Does Maine have a state general contractor license?

No. Maine is one of a small group of states that does not issue a statewide general contractor license. The Maine Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division explicitly states that Maine 'does not license or regulate' home contractors. The state only licenses specialty trades — electricians, plumbers, oil/solid fuel/propane technicians, and manufactured-housing licensees — through boards inside OPOR.

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

Use OPOR's online license lookup at pfr.maine.gov/ALMSOnline/ALMSQuery to verify any electrician, plumber, fuel technician, or manufactured-housing licensee. For general contracting, roofing, carpentry, HVAC and painting there is no state license to check — instead, ask for a written contract compliant with the Home Construction Contracts Act and call the Maine AG Consumer Protection Division at 1-800-436-2131 to ask whether the contractor has a complaint history.

What is the Maine Home Construction Contracts Act?

10 M.R.S. Chapter 219-A (§§ 1486-1490), first enacted in 1987 and amended in 2003 to raise the threshold from $1,400 to $3,000. It requires any home construction, repair, or remodeling contract over $3,000 to be in writing and signed by both parties before work begins, with specific required terms: estimated work dates, total contract price, down payment capped at one-third, description of the work and materials, a statutory warranty, a dispute-resolution election, a written change-order clause, and an addendum containing the Attorney General's Home Construction Warning.

What happens if a Maine contractor does not use a written contract over $3,000?

Each violation of 10 M.R.S. Chapter 219-A is a civil violation with a forfeiture of $100 to $1,000 under § 1490(2). More importantly, a violation is prima facie evidence of a violation of the Maine Unfair Trade Practices Act (5 M.R.S. Ch. 10), which allows the Attorney General to bring an enforcement action under § 209 and gives consumers a private right of action for actual damages, restitution, and reasonable attorney's fees under § 213. Courts have also held that failure to use a written contract can bar the contractor from enforcing rights against the homeowner.

How much can a Maine contractor ask for as a down payment?

No more than one-third of the total contract price. 10 M.R.S. § 1487(5) caps the initial down payment on any home construction contract over $3,000 at 33.3% of the total price. Anything larger is a violation of the Home Construction Contracts Act.

Who licenses electricians in Maine?

The Electricians' Examining Board, within the Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation (OPOR) in the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation (DPFR). The Board issues Master, Journeyman, Journeyman-in-Training, Apprentice, Helper, and Limited electrician licenses. Verify any Maine electrician through the OPOR online portal at pfr.maine.gov.

Who licenses plumbers in Maine?

The Plumbers' Examining Board, also inside OPOR / DPFR (not DHHS). The Board issues Master, Journeyman, Journeyman-in-Training, and Trainee plumber licenses. Since January 1, 2024, all license applications, exams and renewals are handled through the Board's online portal. License verification is free through OPOR's database.

Who licenses oil burner and solid fuel technicians in Maine?

The Maine Fuel Board, inside OPOR / DPFR. The Board licenses Master and Journeyman Oil Burner and/or Solid Fuel Technicians, Apprentice technicians, Propane and Natural Gas Technicians, Limited Propane and Oil Energy Auditors, Limited Tank Installers, and Limited Wood Pellet Technicians. Licenses are issued on a two-year term from first licensure.

Do I need a contractor license to do home repair work in Portland, Maine?

Portland does not issue a general contractor license, but most construction, alteration, and demolition work requires a permit through the City's Permitting & Inspections Department, applied for via the Citizen Self Service (CSS) portal. Proof of liability insurance and, for electrical, plumbing, or fuel work, a current OPOR state license must accompany the permit application.

Is any 2025-2026 Maine legislation changing contractor licensing?

As of April 2026 Maine still does not license general contractors. LD 1226 (2025), which would have established a Residential Construction Board and required licensing for residential projects above a monetary threshold, was under consideration but had not become law as of this update. Track bill status at legislature.maine.gov; nothing in 2024-2026 has changed the Home Construction Contracts Act's $3,000 written-contract threshold.

How to Verify a Contractor in Maine — No State License Required

Maine Contractor Licensing — Quick Facts

State License Required?: No — varies by city/county
Minimum Project Threshold: $3,000 (Home Construction Contracts Act requires a written contract above this threshold; no GC license required)

Phone: (207) 624-8603
Address: Mailing: 35 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333; Physical: 76 Northern Ave, Gardiner, ME 04345
Email: prof.lic@maine.gov
Online License Lookup: Search licenses online →

Maine does not license general contractors. OPOR (within DPFR) licenses specialty trades through four boards: Electricians' Examining Board, Plumbers' Examining Board, Maine Fuel Board (oil, solid fuel, propane, natural gas), and Manufactured Housing Board. The Home Construction Contracts Act (10 M.R.S. ch. 219-A, §§ 1486-1490) requires any home construction or repair contract over $3,000 to be in writing with specific terms (one-third down-payment cap, statutory warranty, AG Home Construction Warning addendum). Violations are prima facie evidence of a Maine Unfair Trade Practices Act violation (5 M.R.S. ch. 10).

