Louisiana contractor licenses: the $7,500 line, and the other boards that matter

If you have worked in other states, the first thing to adjust to in Louisiana is how low the licensing line sits. A homeowner's repair job of $7,500 can require a state registration, and the bill for a roof or a bathroom remodel passes that line fast. Beyond the contractors board there are separate agencies for plumbing, plant work, trees, irrigation, structural pest control and pesticide application. This page maps them with the statutes and agency pages behind each. It is general information, not a legal opinion, and the thresholds and fees can change, so verify them with the board before you bid.

Which Louisiana agency licenses which work?

Louisiana's startup basics, including the $125 LLC fee that took effect October 1, 2026, are on our Louisiana startup page. For how licensing works in general, read our guide to getting a contractor license.

How the $7,500 and $50,000 lines work

R.S. 37:2150.1 defines a contractor by project value. It covers commercial work of $50,000 or more, new residential structures of $50,000 or more, improvements or repairs to an existing residential structure of $7,500 or more, and mold remediation of $7,500 or more. The statute says project value includes the entire cost of labor, materials, rentals and all direct and indirect expenses, regardless of who pays them or whether they are donated. A customer who buys the shingles does not lower your number.

Three more rules prevent workarounds:

• Under R.S. 37:2158, if a contract or scope of work is divided into parts to avoid the need for a license, the divided parts are treated as one contract.
• The board decides whether contracts make up a single scope of work, and may look at drawings, plans and site maps.
• A home improvement contractor, defined as someone working on a home improvement project of at least $7,500 but less than $50,000, may not perform structural work such as footings, foundations, outside walls, bearing walls, floor slabs or roofing systems.

Residential contractors, as the statute defines them, include anyone bidding or performing home improvement at $7,500 or more. The board's FAQ explains the practical tiers: a home improvement registration for projects over $7,500 up to $50,000, and a commercial license over $50,000.

Residential roofing: its own classification at $7,500

R.S. 37:2150.1 defines residential roofing as constructing, altering, repairing, tearing down or installing materials for any phase of roofing specific to a residential structure with a project value of $7,500 or more, and defines a residential roofing contractor as anyone who bids, offers or performs that work. The board's notices add the licensing rules. Effective January 1, 2026, only licensees holding the Residential Construction or Residential Roofing classification may perform residential roof work. The board's July 13, 2026 memorandum, citing Act 757 of 2026 and R.S. 37:2150.1 and 37:2156.4, says that from August 1, 2026 a residential roofing project is a building used mainly as a residence with up to four dwelling units in one structure. Subject to exemptions, anyone who advertises, solicits, quotes, bids, contracts, supervises or performs roofing work worth $7,500 or more must hold one of those two classifications. A home improvement registration does not cover it. Our Louisiana roofing startup page covers storm season, and the national roofing license guide compares other states.

What the contractors board requires

From the board's FAQ, as read in October 2026:

• Home improvement, residential and mold remediation applicants and licensees need workers' compensation coverage, and the board's FAQ says there are "absolutely no exceptions" to that requirement. The FAQ still lists $100,000 of general liability insurance, but the board's July 13, 2026 memorandum (Act 757 of 2026, R.S. 37:2156.1) raised the minimum to $500,000, or equivalent liability protection through an authorized liability trust fund, effective August 1, 2026. Under the memo the proof must come from your agent, broker or insurer, must cover at least six months and every scope you are licensed for with no exclusions for those scopes, and must list the board as certificate holder. The board's June 2026 notice says failing to meet the new standard will result in suspension of licensure.
• The insurance certificate must list the board as certificate holder, and coverage must stay continuous while the license is active.
• The Business and Law course is required for all license applicants. Approved candidates schedule exams through PSI.
• A name or structure change costs $100, and so does an officer change for a corporation.
• A Secretary of State registration or a local occupational license does not replace a state contractor license.
• Military applicants and military spouses may qualify for reciprocity under the board's rule if they have held a license in another state for at least one year, are in good standing, and complete the Business and Law course. The board issues a written decision within 30 calendar days of a complete application.

