Arizona contractor license lookup with the ROC
How to check an Arizona contractor license with the Registrar of Contractors: commercial, residential, and dual classes, bond, status, and the $1,000 rule.
Updated
Arizona licenses contractors statewide through the Arizona Registrar of Contractors (ROC). To look up a license, use the ROC's Contractor Search and search by the six-digit license number or the business name. The record shows the status, classification, qualifying party, bond, and complaint history.
When a license is required
The ROC's general rule is that a license is required if labor and materials exceed $1,000, or if the work needs a permit regardless of price. The handyman exemption in A.R.S. 32-1121 covers only work of a casual or minor nature under $1,000 in total. It does not apply when a local building permit is required, or when the work is part of a larger operation or split into smaller contracts to stay under the limit. For a subcontractor on a commercial or multifamily job, assume a license is required.
Commercial, residential, or dual
Arizona issues three license types, and the type matters as much as the trade:
- Commercial: A (general engineering), B-1 (general commercial), B-2 (general small commercial, limited to projects of $2,000,000 or less), and C specialty classes such as C-11 electrical, C-37 plumbing, C-39 air conditioning and refrigeration, and C-42 roofing
- Residential: B (general residential), B-3 (general remodeling and repair), and R specialty classes such as R-11 electrical and R-37 plumbing
- Dual: KB-1 and KB-2 for general work, and CR classes for specialties, covering both the commercial and residential scope
A residential license does not authorize commercial work, and the reverse is also true. A B-2 over $2,000,000 is outside its scope.
How to check a license
- Open the Contractor Search and enter the six-digit license number, including leading zeros, or the company name.
- Open the record and confirm the business name, classification, and qualifying party.
- Read the status and the renewed through date.
- Review the bond section and the complaint information.
Reading status values
| Status | Can contract? | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Active | Yes | In good standing |
| Inactive | No | In good standing, but the licensee put it on hold |
| Suspended | No | Administrative or disciplinary, such as no bond, no qualifying party, or non-renewal |
| Expired | No | Not renewed |
| Revoked | No | Ended by disciplinary action |
| Voluntary cancellation | No | Cancelled by the licensee |
| Withdrawn | No | The application was withdrawn |
Per the ROC, only an active license can legally contract.
The bond and workers' comp
Every ROC license must be backed by a license bond or cash deposit. The amount depends on the classification and the contractor's estimated annual volume in Arizona, within ranges set by statute, from as little as $1,000 for a small residential specialty license up to $100,000 for the largest commercial general contractors. Residential and dual licensees must also pay into the Residential Contractors' Recovery Fund or post an additional $200,000 bond. The bond section of the record shows the bond type, number, surety, effective and cancellation dates, amount already paid out, and whether the bond is active or canceled. It is not a performance bond for your job.
For workers' compensation, an applicant must attest to compliance, and one required to carry coverage must give the policy number or proof of self-insurance. The ROC does not require general liability insurance for a license, so the record tells you nothing about liability coverage. That comes from the certificate of insurance. See workers comp exemptions for sole proprietors.
What to ask a subcontractor for
- The ROC license number and the exact business name on the license
- The classification and whether it is commercial, residential, or dual
- The name of the qualifying party
- A current certificate of insurance in the same legal name, including workers' compensation or the basis for an exemption
Common traps
- Residential license on a commercial job. An R-11 electrical license does not cover a commercial tenant improvement. Look for C or CR.
- Active license, canceled bond. Check the bond status, not only the license status.
- Name mismatch. The record, the subcontract, and the certificate should name the same entity.
- Stale status. A license number on a bid proves nothing about today. Look it up yourself before the contract and again at renewal.
Check the city too
The ROC license is statewide, but cities and counties issue permits and may require their own business license. Confirm with the jurisdiction where the work is. Rules change, so confirm current requirements with the ROC. This is not legal advice.
For related reading, see certificate of insurance red flags and subcontractor prequalification.
Track it with ComplySub
ComplySub checks contractor license status for California, Colorado, Texas, and Florida. Arizona license tracking is not built in yet, so keep the ROC record in the vendor file. For the insurance side, ComplySub checks an Arizona sub's certificates against the requirements you set once and flags gaps and expirations. Vendors upload through a link without an account, and reminders go out before dates lapse.
This guide is general information, not legal or insurance advice. Insurance and licensing rules vary by state, carrier, and contract; confirm what applies to you with your insurance professional, attorney, or licensing board.