Verify a Louisiana contractor through the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors, which is the state body that licenses contractors. Ask the company which license it holds and whether the work you need requires one, then check the number with the board before work starts. This guide names no license category or cost threshold.
Key takeaways
- The Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors is the body to check a contractor's license with.
- Ask the company which license it holds, and ask for the number in writing before work begins.
- Check the number with the board yourself rather than relying on a copy the company gives you.
- Ask whether the work you need requires a license, and confirm the answer with the board.
- Keep a note of each check, with the date, the number and what the board's record showed.
- A license check is part of your own due diligence, and the board's record is the source to rely on.
Which state body licenses contractors in Louisiana?
The Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors, known as LSLBC, is the state body that licenses contractors. Its website is lslbc.louisiana.gov, and that is where a license is checked. This guide does not describe the license categories, because the rules are the board's to state.
A contractor license is issued by the board, and the board's records show whether a license is current and in what name. The check is made by the homeowner, not by the restoration company that is hired to do the work. A company that tells you it is licensed should be able to give you the number, and the board's record should match it.
This site does not state which license category a particular restoration job needs, or what dollar amount triggers one. Those rules are set by the board, and a summary here could be out of date. Ask the board, or ask the company, and confirm the answer with the board.
What should I ask the company before any work starts?
Ask for the license number, the name the license is held in, whether the license covers the work, and whether the company carries its own insurance. Ask for these in writing, before any equipment is set or any contract is signed.
A company that is reluctant to give the number, or that gives a number it cannot explain, is a reason to pause. Ask who will do the work and whether the people on site are employees or subcontractors, because the answer decides whose name is on the record and whose license applies.
Ask also what the company will do if the work is not satisfactory. A clear answer in writing is more useful than a verbal promise, and it sets out the responsibility for the work.
| Question | Why it matters | Where to check |
|---|---|---|
| Which license does the company hold? | Identifies the license the board must confirm | Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors |
| Does this work need a license? | The work decides which license applies | The board, and the company's written answer |
| Under what name is the license held? | The name must match the business doing the work | The board's record |
| Does the company carry insurance? | Protects the owner if something goes wrong | The insurer's certificate, requested in writing |
| Who is on site? | Shows whether the work is done by the company or a subcontractor | The written scope and the crew list |
How do I check the license with the board?
Go to the board's website at lslbc.louisiana.gov and search for the company or the license number. Compare the name, the status and the scope on the record with what the company told you, and save a dated copy or note of the result.
The board's site is the source to rely on. Search by the license number first, because it is the most exact match, and then by the company name to see whether there are other records under that name. A mismatch in the name or the status is a reason to ask the company for an explanation before going on.
Keep a dated note of the check, including the number, the name on the record and the status shown. If the license changes later, the note shows what the record said when you checked, which is useful if a dispute arises.
What if the company is not licensed for the work?
If the board's record does not show a license that covers the work, do not sign a contract or pay a deposit until the question is resolved. Ask the company to explain, and check with the board about what the work requires.
Work done without the right license can leave the owner with few routes to recover losses, and it can complicate an insurance claim. Ask the board whether the work needs a license before you decide, rather than assuming either answer.
Some work in a restoration job is done by trades that carry their own licenses, such as plumbing or electrical work. Ask the company which trades it uses and check each one with the body that licenses it.
Why does the license matter after a flood?
After a flood, owners often sign quickly, and that is when a license check matters most. The license shows that a business is recognized by the state for the work, and the record is a check on the company's claim to be qualified.
A flood brings many companies into a neighborhood, and not all of them are equally experienced or equally clear about their credentials. The check takes a few minutes and protects the owner's position if the work is later questioned.
The license is one part of due diligence. Also ask for references, a written scope, a list of the materials removed and the readings from each visit, and keep those records with the license note.
What should I do if I cannot confirm a license?
If the board's record cannot be found or does not match the company's claim, do not proceed on the company's word alone. Ask the board for help, ask the company for written clarification, and get a second opinion before committing to the work.
A company may hold a license under a different name or a related business. Ask the company to show the connection in writing, and check that connection with the board. If the answer is still unclear, the safer choice is to look for another company whose record you can confirm.
Keep every email, letter and note from the discussion. Those records are useful if you need to explain your choice to an insurer or a regulator later.
What should I do once the license is confirmed?
Once the board's record matches the company's claim, put the license number, the name and the date of your check into the written contract or the scope. Then confirm that the people who do the work are covered by the company's responsibility.
A confirmed license is the start of due diligence, not the end. Ask who will supervise the work on site and who will sign the final report. The name on the contract should be the name on the license, and any subcontractor should be named in writing with its own credentials.
Ask the company to put in writing that it is responsible for the work it contracts to do, and that it will provide the readings, logs and final report. Those documents are the record an insurer or a second contractor will need.
How do I keep a record of the license check?
Save a dated screenshot or printout of the board's record, the company's written answer about the license, and any email in which the company confirms its credentials. Keep them with the contract and the crew's records.
A record made on the day of the check is the strongest evidence that you did your part. Note who you spoke with at the company, the date, the license number and the status shown on the board's record. If the status changes later, your note shows what it was when you checked.
The record is also useful if a dispute arises about who did the work. Keep the list of people on site, the subcontractors named and the dates of each visit alongside the license note.
What if the company is based outside Louisiana?
A company based in another state should still show a Louisiana record for work in Louisiana, if the board requires one for the work. Ask the board how its rules apply to an out-of-state company before you sign.
Some companies work across state lines after a disaster, and some arrive with licenses from another state. A license from somewhere else is not automatically a substitute for the record the Louisiana board keeps. Ask the board directly whether the work needs a Louisiana license, and ask the company to show how it meets that requirement.
Keep a note of the company's home address, its Louisiana contact and its written answer. Those details matter if a dispute later asks where the business is based and who is responsible for the work on site.
How does the license check fit with the rest of the contract?
The license check should come before the contract is signed, and the contract should refer to the license number and the scope of work. A deposit or first payment should not be made until both are in writing.
A contract that names the license and describes the scope gives the owner a clear basis for any later complaint. A contract that says only that the company is licensed gives little to hold it to. Ask that the number, the scope and the responsibility for the work all appear in the same document.
Read the payment terms carefully. A large payment at the start, before any readings or any scope is agreed, reduces the owner's leverage if the work is later questioned. The license check protects the owner most when it is tied to the terms of payment.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I check a Louisiana contractor's license?
With the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors, at lslbc.louisiana.gov. Search by the license number first, then by the company name, and compare the record with what the company told you.
Does every water damage job need a contractor license?
This guide does not say. The board sets the rules for which work requires a license and which license applies. Ask the board, and ask the company for its written answer before work begins.
What license threshold applies to a repair?
This guide does not name a threshold or a category, because the board's rules decide them and sources on the point differ. Confirm the rule with the board before you agree to work.
Can I rely on a license copy the company gives me?
Check the number with the board yourself. A copy can be out of date, and the board's record is the source to rely on.
What if the company says it does not need a license for my job?
Ask why, in writing, and check the answer with the board. Do not accept the statement without a check, because the answer decides what the work is and whose responsibility it is.
Does the license check cover insurance?
No. The license record and the insurance are separate. Ask the company for a current insurance certificate in writing, and check the policy details with the insurer.
Sources
This guide is general information for Lafayette Parish homeowners, not a substitute for an on-site inspection. Prices are estimates. See our disclaimer.