Island contractors’ registration captures most residential construction and alteration. Water-loss rebuild typically needs registration.
No mold-named statewide remediator license on the Florida model. Coastal flood work still wants documented registration and insurance.
Confirm commercial vs residential paths before bidding larger losses.
South Carolina Conditional — LLR Residential Builders / Local
Agency: South Carolina LLR — Residential Builders Commission
South Carolina residential builder / specialty contractor pathways commonly capture restoration rebuild. Coastal counties add hurricane permitting expectations.
No SC mold-named remediator license comparable to Louisiana. Thresholds and specialty lists change — confirm LLR materials.
Out-of-state fly-ins after tropical systems are a recurring enforcement theme.
South Dakota Local Only — Cities / Permits
Agency: Municipal building departments; state tax/business accounts
South Dakota has no statewide water-damage or mold-named restoration license for typical private work. City permits and business licensing remain.
We do not issue a fake green “no rules” chip. Sales tax accounts and permit desks still matter.
Document insurance and local compliance before marketing regional flood response.
Tennessee Conditional — Board for Licensing Contractors
Agency: Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors
Tennessee contractor licensing thresholds capture many residential and commercial rebuild scopes. Confirm current dollar triggers and classification names.
No statewide mold-named remediator license. Flood and freeze-rupture seasons still pull unlicensed contracting cases.
Verify before advertising statewide mitigation from a single metro registration.
Texas Required — TDLR Mold (Program Live)
Agency: Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) — Mold Assessors and Remediators; municipal contractor registration for rebuild
The mold program was not repealed. TDLR continues to license mold assessment technicians, consultants, and companies plus mold remediation contractors, companies, and workers under Occupations Code Chapter 1958. Company applications commonly cite an $850 fee, a Texas office, $1M per-occurrence commercial general liability, and a responsible licensed individual (confirm live TOOLS schedules).
SB 1255 (effective September 1, 2025) repealed §1958.102(b) — the supervised-employee exemption. Employees performing mold assessment or remediation generally need their own credential. TDLR’s September 2025 implementation update and March 2026 Chapter 78 rule readoption confirm ongoing regulation. Competing blogs announcing a full repeal are wrong.
Exemptions exist for owners/tenants in limited situations and for small areas under about 25 contiguous square feet for otherwise unlicensed persons — not a commercial restoration business model. Licensed contractors hired for small jobs generally must still follow mold rules (notification may be waived under 25 sq ft — confirm live FAQ).
Texas still has no statewide general contractor license for typical private rebuild. Cities (Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, Fort Worth, and others) register contractors and issue permits. The real TX restoration stack is TDLR mold + municipal registration + permits. IICRC ≠ TDLR. Carrier preferred ≠ licensed.
Utah Specialty / DOPL Contractor
Agency: Utah DOPL — Contracting
Utah specialty and general contractor licensing covers most alteration and rebuild work above thresholds commonly discussed near $7,000 (confirm Utah Code §58-55-305 live). Choose classifications that match demolition and remodel scopes.
No Utah mold-named remediator license. Document DOPL credentials before statewide emergency marketing.
IICRC helps insurance panels; DOPL is permission to contract.
Vermont Conditional — Local / Business
Agency: Vermont Secretary of State / municipal permits
Vermont lacks a statewide water-damage or mold-named restoration specialty. Local permits and business compliance still apply to rebuild scopes.
Flood recovery seasons bring temporary contractor attention — confirm town rules before mobilizing crews.
Do not invent a statewide restoration card that Vermont does not issue.
Virginia Specialty / DPOR Contractor + VCPA Mold Cert Overlay
Agency: Virginia DPOR — Contractor licensing; Mold Study / HB 2195 materials
Virginia’s old DPOR mold inspector/remediator license article was repealed in 2012 (Acts 2012). There is currently no restored DPOR mold license card.
HB 2195 (2025, emergency) amended the Virginia Consumer Protection Act to restrict selling residential mold remediation services without certification from a nationally or internationally recognized mold remediation certifying body and without following recognized standards. It also directed a DPOR workforce study (report timing cited around January 1, 2026). That is a VCPA certification overlay, not a return of the old license regime — confirm current Attorney General / DPOR guidance.
Ordinary water-loss rebuild still needs appropriate DPOR contractor class (A/B/C) when thresholds apply. IICRC may help satisfy the certification expectation for residential mold remediation under HB 2195 — it still does not replace contractor licensing for structural work.
Washington Specialty / Contractor Required — L&I
Agency: Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) — Contractor Registration
Washington requires L&I contractor registration for most construction for hire. Restoration rebuild is in scope. Bond and insurance filings are part of registration hygiene.
No WA mold-named statewide remediator license on the TDLR model. Lead and asbestos rules still matter on older Seattle/Tacoma housing stock.
Confirm registration and specialty endorsements before advertising statewide mitigation.
West Virginia Specialty / Contractor License
Agency: West Virginia Division of Labor / contractor licensing
West Virginia contractor licensing covers many construction activities above thresholds. Restoration rebuild typically needs the license plus local permits.
No mold-named statewide remediator license. Flood seasons still pull enforcement on unlicensed structural work.
