General Contractor Registration

Rhode Island General Contractor Registration

Every contractor working in Rhode Island must register with RICRLB — and the penalties for skipping it escalate from misdemeanor to felony.

Every Contractor in RI Must Register — Who Is Covered

If you perform, bid on, or offer to perform any construction work in Rhode Island, you need a registration from the Contractors' Registration and Licensing Board (RICRLB). Coverage includes general contractors, subcontractors, and specialty trades: ceramic tilers, drywall installers, fence contractors, flooring installers, masons, painters, roofers, siding contractors, and pool installers. Employees of registered contractors and homeowners working on their own residence are exempt.

First-Time Registration: 5-Hour Course + $150 + $500K Insurance

The application fee is $150. Before RICRLB accepts your application, you must complete a state-approved 5-hour pre-registration course and carry general liability insurance with a minimum of $500,000 per occurrence, naming RICRLB as the certificate holder. Workers' compensation is also required if you have employees. Contractors working exclusively on commercial structures are exempt from the pre-registration course.

Renew Annually: $150, 2.5 Hours CE, $50 Late Fee

Registration expires every 12 months. Renewal is $150; late renewals add a $50 fee. Annual renewal requires proof of 2.5 hours of state-approved continuing education — the commercial-structure exemption applies here too. Registrations lapsed more than one year require the full 5-hour course again before reinstatement.

Misdemeanor to Felony: What Working Unregistered Costs You

Operating without registration is a misdemeanor for first and second offenses under RIGL § 5-65-19 — up to one year imprisonment and a $1,000 fine. A third or subsequent offense is a felony, carrying up to two years imprisonment and a $2,000 fine. RICRLB may also assess administrative fines of up to $5,000 for a first violation and $10,000 for each subsequent violation.