The independent guide to vetting, licensing, and hiring contractors in Washington, DC. Verify a license, understand permits and the $25,000 bond, spot red flags, and learn what jobs actually cost — grounded in DLCP, DOB, and DC OAG guidance.
Filter by trade, permit need, and whether a DC license is required. Cost bands are DC-anchored estimate ranges — never quotes.
Showing 10 of 10 trades
~$202–$521/job · ~$90/hr
Repairs, fixtures, water heaters, and re-pipes — and when DC requires a permit.
~$47–$93/hr · first hour ~$140
Panel work, rewiring, and fixture installs almost always need a DOB permit.
AC repair to full furnace/AC replacement
Repairs, replacements, and system installs — equipment changes need permits.
~$81/hr labor · full replacement varies
Repair vs. replacement, flat-roof realities, and storm-chaser red flags.
Emergency mitigation + repairs
Hiring under pressure after a flood without getting overcharged.
Cosmetic refresh to full gut
Where the money goes and which work triggers DC permits.
Refresh to full renovation
Plumbing moves, waterproofing, and realistic DC budgets.
Finishing + waterproofing
Egress, waterproofing, and the permits a finished basement requires.
Per-room to whole-home interior/exterior
Pricing per square foot and vetting a painter the right way.
Hourly small-job work
When a handyman is fine — and when DC law requires a licensed contractor.
~$202–$521/job · ~$90/hr
Repairs, fixtures, water heaters, and re-pipes — and when DC requires a permit.
License required · Permit sometimes required
~$47–$93/hr · first hour ~$140
Panel work, rewiring, and fixture installs almost always need a DOB permit.
License required · Permit usually required
AC repair to full furnace/AC replacement
Repairs, replacements, and system installs — equipment changes need permits.
License required · Permit usually required
~$81/hr labor · full replacement varies
Repair vs. replacement, flat-roof realities, and storm-chaser red flags.
License required · Permit usually required
Emergency mitigation + repairs
Hiring under pressure after a flood without getting overcharged.
License required · Permit sometimes required
Cosmetic refresh to full gut
Where the money goes and which work triggers DC permits.
License required · Permit usually required
Refresh to full renovation
Plumbing moves, waterproofing, and realistic DC budgets.
License required · Permit usually required
Finishing + waterproofing
Egress, waterproofing, and the permits a finished basement requires.
License required · Permit usually required
Per-room to whole-home interior/exterior
Pricing per square foot and vetting a painter the right way.
License required · Permit rarely required
Hourly small-job work
When a handyman is fine — and when DC law requires a licensed contractor.
No HIC license needed · Permit rarely required
Four guides covering the whole job of hiring safely in DC.
How to find, screen, interview, and contract with a contractor in the District — from comparing bids to safe payment schedules.
Explore Hiring & Vetting → 02The DLCP / DOB split, the Basic Business License and Home Improvement Contractor endorsement, the $25,000 bond, and when you need a DC building permit.
Explore Licensing & Permits → 03How DC residents get burned and how to recover — warning signs, common scams, the Home Improvement Guaranty Fund, and how to file a complaint.
Explore Scams & Protection → 04What jobs cost in DC, whether they need a license or permit, and what to ask — plumbing, electrical, roofing, HVAC, remodeling, restoration and more.
Explore Trade Cost Guides →Every regulatory claim on this site links to its primary source. We do not rank, recommend, or take payment from any contractor.
Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection — business licenses, the HIC endorsement, and consumer protection.
Department of Buildings — construction permits, inspections, and code enforcement.
Office of the Attorney General — consumer-protection hotline and enforcement.
Official portal for verifying DC Basic Business Licenses.
Better Business Bureau — business profiles, ratings, and complaint history.
Federal Trade Commission — national consumer guidance on hiring contractors.
Last reviewed June 16, 2026.