Confirm classifications before cross-border work into Ohio, Pennsylvania, or Virginia.
Wisconsin Conditional — DSPS Dwelling Contractor
Agency: Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS)
Wisconsin dwelling contractor credentials commonly capture residential remodel/repair after water losses. Confirm live DSPS credential names and CE.
No statewide mold-named remediator license. Municipal permits still apply.
Freeze-rupture season is not a licensing holiday — keep credentials Active before marketing emergency drying.
Wyoming Local Only — Cities / Permits
Agency: Municipal building departments; state business licensing
Wyoming has no statewide water-damage or mold-named restoration license for typical private work. City permits and business licensing remain.
Trade licenses apply when mechanical/plumbing/electrical enter the scope. Local-only trap with Mountain West permitting.
Document insurance before marketing regional flood or freeze response.
FAQ
Do I need a license for water damage restoration?
Usually yes somewhere. Water extraction alone may sit under business/local rules in some markets, but the moment you open walls, remove drywall, rebuild, or touch mold/asbestos, you typically need a contractor or specialty credential — and in Florida, Texas, New York, and Louisiana a separate mold license may also apply. IICRC WRT/AMRT certificates are not state licenses. Assume you need credentials until the board or city says otherwise in writing.
Is IICRC certification the same as a state license?
No. IICRC (WRT, ASD, AMRT, FSRT, etc.) is industry training and a common insurance/adjuster expectation. It does not replace a CSLB contractor license, Florida DBPR mold remediator credential, Texas TDLR mold license, New York DOL Article 32 license, Louisiana LSLBC mold remediation classification, asbestos abatement credentials, or city permits. Same pattern as NABCEP for solar and ASE for mechanics.
Did Texas repeal its mold licensing program?
No. As of September 2026 the TDLR Mold Assessors and Remediators program is active. Senate Bill 1255 (effective September 1, 2025) repealed the supervised-employee exemption so employees performing mold assessment or remediation generally need their own credential. TDLR still issues company and individual mold licenses; Chapter 78 rules were readopted in March 2026. Guides claiming a full repeal are wrong.
What is the difference between Florida mold licenses and contractor licenses?
Florida DBPR Mold Assessor (MRSA) and Mold Remediator (MRSR) licenses under Chapter 468 Part XVI are separate from Construction Industry Licensing Board contractor licenses under Chapter 489. Structural rebuild usually needs a certified or registered contractor. Fla. Stat. section 468.8419 generally bars the same company from assessing and remediating the same structure within 12 months (with narrow Division I contractor carve-outs that still need disclosure). Remediator insurance is commonly cited at $1M GL with mold-related claims; assessor at $1M GL plus $1M E&O.
Does California have a mold remediation license?
No named statewide mold license. California regulates structural restoration through CSLB contractor classifications — commonly B General Building, B-2 Residential Remodeling, and specialty C-classes as scope requires. C-61/D-64 Non-specialized has historically been discussed for restoration only when CSLB agrees the work does not fit another class. Asbestos work needs C-22 / ASB pathways. Aggregate contracting at $1,000+ generally requires a license (AB 2622).
Can the same company assess and remediate mold on one project?
In New York, Labor Law Article 32 prohibits the same licensed party from performing both assessment and remediation on the same project. Florida section 468.8419 imposes 12-month conflict restrictions between assessor and remediator companies. Texas separates assessment and remediation license types with protocol/work-plan rules. Always read the state conflict rules before bundling testing and teardown.
Does a preferred-vendor list with an insurance carrier mean I am licensed?
No. Carrier preferred-vendor / network membership is a business relationship, not a government license. Adjusters still expect you to hold whatever state mold, contractor, and local credentials the job requires. Marketing 'insurance approved' without the board cards is an operator trap.
Does this guide replace calling the state board?
No. This is 2026 operator-facing research from agency materials and statutes — not legal advice. Fees, thresholds, exam vendors, and classification lists change. Verify with the cited board, department of labor, or city building department before you advertise, hire, or bid a market.
Bottom line
Water damage restoration licensing is messier than roofing’s named specialties and more multi-board than towing’s three layers — see our roofing, towing, and garage door 50-state maps for the same honest pattern. IICRC is training. Florida, Texas, New York, and Louisiana run real mold programs. California regulates rebuild through CSLB classes and asbestos credentials. Everywhere else still has a contractor threshold or a city desk that can idle a dehumidifier fleet.
Get the credentials that match the scopes you actually sell. Then dispatch like an operator — ping the closest legal crew, not whoever happens to be in the group chat.
Dispatch the Closest Legal Restoration Crew
Vortech Pro is Uber-style field dispatch for multi-crew restoration and trades fleets — live GPS, accept/reject job alerts, Platinum/Gold/Silver tiers, Stripe payouts to the company, Monday accounting lock. Tag which techs hold mold credentials, asbestos clearance, or rebuild-legal contractor status so the wrong van never takes the Category 3 ping. iOS and Android. $99/mo for 5 techs, +$20 per extra. Payments: 1% on top of Stripe. 30-day free trial, no annual contract.
