Cheapest States to Renew a Contractor License (2026)
Among the states that license general contractors at the state level, renewal fees vary widely. This table ranks the states we've verified from lowest published renewal fee to highest. Many states don't issue a state-level general-contractor license at all (licensing is local or trade-specific) and so aren't listed. Every figure links to the full renewal guide for that state.
cheapest states to renew a contractor license, ranked
| # | State | Renewal fee | Cycle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arkansas Contractor renewal | $50 | 12 mo |
| 2 | Idaho Contractor renewal | $50 | 24 mo |
| 3 | District of Columbia Contractor renewal | $99 | 24 mo |
| 4 | Georgia Contractor renewal | $100 | 24 mo |
| 5 | Massachusetts Contractor renewal | $100 | 24 mo |
| 6 | Louisiana Contractor renewal | $100 | 12 mo |
| 7 | Alaska Contractor renewal | $125 | 24 mo |
| 8 | Utah Contractor renewal | $128 | 24 mo |
| 9 | South Carolina Contractor renewal | $135 | 24 mo |
| 10 | Washington Contractor renewal | $141.10 | 24 mo |
| 11 | Michigan Contractor renewal | $150 | 36 mo |
| 12 | Rhode Island Contractor renewal | $150 | 12 mo |
| 13 | Tennessee Contractor renewal | $200 | 24 mo |
| 14 | Alabama Contractor renewal | $200 | 12 mo |
| 15 | Florida Contractor renewal | $205 | 24 mo |
| 16 | Hawaii Contractor renewal | $338 | 24 mo |
| 17 | Oregon Contractor renewal | $400 | 24 mo |
| 18 | Mississippi Contractor renewal | $400 | 12 mo |
| 19 | Connecticut Contractor renewal | $500 | 12 mo |
| 20 | Arizona Contractor renewal | $580 | 24 mo |
| 21 | Nevada Contractor renewal | $600 | 24 mo |
| 22 | California Contractor renewal | $700 | 24 mo |
States without a single published fee
These states don't publish a single fixed renewal fee — the requirement depends on factors covered on each state's full guide:
- North Carolina Contractor renewal
- Virginia Contractor renewal
- Minnesota Contractor renewal
- Wisconsin Contractor renewal
- New Mexico Contractor renewal
- West Virginia Contractor renewal
- North Dakota Contractor renewal
Based on 29 states verified against official boards. Figures change — confirm with your board before filing.