Quick answer: Indiana licenses only plumbers at the state level, through the Indiana Plumbing Commission (Professional Licensing Agency). Electricians, HVAC contractors, general contractors, roofers, painters, carpenters, landscapers and handymen have no statewide license — they are regulated locally, if at all. In Indianapolis/Marion County, the Department of Business & Neighborhood Services licenses general, electrical, heating-and-cooling (HVAC), plumbing and wrecking contractors.
Whether you need a license in Indiana depends far more on your trade and your city than on any single state agency.
Which trades need a license in Indiana?
| Trade | State license required? | Licensing body |
|---|---|---|
| Plumber | State license required | Plumbing is the one construction trade Indiana licenses statewide. The Indiana Plumbing Commission, part of the Professional Licensing Agency (PLA), issues Journeyman Plumber and Plumbing Contractor licenses, and it is unlawful to act as a plumbing contractor or journeyman plumber without one. A journeyman needs about four years in an approved apprenticeship program (or a qualifying out-of-state license) and must pass an exam. Apply through MyLicense.IN.gov. |
| Electrician | No state license - local (city/county) | Indiana has no statewide electrician or electrical contractor license. Licensing is a local option, so rules vary by municipality. In Indianapolis/Marion County, an electrical contractor license is required to connect electrical power for on-site construction and to install, alter, replace, service or repair an electrical power distribution system. Always confirm requirements with the city or county where the work is performed. |
| HVAC | No state license - local (city/county) | There is no Indiana state license for HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) work. It is regulated locally. Indianapolis/Marion County licenses "heating and cooling" contractors through the Department of Business & Neighborhood Services, and other cities such as Terre Haute require anyone doing mechanical work inside city limits to be licensed there. Check the local jurisdiction before bidding or pulling permits. |
| General Contractor | No state license - local (city/county) | Indiana does not issue a statewide general contractor license. General contracting is licensed only at the local level, and requirements differ from one city or county to the next. Indianapolis/Marion County licenses general contractors and typically requires a surety bond and general liability insurance. Cities and counties like Allen County run their own contractor licensing programs, so verify with each jurisdiction where you build. |
| Roofer | No state license - local option | Roofing has no statewide license in Indiana. Whether registration or a contractor license is needed depends on local ordinances and on the value or scope of the job (which usually triggers a building permit). Many Indiana municipalities fold roofing into a general or specialty contractor registration. Confirm with the local building or permitting office where the roof is located. |
| Painter | No state license | Indiana does not license painters at the state level, and most localities do not license painting as a standalone trade. A general business registration and, for larger jobs, a permit or local contractor registration may still apply. Note that lead-based paint work in pre-1978 housing carries separate federal and state safety rules. |
| Carpenter | No state license | There is no Indiana state license for carpenters. Carpentry is generally not a separately licensed trade at the local level either, though structural work is subject to building codes and permits, and some cities require a general or remodeling contractor registration for larger projects. |
| Landscaper | No state license | Indiana does not license landscapers. The state does license Landscape Architects (a design profession) through the PLA, but that is distinct from landscaping, lawn care and grounds work, which are not state-licensed. Some cities may require a general business license; pesticide application is separately regulated by the Office of Indiana State Chemist. |
| Handyman | No state license - local permits may apply | Indiana has no state handyman license. General repair and maintenance work does not require a state credential. However, once a job crosses into licensed trade work (notably plumbing, which is state-licensed) or exceeds local permit thresholds, the relevant license or permit is required. Some cities also require a general contractor registration for work above a set dollar amount. |
| Cleaner | No license required | Cleaning services are not a licensed trade in Indiana at the state or, typically, local level. No construction or trade license is needed. Operators still register a business, pay applicable taxes, and may need a general local business license depending on the city. |
Only plumbing is licensed statewide in Indiana; for every other trade, always confirm requirements with the specific city or county where the work is performed.