Search licenses on the official Maine board site →

Maine does not require a state-level general contractor license. However, this doesn't mean contractors can operate without any oversight. Many cities and counties in Maine have their own licensing requirements, and specialty trades (plumbing, electrical, HVAC) typically require state licensing even when general contracting doesn't.

How to Verify a Contractor in Maine

Since Maine doesn't have statewide licensing, you'll need to:

Check local requirements. Contact your city or county building department to find out if contractors need a local license, permit, or registration to work in your area.
Verify specialty licenses. If your project involves plumbing, electrical, HVAC, or other specialty trades, those contractors should hold state-issued specialty licenses. Check the Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation (OPOR), Department of Professional and Financial Regulation (DPFR) for specialty license verification.
Ask for proof of insurance. Even without a licensing requirement, any reputable contractor should carry general liability insurance and workers' compensation insurance. Ask for certificates before signing a contract.
Check the Better Business Bureau. In states without licensing boards, the BBB and online reviews are your primary tools for vetting contractors.
Verify business registration. Check that the contractor is registered as a business with the Maine Secretary of State.

Protecting Yourself Without State Licensing

In states like Maine where there's no state licensing board to file complaints with, it's especially important to:

Get a detailed written contract before any work begins
Never pay more than 10-30% upfront
Verify the contractor pulls all required building permits
Get multiple bids and check references
Use a credit card for payments when possible (chargeback protection)

Should Maine Require Contractor Licensing?

States without contractor licensing consistently have higher rates of consumer complaints about home improvement fraud. Licensed states provide consumers with surety bond protection, complaint investigation, and disciplinary enforcement that unlicensed states lack. If you're in Maine, consider advocating for statewide contractor licensing through your state legislature.

Sources

Facts on this page were verified against the following primary sources on April 20, 2026. Licensing laws, fees, and bond amounts change — always confirm with the official board before acting.

Maine Legislature — 10 M.R.S. § 1487 (Home construction contracts) — Statutory text of the $3,000 written-contract threshold, required contract contents, one-third down-payment cap, statutory warranty, dispute-resolution election, and AG Home Construction Warning addendum. (retrieved 2026-04-20)
Maine Legislature — 10 M.R.S. § 1488 (Change orders) — Requires every change order to be in a signed writing that becomes part of the original contract. (retrieved 2026-04-20)
Maine Legislature — 10 M.R.S. § 1490 (Violations; civil penalty) — Civil forfeiture of $100-$1,000 per violation and prima facie evidence of a Maine Unfair Trade Practices Act violation. (retrieved 2026-04-20)
Maine Legislature — Title 5, Chapter 10: Unfair Trade Practices — Maine Unfair Trade Practices Act (§§ 205-A through 214) — short title, unlawful acts, AG injunction authority, and private right of action. (retrieved 2026-04-20)
Maine Attorney General — Home Construction & Repair (Consumer Warning) — Official AG statement that Maine 'does not license or regulate' home contractors; full text of the Home Construction Warning required as an addendum to every contract over $3,000. (retrieved 2026-04-20)
Maine Attorney General — Consumer Law Guide, Chapter 17 — Attorney General's plain-language guide to the Home Construction Contracts Act, with model contract and model change order. (retrieved 2026-04-20)
Maine Attorney General — Consumer Complaint Form — Online complaint intake for the Consumer Protection Division (1-800-436-2131). (retrieved 2026-04-20)
Department of Professional and Financial Regulation — home — Umbrella department for OPOR (Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation) and all trade licensing boards. (retrieved 2026-04-20)
OPOR — Electricians' Examining Board — State licensing authority for Master, Journeyman, Journeyman-in-Training, Apprentice, Helper, and Limited electricians. (retrieved 2026-04-20)
OPOR — Plumbers' Examining Board — State licensing authority for Master, Journeyman, Journeyman-in-Training, and Trainee plumbers; mandatory online applications since 1/1/2024. (retrieved 2026-04-20)
OPOR — Maine Fuel Board — Licenses oil burner / solid fuel technicians, propane and natural gas technicians, limited tank installers, energy auditors, and wood pellet technicians. (retrieved 2026-04-20)
OPOR — Manufactured Housing Board — Licenses manufacturers, dealers, and installers of manufactured housing; enforces 10 M.R.S. Chapter 951 construction and installation standards. (retrieved 2026-04-20)
OPOR — License Lookup (ALMS Online) — Real-time, authoritative database of every active professional license issued by DPFR/OPOR. OPOR does not issue paper verifications. (retrieved 2026-04-20)
City of Portland — Permitting & Inspections — Municipal permit authority; contractors apply through the Citizen Self Service (CSS) portal with proof of insurance and state trade licenses. (retrieved 2026-04-20)
City of Bangor — Permits and Applications — Bangor Code Enforcement permit intake for building, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work; no standalone municipal contractor license. (retrieved 2026-04-20)

Other States

Looking up a contractor in a different state? Visit our state-by-state contractor license lookup page to find the right verification tool for your state.

Ready to look up a contractor?

Search on Official Maine Site →

How to check a contractor's license in Maine.

How to Verify a Contractor in Maine

Protecting Yourself Without State Licensing

Should Maine Require Contractor Licensing?

Sources

Other States

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