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Virginia
Source: Local Help Stations (localhelpstations.com). Last updated November 2, 2026.
Virginia licenses contractors in three classes through the Board for Contractors, and it requires tradesman licenses for electrical, plumbing and HVAC work. These are the statewide home and car rules we could confirm on official Virginia pages.
Key Virginia facts
- Nobody may do or offer to do contracting work in Virginia without a license from the Board for Contractors. (source: Virginia General Assembly, Legislative Information System)
- A Class C license is needed for single jobs over $1,000 and under $30,000. (source: Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation)
- A Class B license covers single jobs from $30,000 up to just under $150,000. (source: Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation)
- Single jobs of $150,000 or more need a Class A license. (source: Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation)
- Electrical, plumbing and HVAC contracting firms must have a licensed master tradesman. (source: Virginia General Assembly, Legislative Information System)
- Individual tradesmen also need their own license to do or offer trade work. (source: Virginia General Assembly, Legislative Information System)
- Contracting without the required license can bring a fine of up to $500 per day. (source: Virginia General Assembly, Legislative Information System)
- The Board recommends a first payment of about 10 percent of the contract, or about 30 percent when custom items must be ordered. (source: Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation)
- The Board cannot order a licensee to pay you back. Money has to be recovered through a civil case, and the agency can explain the Virginia Contractor Transaction Recovery Fund. (source: Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation)
- For a sale made at your home, you can cancel until midnight of the third business day after you sign. (source: Virginia General Assembly, Legislative Information System)
- In a true emergency you can give up that waiting period, but only in a dated note you write and sign yourself. (source: Virginia General Assembly, Legislative Information System)
- After storms, the agency says to get at least three estimates when you can. (source: Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation)
- It also warns against paying cash or paying for the whole job up front. (source: Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation)
Virginia topics
Virginia auto
Virginia car rules here come from the Motor Vehicle Warranty Enforcement Act, the state safety inspection law and the DMV emissions page.
Not covered yet
We have not published Virginia pages for these topics yet, because we have not confirmed enough Virginia specific facts on official pages: HVAC, Plumbing, Electrician, Roofing, Appliance repair, Garage doors, Locksmith, Pest control, Movers.
Sources
- Virginia General Assembly, Legislative Information System: Code of Virginia § 54.1-1103 (Necessity for license) (checked November 2, 2026)
- Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation: Statement of Consumer Protections (Board for Contractors) (checked November 2, 2026)
- Virginia General Assembly, Legislative Information System: Code of Virginia § 54.1-1100 (Board for Contractors; definitions) (checked November 2, 2026)
- Virginia General Assembly, Legislative Information System: Code of Virginia § 54.1-1129 (Tradesman license required) (checked November 2, 2026)
- Virginia General Assembly, Legislative Information System: Code of Virginia § 54.1-1115 (Prohibited acts) (checked November 2, 2026)
- Virginia General Assembly, Legislative Information System: Code of Virginia § 59.1-21.3 (Home solicitation sales; buyer's right to cancel) (checked November 2, 2026)
- Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation: Consumer Alert: Storm Damage (checked November 2, 2026)
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