Painting Contractor License Requirements by State
Performs interior and exterior painting and coatings work. This page compares painting contractor licensing requirements across all 50 US states and the District of Columbia. Every row links to the verified state page with statute citations, fees, exam scope, insurance, and renewal rules.
- Published guides
- 51
- Exam pathways recorded
- 18
- Require surety bond
- 12
- Local / scope-specific
- 20
- Avg published experience
- 2.4 yr
Comparison table — all 51 jurisdictions
Scroll horizontally on smaller screens. Use the sort control to compare low-fee states, high-bond states, or the jurisdictions with the heaviest published experience requirements. Click any state to open the verified license page.
20 of these published jurisdictions have no single statewide trade license; local and scope-specific rules may apply.
| State | License | Exam | Experience | Bond | Initial fee | Renewal | NASCLA | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama State license | Alabama Painting Contractor — HBLB, AGCB, Local and Lead-Renovation Guide | Confirm with authority | — | — | $300 | 1 yr | — | Route-specific |
| Alaska State registration | Alaska Painting Specialty Contractor Registration Guide | No statewide exam | — | $10,000 | — | 2 yr | — | CBPL says complete contractor applications generally take several weeks |
| Arizona Mixed / scope-dependent | Arizona Painting and Wall Covering Contractor (C-34, R-34, or CR-34) | Required | 2 yr | $2,500 | $580 | 2 yr | — | Timing depends on experience documentation |
| Arkansas State license | Arkansas Home Improvement License / Commercial Contractor — Painting, Wall Covering | Depends on pathway | — | $10,000 | — | 1 yr | — | Varies by route |
| California Mixed / scope-dependent | California Class C-33 — Painting and Decorating Contractor | Required | 4 yr | $25,000 | $200 | 2 yr | — | CSLB does not publish a fixed processing time |
| Colorado Mixed / scope-dependent | Colorado Painting Contractor Requirements — Local Rules + EPA RRP | No statewide exam | — | — | — | — | — | There is no statewide painting credential timeline |
| Connecticut State registration | Connecticut Painting Contractor Requirements (DCP Registration and Lead Rules) | No statewide exam | — | — | — | 1 yr | — | Varies with DCP application processing |
| Delaware Local / scope-specific | Delaware Painting Contractor — Division of Revenue Business License | No statewide exam | — | — | $75 | 1 yr | — | — |
| District of Columbia Mixed / scope-dependent | DC Home Improvement Contractor or General Contractor BBL, With Conditional Lead Credentials | No statewide exam | — | $25,000 | $99 | 2 yr | — | DLCP does not publish one painting-specific approval time |
| Florida Local / scope-specific | Florida Painting — No Separate State Trade License | No statewide exam | — | — | — | 1 yr | — | Local timing varies |
| Georgia Local / scope-specific | No Georgia painting-contractor license; Georgia RRP certification can apply | Required | — | — | — | — | — | No state painting-license processing time exists |
| Hawaii State license | Hawaii C-33 Painting and Decorating Contractor License | Depends on pathway | 4 yr | — | — | 2 yr | — | Board review |
| Idaho Local / scope-specific | Idaho Contractor Registration for Painting + EPA Lead RRP | No statewide exam | — | — | $120 | 2 yr | — | Allow time for DOPL to receive all required registration documents |
| Illinois Local / scope-specific | Illinois — No State Painting License (Local Compliance + EPA RRP + IL Lead Program) | No statewide exam | — | — | — | 1 yr | — | No statewide painting-license waiting period |
| Indiana State license | Indiana Painting Contractor Requirements (Local and Lead-Safety Rules) | No statewide exam | — | — | — | — | — | Varies by local jurisdiction and whether lead credentials are needed |
| Iowa Mixed / scope-dependent | Iowa Construction Contractor Registration (Painting Work) | No statewide exam | — | $25,000 | — | 1 yr | — | — |
| Kansas Local / scope-specific | Kansas Painting Contractor Requirements — Local Registration + KDHE RRP | No statewide exam | — | — | — | — | — | Varies by local jurisdiction and KDHE RRP application processing. |
| Kentucky Local / scope-specific | Kentucky Painting Contractor Requirements — Local Rules and EPA RRP | No statewide exam | — | — | — | — | — | There is no statewide painting credential timeline |
