Quick answer: Almost every construction trade in Arizona must be licensed by the Arizona Registrar of Contractors (ROC), including plumbers, electricians, HVAC, roofers, painters, carpenters, landscapers doing hardscape/irrigation, and general contractors. The only relief for small jobs is the "handyman exemption": work is exempt from licensing only when the aggregate contract price (labor plus materials plus all other items) is less than $1,000, no local building permit is required, and the work is not part of a larger or major operation. Pure house cleaning is not contracting and needs no ROC license.
Arizona regulates construction trades through a single agency, the Arizona Registrar of Contractors, which requires a license for virtually all contracting work above a very low dollar threshold.
Which trades need a license in Arizona?
| Trade | State license required? | Licensing body |
|---|---|---|
| Plumber | License required | Plumbing is a licensed specialty trade in Arizona. The ROC issues plumbing licenses as CR-37 (dual), with separate residential (R-37) and commercial (C-37) versions. Any plumbing contracting work generally requires a license, and a license is mandatory whenever a building permit is required, regardless of price. |
| Electrician | License required | Electrical work is a licensed specialty classification. The ROC issues electrical licenses as CR-11 (dual), plus residential (R-11) and commercial (C-11). Because most electrical work triggers a permit, it falls outside the handyman exemption and requires an ROC license. |
| HVAC | License required | Heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration are licensed specialty trades. The core classification is CR-39 Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (dual), with residential (R-39) and commercial (C-39) versions; related heating classifications also exist. HVAC installation and repair require an ROC license. |
| General Contractor | License required | General contractors must hold an ROC general license. Arizona issues B (General Residential), B-1 (General Commercial), and B-2 (General Small Commercial, projects of $2,000,000 or less), and offers dual general licensing covering both residential and commercial work. A general license lets the holder build or coordinate an entire structure and supervise the trades. |
| Roofer | License required | Roofing is a licensed specialty trade under classification CR-42 Roofing (dual), with residential (R-42) and commercial (C-42) versions. Roofing work typically requires a permit and an ROC license. |
| Painter | License required | Painting and wall covering is a licensed specialty trade, classification CR-34 (dual), with residential (R-34) and commercial (C-34) versions. A painter can work without a license only if the job qualifies for the handyman exemption: total contract under $1,000, no permit required, and not part of a larger project. Otherwise an ROC license is required. |
| Carpenter | License required | Carpentry is a licensed specialty trade, classification CR-7 Carpentry (dual), with residential (R-7) and commercial (C-7) versions. Minor carpentry can fall under the handyman exemption if under $1,000 with no permit and not part of a larger project; structural or permitted carpentry requires an ROC license. |
| Landscaper | Depends on the work | Landscape construction is licensed. Hardscape and irrigation work falls under CR-21 Hardscaping and Irrigation Systems (dual), covering patios, walkways, pavers, garden walls, fences, retaining walls, low-voltage landscape lighting, and water features. Pure gardening, planting, mowing, and yard maintenance that involves no construction is generally not contracting and needs no ROC license, but any hardscape, irrigation, or permitted work does. |
| Handyman | Exemption if under $1,000 | Arizona has no separate handyman license. A person may perform minor work without an ROC license only under the statutory handyman exemption (A.R.S. 32-1121): the aggregate contract price, including labor, materials, and all other items, must be less than $1,000; the work must not require a local building permit; and the work must not be part of a larger or major operation. Jobs cannot be split into sub-$1,000 contracts to evade the rule, and unlicensed persons must state "Not a Licensed Contractor" in advertising. |
| Cleaner | No license required | General house and janitorial cleaning is not construction contracting, so it does not require an ROC contractor license. Standard business registration and local rules may still apply. |
Statuses reflect Arizona Registrar of Contractors classifications and the statutory handyman exemption as of 2025; confirm the current scope for your specific project with the ROC.
How Arizona licenses contractors: the ROC framework
Arizona regulates construction through the Arizona Registrar of Contractors (ROC), which licenses both general and specialty contractors. Licenses are issued in three categories: residential, commercial, and dual (both). Residential contracting covers houses, townhouses, condominiums, and their appurtenances, including utility and sewer connections; commercial contracting is defined as anything other than residential. General licenses (such as B, B-1, and B-2) let a contractor build or coordinate an entire structure, while specialty licenses authorize one trade.
Licensed specialty trades
Most skilled trades are licensed specialty classifications with their own experience and exam requirements. These include plumbing (CR-37), electrical (CR-11), air conditioning & refrigeration / HVAC (CR-39), roofing (CR-42), painting & wall covering (CR-34), carpentry (CR-7), and hardscaping & irrigation (CR-21). Each is offered in residential (R-), commercial (C-), and dual (CR-) versions. Applicants generally must show trade experience and pass a Statutes & Rules exam plus a trade exam.
The $1,000 handyman exemption, precisely
Arizona's handyman exemption (A.R.S. 32-1121) allows minor, casual construction work without an ROC license only when all of these are true: (1) the aggregate contract price, including labor, materials, and all other items, is less than $1,000; (2) the work does not require a local building permit; and (3) the work is not part of a larger or major operation. The statute bars dividing a job into contracts under $1,000 to evade licensing, and unlicensed persons must include the exact phrase "Not a Licensed Contractor" in all advertising. The $1,000 threshold was raised from $750 by Laws 2006, Chapter 274.
Work that needs no ROC license
Some services are not "contracting" and therefore need no ROC license, most notably ordinary house and janitorial cleaning. Routine yard maintenance such as mowing, planting, and gardening (with no hardscape, irrigation, or permitted construction) is likewise generally outside ROC licensing. These businesses may still need a local business license or transaction privilege tax registration.
Local permits and city rules still apply
An ROC license does not replace local building permits or municipal requirements. Cities and counties issue permits and may impose their own business-license and registration rules. Any project requiring a permit falls outside the handyman exemption and requires an appropriately licensed ROC contractor.
How to get licensed in Arizona
- Confirm your trade's ROC classification (for example CR-37 plumbing, CR-11 electrical, CR-39 HVAC) and choose residential, commercial, or dual.
- Verify you meet the experience requirement for that classification and designate a qualifying party.
- Pass the required exams: the Statutes & Rules exam plus the applicable trade exam.
- Submit the ROC license application with the required bond and fees, and clear the background/records review.
- Once licensed, keep the license and bond current, and pull local building permits for any work that requires them.
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Frequently asked questions
Do I really need a license for small jobs in Arizona?
Only jobs that meet every condition of the handyman exemption are license-free: total price under $1,000 (labor plus materials plus all other items), no building permit required, and not part of a larger project. Anything else needs an ROC license.
Is there a separate handyman license in Arizona?
No. Arizona does not issue a handyman license. A handyman either works within the narrow $1,000 exemption or must obtain the appropriate ROC contractor license.
Does a house cleaner need a contractor license?
No. Cleaning is not construction contracting, so it does not require an ROC contractor license, though local business registration may apply.
What's the difference between residential, commercial, and dual licenses?
Residential licenses cover homes and their appurtenances, commercial covers everything non-residential, and a dual (CR-) license authorizes both under one classification.
Sources: Arizona Registrar of Contractors – License Classifications, Arizona Registrar of Contractors – License Classification Requirements, A.R.S. 32-1121 – Persons not required to be licensed (handyman exemption), A.R.S. 32-1122 – Qualifications for license, 2025. Licensing rules change — always confirm current requirements with the relevant state board and your local city before you work.