Hawaii General Contractor License Requirements

Official classification: B General Building Contractor · Issued by the Hawaii Contractors License Board (CLB), DCCA Professional and Vocational Licensing Division.

🏗️ General ContractorHI ✔ Verified 2026-06-23

In Hawaii, general contractors must hold the B General Building Contractor, issued by the Hawaii Contractors License Board (CLB), DCCA Professional and Vocational Licensing Division, and a surety bond is required. Full requirements — experience, exams, fees, insurance, renewal and reciprocity — are detailed below.

How to become a licensed general contractor in Hawaii

Follow these steps to earn your B General Building Contractor. Every figure is verified against the Hawaii Contractors License Board (CLB), DCCA Professional and Vocational Licensing Division; full detail for each step is further down the page.

Build the required experience. 4 years of full-time supervisory experience (as journeyman, foreman, supervisor, or contractor) in general building construction within the past 10 years. Must be documented by at least 3 notarized certificates and a Chronological History of Projects form. Technical education or training may substitute for up to 1 year of experience.
Pass the B General Building Contractor — Trade Exam and Business and Law Exam (required for all contractor classifications) exams. Providers, passing scores and fees are in the Exams section below.
Secure your surety bond. Hawaii requires Surety bond set by the Contractors License Board on a case-by-case basis per HRS §444-16.5; minimum $5,000, up to $300,000 based on the contractor's financial statement and scope of work. Bond must be maintained continuously; lapse causes automatic license forfeiture. Licensees must maintain bond for at least 1 year before requesting a waiver.
Line up insurance. You'll need liability insurance (Minimum $100,000 per person / $300,000 per occurrence bodily injury (HAR §16-77-34)), and workers' compensation coverage.
Clear the background check. Applicants must disclose prior disciplinary actions, criminal convictions related to contracting, or outstanding judgments. Board reviews applicant history as part of a good-character assessment (honesty, truthfulness, financial integrity, fair dealing required under HRS §444-9).
Meet the credit / financial requirement. Complete credit report covering at least the previous 5 years required with application. Current (not more than 1 year old) compiled, reviewed, or audited financial statement with a licensed/certified public accountant's report required; statements by bookkeepers or tax preparers are not acceptable. Hawaii State Tax Clearance (DOTAX), issued within 6 months, required for entities in operation more than 1 year.
Submit your application and fees. Apply through the Hawaii Contractors License Board (CLB), DCCA Professional and Vocational Licensing Division — $50 (non-refundable) application fee, plus a Entity/sole proprietor: $633 (Oct 1 even year – Sept 30 odd year) or $494 (other periods); RME: $438 or $334 license fee. Processing time: Applications must be submitted by the first Tuesday of the month two months before the target Board meeting; total process typically 3–4 months; applicants must pass both exam parts within 6 months of Board approval.
Keep the license active. Renew 2 years; licenses expire September 30 of even-numbered years., completing No continuing education requirement specified by the Contractors License Board for the B General Building Contractor license.

License types

B — General Building Contractor — Residential, commercial, and industrial building construction; structures, additions, alterations, and repairs. A B license automatically includes several specialty classifications (C-5, C-6, C-10, C-12, C-24, C-25, C-31a, C-32a, C-42a, C-42b) within the scope of a general building project.
A — General Engineering Contractor (related classification, noted for reference) — Fixed-works projects: highways, bridges, dams, infrastructure. Separate from Class B; a different classification under HRS §444.