How Indiana licenses construction trades
Indiana takes a narrow approach to trade licensing at the state level. The Indiana Professional Licensing Agency (PLA) and its boards regulate a limited set of construction-related professions — most importantly plumbing, along with home inspectors, manufactured home installers, and architects & landscape architects. It does not license electricians, HVAC technicians, general contractors, roofers, painters, carpenters, landscapers, or handymen.
For those unlicensed-at-state trades, regulation is left to individual cities and counties. That means a contractor legal to operate in one town may need a separate license in the next.
Plumbing: the one statewide license
Plumbing is the exception. The Indiana Plumbing Commission, operating under the PLA, issues Journeyman Plumber and Plumbing Contractor licenses, and state law makes it unlawful to act as a plumbing contractor or journeyman plumber without a license. Journeyman applicants generally need about four years in an approved apprenticeship program (or a qualifying out-of-state license) and must pass a state exam. Applications are filed online through MyLicense.IN.gov.
Local licensing: Indianapolis/Marion County and beyond
The most developed local program is in Indianapolis/Marion County, where the Department of Business & Neighborhood Services (DBNS) licenses general, electrical, heating-and-cooling (HVAC), plumbing, and wrecking contractors. Applicants typically must carry a minimum surety bond and general liability insurance, and some license types require continuing education. Other jurisdictions run their own systems — for example, Allen County licenses contractors and sub-contractors, and Terre Haute requires a license for mechanical work within city limits.
What this means for homeowners and contractors
Because Indiana's system is decentralized, the safest rule is: check the specific city or county before starting work. Homeowners hiring a plumber should confirm a current state plumbing license; for other trades, ask whether the local jurisdiction requires a contractor license, bond, and insurance. Contractors working across multiple municipalities may need several local licenses even though the state requires none.
How to get licensed in Indiana
- Identify your trade: if it is plumbing, you need a state license from the Indiana Plumbing Commission (PLA); if not, the state does not license it.
- Confirm the city and county where you will work, since electrical, HVAC, general contracting and other trades are licensed locally.
- For plumbing, meet the experience requirement (about four years of approved apprenticeship or a qualifying out-of-state license), then pass the state exam and apply via MyLicense.IN.gov.
- For local trades, contact the local building or licensing office (e.g., Indianapolis DBNS) to get the correct license category, bond and insurance requirements.
- Obtain any required surety bond and liability insurance, submit the local application and fee, and keep continuing education current where required at renewal.
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Frequently asked questions
Does Indiana have a state contractor's license?
No. Indiana does not issue a statewide general contractor license. The only construction trade licensed by the state is plumbing, through the Indiana Plumbing Commission. General contracting, electrical, HVAC and most other trades are licensed locally by cities and counties, if at all.
Do electricians and HVAC contractors need a license in Indiana?
Not from the state. There is no statewide electrician or HVAC license in Indiana. These trades are regulated locally. In Indianapolis/Marion County, for example, electrical and heating-and-cooling (HVAC) contractors must be licensed by the Department of Business & Neighborhood Services. Requirements vary by jurisdiction.
Who licenses plumbers in Indiana?
The Indiana Plumbing Commission, part of the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency (PLA), licenses journeyman plumbers and plumbing contractors statewide. It is unlawful to work as a plumbing contractor or journeyman plumber in Indiana without this license.
Does a handyman need a license in Indiana?
There is no state handyman license in Indiana. General repair and maintenance work does not require a state credential. However, work that falls into a licensed trade such as plumbing, or that exceeds local permit or contractor-registration thresholds, requires the appropriate license or permit from the local jurisdiction.
Sources: Indiana PLA - Plumbing Licensing Information, Indiana PLA - Indiana Plumbing Commission, Indiana PLA - Professions/Boards list, Indianapolis/Marion County - Contractor Licenses (DBNS), Allen County, IN - Contractor Licensing, 2025. Licensing rules change — always confirm current requirements with the relevant state board and your local city before you work.