How to verify an Indiana contractor's license in 2026 (3-minute guide)
Indiana is one of the hardest states to verify because the state does not license general contractors. Trade licenses (plumbing, electrical) live at the state PLA; general-contractor registration lives at the city. This guide walks both — and is honest about where AskBaily's own tool is still catching up.
Honest disclosure — AskBaily's Indiana tool is in manual-flag mode
AskBaily's automated license check is degraded for Indiana while we wait for Indiana PLA to approve a MuleSoft API credential (a 1-2 week process the state runs for every third-party integrator). Our /tools/contractor-check will still accept an Indiana license number, but it routes you to a deep-link into the state PLA portal or the relevant city AHJ instead of returning an automated scorecard.
The good news: you can already self-verify at mylicense.in.gov/everification/ for trades and at indy.gov/agency/department-of-business-and-neighborhood-services for Indianapolis GCs — right now. The six steps below walk you through it.
Six steps to verify
- Step 1
Understand Indiana's split licensing model
Indiana is one of a handful of states that does NOT issue a state-level general contractor license. General contractors register with the CITY where the work is performed (Indianapolis DBNS, Fort Wayne, Evansville, South Bend, Bloomington, Carmel). The state Professional Licensing Agency (PLA) licenses plumbers and electricians only. For a kitchen remodel in Indianapolis, you need (a) the GC's Indianapolis license AND (b) each trade subcontractor's state PLA license.
- Step 2
For trade licenses (plumbing, electrical): use PLA eVerification
Navigate to mylicense.in.gov/everification/. This is the state PLA public lookup. Select 'Profession' (Plumbing Contractor, Journeyman Plumber, Master Plumber, etc.), enter the name or license number, and click Search. The tool is free and returns status, issue date, expiration, and any disciplinary action. Electrical licenses are also on PLA. GC licenses are NOT.
- Step 3
For the GC: look up the city registry
For Indianapolis, go to indy.gov/agency/department-of-business-and-neighborhood-services and search 'Licensed Contractor' or request verification. Fort Wayne, Evansville, Carmel, and South Bend each maintain their own contractor registries via their respective Building or Permit departments. Call the city permit office if the online portal is confusing — the offices are accustomed to homeowner verification calls and are helpful.
- Step 4
Verify insurance and bonding
Indiana does not set a state-level insurance or bond minimum for GCs — those are set by municipality. Indianapolis DBNS requires proof of general liability insurance (typically $500,000 minimum) and workers' compensation if the contractor has employees. Ask the contractor for an ACORD 25 Certificate of Insurance naming you as a Certificate Holder, and call the insurance broker to confirm coverage is active.
- Step 5
Check disciplinary history on each board that applies
PLA publishes disciplinary orders, citations, and suspensions for every trade license. For a GC at the city level, check with the city permit office for any complaints filed — these are usually available upon written request. The absence of a state-level GC license makes Indiana harder to audit than California or Oregon; give yourself extra time.
- Step 6
Cross-check the contractor's business registration
Indiana Secretary of State maintains a free business search at inbiz.in.gov. Confirm the business name on the contract matches a real, active LLC or corporation filed with the state. An unregistered or dissolved entity is a serious red flag — you cannot file a successful lien claim against a company that does not legally exist.
Red flags specific to Indiana
- Contractor claims “state license” for GC work — there is no such thing in Indiana
- GC registered in Carmel but the project is in Indianapolis (wrong jurisdiction)
- Trade subcontractor lacks a current PLA license
- Business is not registered at inbiz.in.gov (dissolved or never filed)
- No proof of general liability insurance + workers' comp
Frequently asked questions
Does AskBaily's tool cover Indiana?
Yes, but honestly: for general contractors, only partially. AskBaily's verifier is in manual-flag mode for Indiana pending Indiana PLA MuleSoft API credential approval — a 1-2 week process we have queued with Indiana PLA. While we wait, our tool shows you the state PLA public URL and the relevant city-level URLs so you can self-verify in two clicks. For trade licenses (plumber, electrician), PLA eVerification is the authoritative source. For GC work, you must check the city registry directly — there is no state-level GC license in Indiana.
Why doesn't Indiana license general contractors?
Indiana's legislature has repeatedly declined to create a state-level GC license, leaving it to municipal authorities. The result is a patchwork — Indianapolis DBNS is rigorous (inspection staff, bonding requirements, disciplinary orders). Smaller cities have lighter registries. Homeowners in Indiana have to work harder to verify than homeowners in California, which is just the reality of the regulatory structure.
What's a reasonable minimum insurance amount for an Indiana GC?
Industry standard is $1,000,000 general liability per occurrence for residential GCs, plus workers' compensation if employees. Indianapolis DBNS typically requires $500,000 minimum but higher limits are standard in practice. Ask for an ACORD 25 and confirm both coverage amounts and the effective dates before you sign anything.
My contractor says they don't need a license because the job is small. True?
Depends on the city. Indianapolis DBNS requires a licensed contractor for residential work involving structural changes, electrical, plumbing, or HVAC — regardless of contract value. Cosmetic work (painting, flooring, cabinet swap) often does not. But the trade components (electrical, plumbing) always require the appropriate PLA-licensed sub. When in doubt, call the Indianapolis DBNS permit line — they'll tell you in 30 seconds.
What if I'm in a smaller city — Bloomington, Lafayette, Terre Haute?
Each has its own building or permit office with its own registry. Contact the city clerk or building official directly for contractor verification. Expect a 5-15 minute phone call. This is genuinely the hardest state to check, which is why AskBaily is actively pursuing state PLA API credentials — when those land, our /tools/contractor-check will cover Indiana fully.