"Any contractors conducting business activity in Delaware are required to register with and obtain a business license" from the Division of Revenue (Delaware Division of Revenue). Construction businesses must also register with the Department of Labor before starting work. On the job itself, the Attorney General's rules say you must get a written home improvement contract with all material terms.

Checking a general contractor

• Search the business license search by name, activity, city or ZIP.
• Search the Department of Labor's contractor registry, which lists "contractors who have properly registered," by name, ZIP, certification number or industry.
• For electrical, plumbing or HVACR work, check the trade license too, as in how to check a Delaware trade license.

The Division of Revenue has separate packages for resident and non-resident contractors, and the non-resident forms include a bond.

The written contract

The Attorney General's summary of the home improvement rules says you "must be provided with a written home improvement contract that contains all material terms." The contractor must fill in every term before you sign, and may not try to get you to sign a certificate of completion before the work is done (Delaware AG summary).

Complaints

Home improvement disputes go to the Attorney General's Consumer Mediation Unit at (302) 577-8600 or (800) 220-5424, or online.

FAQ

Do Delaware contractors need a business license? Yes. The Division of Revenue says any contractor doing business in Delaware must register and get a business license.

Can I check whether a contractor registered with the state? Yes, in the Department of Labor contractor registry and the Division of Revenue business license search.

Should I sign a completion certificate before the work is done? No. The Attorney General's rules say the contractor may not try to get you to sign one before the work is done.

Sources: Delaware Division of Revenue, contractors, Business license search, Delaware contractor registry, Delaware Attorney General home improvement summary.

Delaware's Division of Professional Regulation (DPR) licenses electricians through the Board of Electrical Examiners, and plumbers and HVACR contractors through the Board of Plumbing, Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Examiners. Look a license up in DPR's online lookup before you hire.

What the boards license

The Board of Electrical Examiners licenses apprentices, residential electricians, journeypersons, and master and limited electricians. Master special and limited special licenses limit practice to specialties such as elevators or HVAC.

The plumbing and HVACR board says "The Board issues master plumber, master HVACR and master restricted HVACR licenses."

How do I look one up?

Use the DPR license lookup, linked from both board pages.

Complaints, and what DPR does not handle

File online through DPR or call (302) 744-4500 (DPR file a complaint). Each complaint must name the person or business and where they are. DPR says it "has limited jurisdiction": it does not handle consumer fraud or billing disputes, which go to the Department of Justice consumer protection unit, or contract disputes, which go to Justice of the Peace Court. It does not handle general contractors either.

For a general contractor, check the business license and contractor registration instead. See Delaware contractor business licenses and home improvement contracts.

FAQ

Who licenses electricians in Delaware? The Board of Electrical Examiners in the Division of Professional Regulation.

Who licenses plumbers and HVAC contractors in Delaware? The Board of Plumbing, Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Examiners, which issues master plumber, master HVACR and master restricted HVACR licenses.

Does DPR handle complaints about general contractors? No. DPR says general contractors, consumer fraud and contract disputes are outside its jurisdiction.

Sources: DPR Board of Electrical Examiners, DPR plumbing and HVACR board, DPR file a complaint.