Requirements at a glance

Experience required	4 years of full-time supervisory experience (as journeyman, foreman, supervisor, or contractor) in general building construction within the past 10 years. Must be documented by at least 3 notarized certificates and a Chronological History of Projects form. Technical education or training may substitute for up to 1 year of experience.
Application fee	$50 (non-refundable)
License fee	Entity/sole proprietor: $633 (Oct 1 even year – Sept 30 odd year) or $494 (other periods); RME: $438 or $334
Renewal fee	$338 active entity/sole proprietor / $160 inactive; $208 active RME — every 2 years by September 30 of even-numbered years. Late renewal (within 60-day grace period): $388 entity/sole proprietor, $258 RME.
Renewal period	2 years; licenses expire September 30 of even-numbered years.
Continuing education	No continuing education requirement specified by the Contractors License Board for the B General Building Contractor license.
Bond required	Surety bond set by the Contractors License Board on a case-by-case basis per HRS §444-16.5; minimum $5,000, up to $300,000 based on the contractor's financial statement and scope of work. Bond must be maintained continuously; lapse causes automatic license forfeiture. Licensees must maintain bond for at least 1 year before requesting a waiver.
Liability insurance	Minimum $100,000 per person / $300,000 per occurrence bodily injury (HAR §16-77-34)
Property damage	Minimum $50,000 per occurrence
Workers' comp	Required if entity has employees; exemptions available for qualifying sole-owner entities with no other employees (HRS Chapter 386 exclusion). Insurance certificates must be submitted through pvlinsurance.dcca.hawaii.gov (emailed certificates not accepted).
Background check	Applicants must disclose prior disciplinary actions, criminal convictions related to contracting, or outstanding judgments. Board reviews applicant history as part of a good-character assessment (honesty, truthfulness, financial integrity, fair dealing required under HRS §444-9).
Credit requirement	Complete credit report covering at least the previous 5 years required with application. Current (not more than 1 year old) compiled, reviewed, or audited financial statement with a licensed/certified public accountant's report required; statements by bookkeepers or tax preparers are not acceptable. Hawaii State Tax Clearance (DOTAX), issued within 6 months, required for entities in operation more than 1 year.
Reciprocity	None — Hawaii does not offer reciprocal licensing agreements with other states for contractor licenses. Out-of-state experience counts toward the 4-year requirement if documented with notarized certificates.
Processing time	Applications must be submitted by the first Tuesday of the month two months before the target Board meeting; total process typically 3–4 months; applicants must pass both exam parts within 6 months of Board approval.

Exams

B General Building Contractor — Trade Exam	Provider: PSI Services LLC (test-takers.psiexams.com/hitrade; (833) 333-4754) · Passing: 75%; 80 questions; 4 hours (240 minutes); closed-book · Fee: $75–$85 per attempt
Business and Law Exam (required for all contractor classifications)	Provider: PSI Services LLC · Passing: 75%; 80 questions; 3 hours; closed-book · Fee: $75–$80 per attempt

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Local / municipal notes

A contractor license is required for any construction project where total cost (labor plus materials) exceeds $1,500 (HRS §444). Unlicensed contracting on a first offense carries up to a $5,000 fine and/or 1 year imprisonment; subsequent offenses up to $10,000 (HRS §444-22). The B license covers a broad range of specialty work within a general building project but does not extend to electrical (C-13) or plumbing (C-37) work — those trades require separate licensed individuals and contractor classifications.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Hawaii general contractor license cost?

Application: $50 (non-refundable). License: Entity/sole proprietor: $633 (Oct 1 even year – Sept 30 odd year) or $494 (other periods); RME: $438 or $334. Renewal: $338 active entity/sole proprietor / $160 inactive; $208 active RME — every 2 years by September 30 of even-numbered years. Late renewal (within 60-day grace period): $388 entity/sole proprietor, $258 RME..

Do general contractors in Hawaii need a surety bond?

Surety bond set by the Contractors License Board on a case-by-case basis per HRS §444-16.5; minimum $5,000, up to $300,000 based on the contractor's financial statement and scope of work. Bond must be maintained continuously; lapse causes automatic license forfeiture. Licensees must maintain bond for at least 1 year before requesting a waiver.

What experience is required for a Hawaii general contractor license?

4 years of full-time supervisory experience (as journeyman, foreman, supervisor, or contractor) in general building construction within the past 10 years. Must be documented by at least 3 notarized certificates and a Chronological History of Projects form. Technical education or training may substitute for up to 1 year of experience.

Is insurance required for general contractors in Hawaii?

Liability: Minimum $100,000 per person / $300,000 per occurrence bodily injury (HAR §16-77-34) Workers' compensation: Required if entity has employees; exemptions available for qualifying sole-owner entities with no other employees (HRS Chapter 386 exclusion). Insurance certificates must be submitted through pvlinsurance.dcca.hawaii.gov (emailed certificates not accepted).

How often must a Hawaii general contractor license be renewed?

2 years; licenses expire September 30 of even-numbered years.. Continuing education: No continuing education requirement specified by the Contractors License Board for the B General Building Contractor license.

Fees and rules change frequently (often annually). This page was last verified on 2026-06-23 — always confirm current requirements directly with the Hawaii Contractors License Board (CLB), DCCA Professional and Vocational Licensing Division before applying. This is not legal advice.