Hiring a contractor in Connecticut

Connecticut registers home-improvement contractors with the Department of Consumer Protection and licenses the trades through the same portal. From Hartford's West End to Fairfield County and the crumbling-foundation towns of the east, these guides cover what each trade costs, what the state requires, and how to vet before you sign.

White colonial houses along a Connecticut town's main street in fall color
A plumber servicing a water heater

Plumbers

Hiring a plumber in Connecticut: read a P-1 or P-2 on eLicense, when a water heater swap needs a town permit, well water, and typical service-call prices.

Wiring inside an electrical switch box

Electricians

How to hire an electrician in Connecticut: what an E-1 means on eLicense, permits in your town, old wiring in city Victorians, outdoor lighting and cost.

A heat-pump condenser mounted on an exterior wall

HVAC Contractors

Hiring an HVAC contractor in Connecticut: S-1 and sheet-metal licenses, oil to heat pump conversions, the $40 Home Energy Solutions visit and buried oil tanks.

A roofer fastening shingles with a drill

Roofers

How to hire a roofer in Connecticut: the HIC registration to check, door-knock sales after storms, the three-day cancel window with Saturday, permits and cost.

Interior renovation with exposed beams and framing

General Contractors

How to hire a general contractor in Connecticut: HIC vs new home registration, what makes a contract enforceable, the Guaranty Fund and shoreline site review.

A remodeled bathroom with a freestanding tub and walk-in shower

Bathroom Remodelers

Hiring a bathroom remodeler in Connecticut: the HIC, plumbing and electrical credentials, lead in pre-1978 homes, contract dates, change orders and cost.

A renovated white kitchen

Kitchen Remodelers

How to hire a kitchen remodeler in Connecticut: who must be registered or licensed, gas line work, Fairfield County pricing, written change orders and cost.

A white colonial house with black shutters

Window, Siding & Gutter Contractors

Hiring a siding, window or gutter contractor in Connecticut: HIC registration, lead-safe work on older homes, coastal review after Sandy, air sealing and cost.

A wooden fence line in winter

Fence Contractors

How to hire a fence contractor in Connecticut: HIC registration, when height triggers a town permit, Call Before You Dig, wells and septic fields, and cost.

Well-worn gardening gloves on weathered boards

Landscapers

Hiring a landscaper in Connecticut: when hardscape is home improvement work, who may install irrigation or spray pesticides, wells and dry summers, and cost.

A roller laying fresh blue paint on a wall

Painters

How to hire a house painter in Connecticut: HIC registration, EPA lead-safe rules on pre-1978 homes, why DPH warns against power-washing, payments and cost.

A roofline and gutter system under a grey sky

Waterproofing Contractors

How to hire a waterproofing contractor in Connecticut: crumbling foundations and testing aid, radon certification, basement water, contract rules and cost.

Hand tools laid out on a workbench

Handymen

Hiring a handyman in Connecticut: when the $200 and $1,000 rules require HIC registration, jobs that need a licensed trade, written terms, insurance and cost.

A carpenter cutting a piece of wood

Carpenters

How to hire a carpenter or deck builder in Connecticut: HIC registration, deck permits, porch rebuilds in mill villages, trim in older homes and cost.

A herringbone hardwood floor

Flooring Contractors

How to hire a flooring contractor in Connecticut: HIC registration, replacing floors after the September 2026 floods, lead dust when sanding, contracts, cost.

A technician in protective gear treating a yard

Exterminators

How to hire an exterminator in Connecticut: the DEEP business registration and applicator certificates, questions before spraying, wells, contracts and cost.

A magnifying glass over a wooden house model

Home Inspectors

How to hire a home inspector in Connecticut: the DCP license and intern permit, when a foundation needs an engineer, radon and well tests before closing, cost.

A room packed with moving boxes

Movers

How to hire movers in Connecticut: the state DOT certificate for in-state moves, USDOT numbers for out-of-state ones, New Haven's late-summer rush, cost.

A gloved hand wiping down a white counter with a spray bottle and paper towel

House Cleaners

Hiring a house cleaner in Connecticut: no state license, so check insurance and workers' comp; seasonal-home turnovers, mold cleanup rules and visit cost.

A robotic cleaner working the floor of a swimming pool

Pool Cleaners

Hiring a pool service in Connecticut: routine cleaning vs licensed pool building, who may touch heaters and plumbing, opening and closing dates, cost.

A mason pressing a concrete block into fresh mortar with a trowel

Masonry Contractors

How to hire a mason in Connecticut: HIC registration, retaining wall permits, chimneys and liners, what to do if a mason walks off a job, and typical cost.

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