Trade Contractor Resources for Arizona (Licensing, Permits, Tools)

Trade contractor resources · Arizona

Trade business resources for Arizona.

Licensing board, permit offices, and trade-by-trade requirements for Arizona contractors. All links go to the official sources, not paid intermediaries.

State licensing board

Official authority

Arizona Registrar of Contractors

https://roc.az.gov
(602) 542-1525

Arizona requires most contractors performing work valued at $1,000 or more (labor and materials combined) to hold a license issued by the Arizona Registrar of Contractors. Unlicensed contracting is a criminal offense in Arizona, and the ROC enforces compliance through investigations and disciplinary action.

Arizona contractor licenses are divided into two broad categories: Residential (R) and Dual (B/CR) classifications, plus a wide range of specialty trade licenses. The Dual (B) license covers both commercial and residential general contracting, while the CR-01 through CR-99 series covers residential specialty trades and the C series covers commercial specialty trades. Any single job with a combined labor-and-materials value of $1,000 or more triggers the licensing requirement. Specialty trades such as electrical, plumbing, HVAC, roofing, and dozens of others each have their own classification codes requiring separate applications, experience documentation, and passing a trade-specific exam.

License requirements by trade

Electrician
Electrical contractors in Arizona must hold a ROC license under the C-11 (commercial electrical) or CR-11 (residential electrical) classification, which requires documented field experience, passing the ROC trade exam, and proof of general liability and workers' compensation insurance. Individual journeyman and apprentice electricians are regulated separately by the Arizona Department of Fire, Building and Life Safety for some contexts, but the contracting license is issued solely by the ROC.
Plumber
Plumbing contractors must obtain a ROC license under classification C-37 (commercial plumbing) or CR-37 (residential plumbing), requiring proof of qualifying party experience (typically four or more years), a passing score on the trade exam, and required insurance coverage. Individual plumber licensing (journeyman/apprentice) for certain work is administered through local jurisdictions or is not separately mandated at the state level beyond the ROC contractor license.
HVAC
HVAC contractors must be licensed by the ROC under classification C-39 (commercial air conditioning and refrigeration) or CR-39 (residential air conditioning and refrigeration), with requirements including verified trade experience, a passing trade exam, and proof of liability insurance. Technicians handling refrigerants must also hold an EPA Section 608 certification as a federal requirement.
General Contractor
General contractors in Arizona must hold a ROC license under the B-1 (general commercial/residential dual) or the residential equivalent classifications, requiring a qualifying party with at least four years of verifiable experience, passage of the business management and trade exams, a $200,000 surety bond for most classifications, and proof of insurance. Projects with a combined labor-and-materials cost of $1,000 or more legally require a licensed contractor.
Roofing
Roofing contractors must be licensed under ROC classification C-39 is not applicable; roofing falls under CR-42 (residential roofing) or C-42 (commercial roofing), requiring documented roofing experience, a passing score on the ROC trade exam, and required liability and workers' compensation insurance coverage. Work valued at $1,000 or more in combined labor and materials triggers the licensing requirement.

Top Arizona city permit offices

Permit office

Phoenix

https://www.phoenix.gov/pdd/permits
(602) 262-7811
Permit office

Tucson

https://www.tucsonaz.gov/departments/planning-development-services
(520) 791-5550
Permit office

Mesa

https://www.mesaaz.gov/business/development-services/permits
(480) 644-2262
Permit office

Chandler

https://www.chandleraz.gov/residents/building-permits-inspections
(480) 782-3000
Permit office

Scottsdale

https://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/building/permits
(480) 312-2500

Business registration

Secretary of State

Business entity registration

https://azsos.gov
Tax registration

Arizona Department of Revenue

https://azdor.gov

Tools for Arizona trade businesses

Compliance tracking, NEC 220 load calcs, profit calculators, and the 90-day operating system. One-time purchase. Real Excel and Sheets files. Used in truck cabs from Houston to Eureka.

Browse the 7 tools →
The information on this page links to official state and city authorities. Requirements change. Verify with the issuing authority before filing. LaunchLocal tools are research and calculation utilities, not legal or professional advice.