When a licence is required
Under A.R.S. 32-1121, the "handyman exemption" covers only work under $1,000 in total that needs no building permit and isn't part of a larger job. Splitting a bigger job into small invoices doesn't qualify.
Which licence class
| Trade | Homes | Homes and commercial | Commercial |
|---|---|---|---|
| Painting | R-34 | CR-34 | C-34 |
| Roofing | R-42 | CR-42 | C-42 |
| Electrical | R-11 | CR-11 | C-11 |
| Plumbing | R-37 | CR-37 | C-37 |
| Heating and air conditioning | R-39 | CR-39 | C-39 |
General building classes such as B and KB-2 also cover many of these trades.
Check it in three steps
- Ask for the six-digit ROC number. Licensed contractors must show it on bids, contracts and adverts.
- Look it up on the ROC Contractor Search. The status must read Active, and the class must match the work.
- Open "More Info" to see the bond and complaint history. A disciplined complaint means ROC found the work fell short and ordered a fix or a penalty.
Only licensed residential work is covered by the Residential Contractors' Recovery Fund, which can repay homeowners for poor or unfinished work.
Licensed contractors we've already checked
- House painters: Phoenix (169), Scottsdale (22), Mesa (64)
- Roofers: Phoenix (168), Scottsdale (37), Mesa (69)
- Electricians: Phoenix (108), Scottsdale (24), Mesa (60)
- Plumbers: Phoenix (215), Scottsdale (42), Mesa (153)
- HVAC contractors: Phoenix (249), Scottsdale (32), Mesa (147)