Plumbing adds a second layer. The FAQ states that plumbing work of $10,000 or more requires a commercial plumbing license with the LSLBC in addition to a master plumber license. The board has also noticed open meetings for October 27 and November 24, 2026 to discuss moving plumbing licensing from the State Plumbing Board to the LSLBC. As of October 2026 the notice describes a discussion, not a change in who licenses plumbers, so confirm which board applies before you apply.

Who is exempt from the contractors board?

R.S. 37:2157 lists the exemptions. Among them, as read in October 2026:

• Homeowners working on their own personal residence, if they do not build more than one residence per year. A residential property owner who physically does home improvement on a personal residence is exempt from home improvement licensure.
• Persons who work exclusively in landscaping or interior painting and wall covering, for home improvement purposes. Exterior painting does not appear on that list.
• Employees of a licensee, and dewatering or water mitigation work.
• Persons performing the work of a residential contractor in areas or municipalities with no permitting procedure.
• Subcontractors of a residential license holder, except for electrical, mechanical, plumbing, mold remediation, asbestos or hazardous materials work.
• Electrical, mechanical and plumbing licensees working exclusively within the scope of their classification.

The board's FAQ adds that suppliers who only furnish materials need no license, but anyone bidding to furnish and install does. Section 2157 also says its exemptions do not waive local and state health and life safety code requirements.

What happens if you work without a license?

R.S. 37:2163 makes it unlawful to act as a contractor without an active license. The penalty is a misdemeanor: a fine up to $500 per day of violation, or three months in prison, or both. If an unlicensed person causes harm or damage over $300, the fine runs from $500 to $5,000, or imprisonment of six months to five years, or both. The district attorney in the parish where the violation occurs has sole authority to prosecute these cases.

Licensed contractors face rules on advertising and paperwork too. R.S. 37:2158 lists as violations publishing a misleading or false claim about license status or classification in any medium, including digital platforms; failing to give a residential, home improvement or mold client your name, license number, classification and insurance certificates in writing when asked; and failing to have a written contract signed and dated by all parties. A contractor who hires an unlicensed contractor for licensed work is also in violation. If your website or Google listing mentions a license, the classification and name should match the board's records.

Plumbers: State Plumbing Board

R.S. 37:1367 makes the work of a residential plumber limited, a journeyman plumber, a master plumber, a medical gas piping installer, a gas fitter and a water supply protection specialist depend on a license from the State Plumbing Board. A journeyman may work only when employed by a master plumber licensed by the board, apprentices work under the direct supervision of a licensed journeyman, and an employing entity may not hold itself out as being in the plumbing business unless it employs a master plumber. The statute preempts municipal examinations for master plumbers, though localities can still collect locally adopted fees from licensed plumbers. Persons doing work on their own residences are exempt from the gas fitter requirement. Our plumber licensing guide shows how other states handle it.

Plants, trees, irrigation and pesticides: LDAF

LDAF's nursery and landscaping page says all licenses and permits expire January 31 each year. Its rules by work type:

The landscape page also states that grass seeding and hydro-seeding require a seed dealer's license, and that clearing trees and brush is allowed to contractors holding the board's Earthwork or Clearing, Grubbing and Snagging classifications.

For pesticides, LDAF says anyone who applies must be certified, and that commercial application companies that apply by ground need a Ground Owner Operator License: $200 for Louisiana residents ($500 for non-residents), plus a $50 equipment registration fee and proof of liability insurance of not less than $25,000. The exam is $50, with the General Standards exam free, the annual card renewal is $20, and recertification is by approved meeting or retest every three years. Structural pest control is separate. A place of business permit costs $150 for two employees or fewer and $200 for three or more, permits expire June 30, and licensing exams are $50 per phase. Our pest control license guide gives the national view.

Check these before you bid in Louisiana

1. Price the job with labor, materials and rentals together, and compare that number to $7,500, $10,000 and $50,000.
2. If it is a reroof or a structural repair, confirm you hold the right class, since a home improvement registration does not cover roofing systems.
3. If a plumber or an irrigation crew is involved, confirm the State Plumbing Board and LDAF credentials.
4. Put your name, license number and classification in the written contract, and check that your website matches the board's records.
5. Ask the parish or city about a local occupational license and any permit.

Rules change, and the Legislature amends the contractors law often. Confirm with the board before relying on any number here.

Frequently asked questions