Indiana General Contractor License Requirements

Official classification: No statewide license — City of Indianapolis General Contractor License · Issued by the Indianapolis Department of Business and Neighborhood Services (DBNS).

🏗️ General ContractorIN ✔ Verified 2026-07-09

In Indiana, general contractors must hold the No statewide license — City of Indianapolis General Contractor License, issued by the Indianapolis Department of Business and Neighborhood Services (DBNS), and a $10,000 surety bond is required. Full requirements — experience, exams, fees, insurance, renewal and reciprocity — are detailed below.

How to become a licensed general contractor in Indiana

Indiana licenses general contractors at the city level rather than statewide, so the path runs through your local permitting office. Here are the general steps — the verified specifics are detailed further down the page.

Start with your city, not the state. Indiana has no statewide general contractor license — registration, bonds and insurance are set by each municipality, so confirm the rules with your local permitting office first.
Carry the insurance your city requires. $500,000 combined bodily injury and property damage per occurrence (City of Indianapolis)
Post any local bond. $10,000 surety bond (City of Indianapolis; flat amount — no class tiers)
Register and pay the local fees. Prorated by filing date within the 2-year term (City of Indianapolis): $247 filed Jan–Jun of odd year, $185 Jul–Dec of odd year, $124 in the even year
Renew on your city's schedule. 2 years (expires December 31 of even-numbered years).

Indiana general contractor license lookup

To confirm a general contractor is properly licensed in Indiana — or to check the status of your own license — search the issuing agency's official license database. The record shows whether the license is active and in good standing.

Verify a license now: Search the official aca-prod.accela.com database →

License types

General Contractor License — General building construction in Indianapolis–Marion County; one of five DBNS license types (Electrical, General, HVAC, Plumbing, Wrecking)

Requirements at a glance

Experience required	2 years of qualifying construction experience, documented via employer verification forms, W-2s, pay stubs, 1099s or notarized affidavits
Application fee	Prorated by filing date within the 2-year term (City of Indianapolis): $247 filed Jan–Jun of odd year, $185 Jul–Dec of odd year, $124 in the even year
License fee	Included in the prorated application fee
Renewal fee	$247 per 2-year term (City of Indianapolis)
Renewal period	2 years (expires December 31 of even-numbered years)
Continuing education	None required
Bond required	$10,000 surety bond (City of Indianapolis; flat amount — no class tiers)
Liability insurance	$500,000 combined bodily injury and property damage per occurrence (City of Indianapolis)
Property damage	Included in the $500,000 combined coverage
Workers' comp	Required if the contractor has employees
Background check	Criminal-history disclosure required with the application
Credit requirement	—
Reciprocity	None
Processing time	—

Exams

No state trade exam is required — the No statewide license — City of Indianapolis General Contractor License is a registration, not an examined license. Local jurisdictions may set their own exam requirements.

Preparing for the General Contractor exam? State-specific contractor exam-prep courses help you pass the first time. Start exam prep →

Local / municipal notes

Indiana has no statewide general contractor license. These requirements apply to Indianapolis–Marion County (excluding Lawrence, Beech Grove, Speedway and Southport). No exam is required — licensing is document-based, but a mandatory orientation class must be attended within 60 days of initial issuance. Other Indiana municipalities set their own rules.

Frequently asked questions

How much does an Indiana general contractor license cost?

Application: Prorated by filing date within the 2-year term (City of Indianapolis): $247 filed Jan–Jun of odd year, $185 Jul–Dec of odd year, $124 in the even year. License: Included in the prorated application fee. Renewal: $247 per 2-year term (City of Indianapolis).

How do I look up a general contractor license in Indiana?

Search the official license database at aca-prod.accela.com. The record shows whether the license is active and in good standing.

Do general contractors in Indiana need a surety bond?

$10,000 surety bond (City of Indianapolis; flat amount — no class tiers)

What experience is required for an Indiana general contractor license?

2 years of qualifying construction experience, documented via employer verification forms, W-2s, pay stubs, 1099s or notarized affidavits

Is insurance required for general contractors in Indiana?

Liability: $500,000 combined bodily injury and property damage per occurrence (City of Indianapolis) Workers' compensation: Required if the contractor has employees

How often must an Indiana general contractor license be renewed?

2 years (expires December 31 of even-numbered years).

Fees and rules change frequently (often annually). This page was last verified on 2026-07-09 — always confirm current requirements directly with the Indianapolis Department of Business and Neighborhood Services (DBNS) before applying. This is not legal advice.