How to Check an Arizona Contractor's ROC License

In Arizona, contractors are licensed by the Registrar of Contractors (ROC). Before you sign anything, look the contractor up on the ROC website, confirm the license is active and that its type fits your project, and get a written contract. The Arizona Attorney General warns that anyone can pretend to be a contractor, so double check every one, including us.

Who needs an Arizona contractor license

State law defines three kinds of contractor. A residential contractor works within residential property lines, on houses, townhouses, condominiums and similar homes. A commercial contractor works everywhere except within residential property lines. A dual licensed contractor holds one license that covers both. One small exemption exists: casual or minor work with a total contract price under $1,000, counting labor, materials and everything else, that is not part of a larger operation. It does not apply where the work needs a local building permit, and it does not cover anyone who advertises to the public without including the words "not a licensed contractor" in the ad.

What it takes to get licensed

A licensed business needs a qualifying party with at least four years of practical or management trade experience, at least two of them within the last ten years. Accredited technical training can replace part of that experience, but no more than two years of it. The qualifying party must pass a written exam on the trade and on the state's building, safety, health and lien laws, and the applicant must post a surety bond or cash deposit. The bond amount depends on the type of license, and for commercial licenses it scales with the contractor's estimated annual construction volume.

How to check a contractor before you sign

1. Ask for the contractor's ROC license number and the exact business name on the license.
2. Look the contractor up on the Registrar of Contractors website, roc.az.gov, which the Attorney General's release points homeowners to for checking a license.
3. Confirm the license is active and that its type fits the job: residential for work within residential property lines, commercial for other property, or dual for both.
4. Match the name and license number on the record to the name and number on your estimate and contract.
5. Get more than one estimate. The Attorney General says a written estimate should describe the work, the materials, the completion date and the price.
6. Be cautious about paying in advance. The Attorney General warns that scam contractors ask for money up front, or for cash, gift cards or Zelle, and suggests paying by credit card when you can so you can dispute a fraudulent charge.

What a residential contract must include

Arizona law requires specific information in every residential construction contract over $1,000. Read the contract for these items before you sign:

• The contractor's name, business address and license number.
• Your name and mailing address, and the jobsite address or legal description.
• The date the contract was made and the estimated date the work will be finished.
• A description of the work to be performed.
• The total amount you will pay for all the work, including applicable taxes.
• The amount of any advance deposit, and the amount of any progress payment along with the stage of construction it depends on.
• A notice of your right to file a complaint with the Registrar, with contact information and the time limit, printed in bold type.
• The contractor must also give you a legible copy of the documents you sign, and a signed receipt for any cash payment.

Permits are separate from licensing

A license does not replace a building permit, which comes from your local permit office rather than the ROC. In Tucson, for example, either the homeowner or the contractor can submit the permit application, but the property owner is responsible for making sure a permit is secured and posted at the job site. Tucson also says all work on commercial property and all residential rentals requires a licensed contractor. Ask the permit office for your address what your project needs.

Why the license check matters after the job

The Registrar administers the Residential Contractors' Recovery Fund for eligible claimants, including people who own and live in the home, who are damaged by a residential contractor's acts or conduct. The contractor must have held a valid residential license when the contract was signed, when the first payment was made or when the work began. That is one more reason to check the license first, not after a problem.