| Louisiana State license | Louisiana Commercial Painting, Coating, and Blasting Specialty (S.11) — LSLBC | Required | — | — | $100 | 1 yr | — | LSLBC does not publish a universal processing time |
| Maine Local / scope-specific | Maine — No State Painting License (Home Construction Contracts Act + Federal RRP) | No statewide exam | — | — | — | — | — | No statewide painting-license timeline |
| Maryland State license | Maryland Home Improvement Commission (MHIC) License — Painting Scope | Required | 2 yr | — | $403.75 | 2 yr | — | MHIC says a complete application review typically takes two to three weeks |
| Massachusetts Local / scope-specific | Massachusetts Painting Contractor Requirements (HIC and Lead-Safety Rules) | No statewide exam | — | — | — | 2 yr | — | Varies by the HIC |
| Michigan Local / scope-specific | No State Painting Contractor License | Confirm with authority | — | — | — | — | — | No statewide painting-license processing time exists. |
| Minnesota Mixed / scope-dependent | Minnesota Painting Contractor Requirements — State Special-Skill and Local-License Guide | Required | — | — | — | — | — | There is no state painting-license lead time |
| Mississippi Mixed / scope-dependent | Mississippi Certificate of Responsibility — Painting (Commercial); Residential Remodeler When Applicable | Required | — | — | — | 1 yr | — | — |
| Missouri State license | Missouri Painting Contractor Requirements — Local Rules + Federal Lead RRP | No statewide exam | — | — | — | — | — | There is no statewide Missouri painting-license timeline |
| Montana Mixed / scope-dependent | Montana Painting Contractor Registration Guide | No statewide exam | — | — | — | 1 yr | — | — |
| Nebraska Local / scope-specific | Nebraska Contractor Registration for Painting Contractors | No statewide exam | — | — | $40 | 1 yr | — | — |
| Nevada Mixed / scope-dependent | Nevada C-4a Painting Contractor License | Required | 4 yr | $1,000 | $600 | 2 yr | — | No fixed statewide timeline |
| New Hampshire Local / scope-specific | New Hampshire Painting — No State Painting License | No statewide exam | — | — | — | — | — | There is no state painting-license timeline |
| New Jersey Local / scope-specific | New Jersey Home Improvement Contractor Business Registration — Painting | No statewide exam | — | — | $110 | 1 yr | — | The Division does not publish a fixed HICB processing time |
| New Mexico Mixed / scope-dependent | New Mexico CID GS-18 Painting and Decorating Contractor License | Depends on pathway | 2 yr | $10,000 | $36 | 3 yr | — | Varies with CID review |
| New York Local / scope-specific | No State Painting License — Local Contractor Requirements | Required | — | — | $100 | 2 yr | — | No statewide processing time exists |
| North Carolina State license | North Carolina Painting Contractor Requirements (General Contracting, Lead RRP, and Local Rules) | Depends on pathway | — | — | — | 1 yr | Accepted | — |
| North Dakota Local / scope-specific | North Dakota Contractor License — Painting Work | No statewide exam | — | — | $100 | 1 yr | — | The Secretary of State does not publish a universal processing time |
| Ohio Local / scope-specific | Ohio — No State Painting License (Local Compliance + EPA RRP) | No statewide exam | — | — | — | 1 yr | — | No statewide painting-license waiting period |
| Oklahoma State license | Oklahoma Painting Contractor Requirements — Local Rules and EPA RRP | No statewide exam | — | — | — | — | — | There is no statewide painting credential timeline |
| Oregon State license | Oregon CCB Construction Contractor License — Appropriate Endorsement | Required | — | $20,000 | $400 | 2 yr | Accepted | CCB says applications may take six to eight weeks to complete after submission |
| Pennsylvania Local / scope-specific | Pennsylvania Home Improvement Contractor Registration — Painting | No statewide exam | — | — | $100 | 2 yr | — | The Attorney General does not publish a fixed processing time |
| Rhode Island Mixed / scope-dependent | Rhode Island Contractor Registration, With Conditional Lead Renovation Licensing | No statewide exam | — | — | — | 1 yr | — | CRLB and RIDOH do not publish one painting-specific timeline |
| South Carolina State registration | South Carolina Residential Specialty Contractor Registration — Painter/Wallpaper; Commercial Nonstructural Renovation Classification | Required | 1 yr | $5,000 | — | 2 yr | — | — |
