Hiring a Contractor in Arizona: How to Check an ROC License

Who licenses contractors in Arizona

Construction contractors in Arizona are licensed by the Arizona Registrar of Contractors (ROC). The ROC issues licenses, keeps the public record of each one, handles complaints, and runs the Residential Contractors' Recovery Fund. If someone is building, remodeling or repairing your home for pay, the ROC record is the first thing to check.

How to verify a license, step by step

Get the license number. Ask for it in writing. A licensed contractor will give it to you without hesitation, and it should appear on the bid and contract.
Search the ROC. Use the contractor search on the ROC website by license number or business name.
Match the name. The business name on the license should match the name on your contract and the person you're paying.
Check the status. You want a license in good standing, not suspended, revoked or expired.
Check the classification. Licenses are issued for specific types of work. Residential, commercial and dual licenses cover different jobs, and specialty licenses cover single trades. Make sure the classification fits your project.
Look at the bond and complaints. The search page shows bond details, and the ROC says complaints appear for two years from the date a case closed (ROC FAQ).

You can look us up the same way: AZ Atlas Builder Group, AZ ROC #344537.

What "licensed" actually means

A bond. Licensees post a license bond, which the ROC says ranges from $4,250 to $100,000 depending on the license.
A Recovery Fund assessment. Residential contractors also pay into the Residential Contractors' Recovery Fund, described below.
Accountability. A licensed contractor can be the subject of an ROC complaint and disciplinary action, including suspension or revocation.

A license is a baseline, not a guarantee of quality. It tells you who is accountable. References, photos of real past work and a clear written scope tell you the rest.

AZ Atlas Builder Group crew at work on a Tucson home

Arizona's handyman exemption, and its limits

Arizona law lets unlicensed people take small jobs below a set dollar limit, but the exemption has firm conditions (Arizona contractor licensing law):

The work must be casual or minor.
It never applies when the work needs a local building permit.
It doesn't apply to work that is part of a larger project, and splitting a job into smaller contracts to stay under the limit is not allowed.
Unlicensed people relying on it must include "not a licensed contractor" in their advertising.

So any addition, casita, roof replacement, structural repair or other permitted job calls for a licensed contractor.

Red flags

No license number, or a number that belongs to a different business.
Asking you to pull the permit as an owner-builder. Arizona's owner-builder exemption is for owners who do the work themselves, with their own employees, or with licensed contractors, on a home they don't intend to sell or rent. It isn't a way for an unlicensed builder to work on your house.
A large cash deposit before any work or materials, or pressure to sign today.
No written contract, or a vague scope with no list of what's excluded.
Splitting a big job into several small invoices.
Offering to skip the permit to save money.

The Residential Contractors' Recovery Fund

The Recovery Fund can compensate homeowners who suffer actual damages from a licensed residential contractor's failure to perform. Key points from the ROC and A.R.S. 32-1132.01:

It is only for people who own and occupy, or intend to occupy, the residential property.
The maximum individual award is $30,000, and the ROC lists a maximum payout of $200,000 per residential contractor's license.
It applies to work by contractors holding a residential or dual license.
It is a last resort that follows the ROC complaint process, and the ROC says the fund does not guarantee payment.
Claims from suppliers, subcontractors and other commercial entities are not accepted.

Hire an unlicensed contractor and none of this protection exists. Limits can change, so check the ROC for current rules.

Questions to ask any contractor

What's your ROC license number, and which classification is it?
Who pulls the permit? (It should be the contractor.)
Who will be on site day to day, and what gets subcontracted?
How are changes priced and approved?
Is the estimate in writing, with exclusions listed?

Planning something bigger? Our custom home building process guide and casita rules guide walk through permits, and our home addition cost guide covers budgets.

Common questions.

Search the contractor by license number or business name on the Arizona Registrar of Contractors website. Confirm the name matches your contract, the license is in good standing, and the classification fits your project.

Arizona's handyman exemption covers only casual, minor jobs below a set dollar limit, and never work that needs a building permit or is part of a larger project. Anything permitted needs a licensed contractor.

A fund paid into by licensed residential contractors that can compensate homeowners for actual damages caused by a licensed residential or dual contractor. The maximum individual award is $30,000, and payment is not guaranteed.

The fund is built around licensed residential and dual contractors, so hiring an unlicensed contractor generally leaves you outside that protection. Check the ROC for the current eligibility rules.

Your licensed contractor should. If someone asks you to pull an owner-builder permit for work they will do, treat it as a red flag.

Our Arizona ROC license number is 344537. You can look it up on the Registrar of Contractors website.

Tell us about your project.

Takes about a minute. Photos help, especially for repairs.