The 10 Best Washington, DC General Contractors

Under Washington DC law, you must hire a contractor with a Home Improvement Contractor - Basic Business License for all construction and home improvement projects that costs $300 or more, labor and materials combined.

The Washington DC Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) is responsible for issuing Basic Business Licenses to home improvement contractors. Applicants must pay fees amounting to over $600, prove they hold adequate general liability insurance, submit at least two sample contracts and pass a background check. Licenses must be renewed every two years. Unlike in other cities or states, there is no written test or requirement to prove prior relevant work experience.

All licensed home improvement contractors in Washington DC must hold workers’ compensation and general liability insurance with limits ranging from $50, 000 to $100,000 and property damage in the amount of $10,000 to $25,000 per occurrence. You should request a copy of each insurance certificate for your records before any work begins.

In general, all new construction, demolition, major renovations, structural and some non-structural work will need a building permit in Washington, DC. This includes building decks, fences, most interior renovations and repairs, and window replacement. If you conduct work without the proper permit when one is required, you are at risk of a citation, increased permit fees, the removal of such work, problems selling your home and the possibility that homeowners insurance won’t cover any issues that occur as a result of the non-permitted construction.

The Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) is responsible for issuing permits and ensuring project compliance with all applicable codes and ordinances. The DCRA also operates a Homeowner’s Center to exclusively handle building permits for residential projects. At the outset of your project, you and your contractor should determine who will be responsible for the permitting process. The DRCA offers several consultation services to guide you through project planning and a variety of permit processes depending on the project’s scope and scale. Some minor projects may be eligible to acquire an online permit within 1-2 days. More details are available on the DC Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) website.

Home improvement contractors in Washington DC are required to hold a surety bond of $25,000 to conduct work on residential properties. Homeowners in DC do not have financial recourse through a homeowner recovery fund.

The BuildZoom score is based on a number of factors including the contractor's license information, which is gathered from the Washington DC Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA); building permit data, gathered from the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA); and feedback and behavior we have observed in the BuildZoom marketplace and in other, third-party review sites.

We have analyzed every licensed contractor who has worked in Washington DC. Using this information, we’re able to save you time, money and lessen your risk by providing you with a simple and straight-forward way to gather and receive multiple bids from vetted general contractors in DC. Click here to get started by providing us with a few details about your project.