| South Dakota Local / scope-specific | South Dakota Painting Contractor — No State Trade License; Tax and Local Requirements | No statewide exam | — | — | — | — | — | There is no state painting trade-license processing period |
| Tennessee State license | Tennessee BC-11 Painting and Interior Decorating Contractor Guide | Required | — | — | $250 | 2 yr | Accepted | BLC says contractor license issuance typically takes four to six weeks |
| Texas Local / scope-specific | Texas — No State Painting License (Local Compliance + EPA RRP) | No statewide exam | — | — | — | 1 yr | — | No statewide painting-license waiting period |
| Utah State license | Utah S270 Drywall, Paint, and Plastering Contractor Guide | Confirm with authority | 2 yr | — | $175 | 2 yr | — | Timing depends on the qualifier’s documents |
| Vermont Mixed / scope-dependent | Vermont Residential Contractor Registration + Lead-Safe RRPM Licensing When Applicable | Confirm with authority | — | — | $75 | 2 yr | — | OPR does not publish a universal processing time |
| Virginia State license | Virginia Class A/B/C Contractor License — Painting and Wallcovering Specialty (PTC) | Required | 1 yr | — | $25 | 2 yr | — | Timing depends on course completion |
| Washington State registration | Washington Specialty Contractor Registration (Painting) — L&I | No statewide exam | — | $15,000 | — | 2 yr | — | L&I processing depends on a complete application |
| West Virginia Local / scope-specific | West Virginia Painting Contractor — No State Trade License | No statewide exam | — | — | — | 1 yr | — | No statewide painting license is issued |
| Wisconsin Mixed / scope-dependent | Wisconsin Painting Contractor Requirements — Dwelling-Permit and Lead-Safe Work Guide | Required | — | $25,000 | — | 2 yr | — | Routine painting has no state painting-license lead time |
| Wyoming Mixed / scope-dependent | Wyoming Painting Contractor — Local Licensing and Permit Guide | No statewide exam | — | — | — | — | — | Local and project-specific |
National picture for painting contractor
Of the 51 jurisdictions currently published in this dataset, 18 record required or conditional examination pathways, 12 record a positive license-bond amount, and 3 record NASCLA acceptance. Among entries with a positive numeric experience threshold, the average recorded value is 2.4 years.
The comparison above is generated at build time directly from the state license entries on this site. Every value is traceable to the regulator's published rule. If you spot a discrepancy, the state page is the source of truth and will be re-verified against the official source set.
Choosing where to license first
- Lowest barrier to entry: compare the recorded fee and examination pathway, then read the guide for local obligations and missing costs. A local-only label does not mean the work is unregulated.
- Strongest reciprocity downstream: states marked NASCLA Accepted, because the same exam can unlock multiple jurisdictions later.
- Lowest upfront cost: focus on combinations with the smallest initial fee and no bond requirement.
- Fastest path to wallet card: compare the Time column, but remember that municipal programs can still involve multiple city registrations.
Related trades
Scope of work overlaps at the edges of every classification. Contractors researching painting contractor licensing often also need the comparison hub for these adjacent trades:
Related reading
Original cross-state analyses from our dataset that add context to the painting contractor table above — who runs the exams, where the burden is heaviest, and what a criminal record means for eligibility.
The Contractor Licensing Atlas
What mapping 918 licenses revealed about exam providers, bonds, and where a trade needs no state license at all.
Contractor license difficulty index
Where each state ranks on exam, experience, and bond burden — hardest to easiest.
License costs ranked by state
Cheapest to most expensive states once fees, bond, and first-year insurance are counted.
Licensing with a criminal record
A 50-state look at background checks and which convictions actually block a license.
Data is sourced from the issuing boards' published rules. Latest completed source-check date represented in the dataset: 2026-09-30.