Residential builders and maintenance & alteration contractors; electrical, plumbing, and mechanical are licensed separately.
1. Get the license number + legal business name
Ask the contractor for their Michigan license or registration number and the exact legal name it's held under. A real contractor gives this without hesitation — it's on their truck, estimates, and contract.
2. Look it up at the Dept. of Licensing & Regulatory Affairs (LARA)
Use the official Michigan authority directly — not a third-party aggregator — so you're reading the source of truth. Residential builders and maintenance & alteration contractors; electrical, plumbing, and mechanical are licensed separately.
3. Confirm the status is ACTIVE
Only an active (or current) status means they're licensed today. Expired, suspended, or revoked is a hard stop — and a contractor who let it lapse is telling you something.
4. Check the classification matches your job
Licenses are scoped to specific trades. Confirm the classification covers the work you're hiring for, and that the name on the license matches the name on your contract.
5. Check bond, insurance, and complaints where shown
Many boards also show bond amount, workers' compensation, and complaint or disciplinary history. A bond and active workers' comp protect you; an open complaint is worth a direct conversation before you sign.
Michigan contractor-license FAQ
How do I check if a contractor is licensed in Michigan?
Get the contractor's license number and legal business name, then look it up at the Dept. of Licensing & Regulatory Affairs (LARA) — the free official public lookup, not a third-party site. Confirm the status is ACTIVE, the classification covers the work you're hiring for, and the name matches your contract. Residential builders and maintenance & alteration contractors; electrical, plumbing, and mechanical are licensed separately.
Who licenses contractors in Michigan?
The Dept. of Licensing & Regulatory Affairs (LARA) is the official Michigan authority. Residential builders and maintenance & alteration contractors; electrical, plumbing, and mechanical are licensed separately.
Does ProFix verify Michigan contractor licenses?
We link the official Dept. of Licensing & Regulatory Affairs (LARA) lookup on every Michigan contractor's profile so you can confirm the license at the source. We never invent or imply a credential a contractor doesn't hold.
Couldn't verify them — or want a vetted second option?
The Dept. of Licensing & Regulatory Affairs (LARA) is always the system of record — confirm status there first. If a contractor won't share a license number, the status comes back inactive, or you just want another quote, get matched with license-checked Michigan pros.
Find a verified Michigan contractor
Browse Michigan home-services pros — many with a board-verified license you can confirm in one click.