New Hampshire has no statewide contractor license, so no license forces you to buy insurance. But the moment you have even one employee, state law still requires workers comp under RSA 281-A, and the general contractors and clients you work for will demand proof of it before you start. On top of that, a general contractor carries its own exposure for an uninsured subcontractor's injured workers. New Hampshire does license some trades at the state level, and those come with their own rules.
Who this is for: New Hampshire contractors and tradespeople sorting out what licensing and insurance their work actually requires.
The short version
- New Hampshire does not issue a statewide general-contractor license; licensing, where it exists, is left to towns.
- All businesses must register with the New Hampshire Secretary of State before operating.
- The state does license certain trades directly, including electricians and plumbers.
- Any contracting business with employees must carry workers comp under RSA 281-A, license or not.
- Under RSA 281-A:18, a general contractor can be responsible for an uninsured subcontractor's injured workers.
What New Hampshire actually licenses
Unlike states with a central contractor board, New Hampshire has no statewide general-contractor license. Where any construction licensing exists, it is handled by individual municipalities, and most towns require none. Every business does have to register with the New Hampshire Secretary of State. The state does, however, license specific trades directly: electricians run from apprentice through journeyman and master, and plumbers run from apprentice through journeyman and master, among a few others. So the question is less about a general license and more about your trade and whether you employ anyone.
| Type of work | Statewide license? | Workers comp |
|---|---|---|
| General contracting | No statewide license; some towns may require one | Required if you have employees (RSA 281-A) |
| Electrician | Yes, state-licensed (apprentice, journeyman, master) | Required if you have employees |
| Plumber | Yes, state-licensed (apprentice, journeyman, master) | Required if you have employees |
| Any contractor hiring subcontractors | Depends on trade | Also exposed for an uninsured sub under RSA 281-A:18 |
Why coverage matters without a statewide license
Even with no statewide license tying insurance to your permit, workers comp still reaches you the moment you have employees, under RSA 281-A:5. And a general contractor carries a second exposure that catches people off guard: under RSA 281-A:18, if you subcontract part of a job to a business that does not carry its own comp, you can be responsible for that sub's injured workers, and can then try to recover what you paid from the sub. A homeowner who hires someone directly does not become that kind of responsible contractor, but a contractor running subs does. That is why collecting a certificate of coverage from every sub, before they start, protects you.
What clients and towns still require
Beyond the state rules, the people you work for set their own. A town permit, a project owner, or a trade board may require general liability or a surety bond even though the state has no single statewide mandate for them. General contractors and property managers almost always require proof of workers comp and general liability before you can start, and lenders on a project often do too. So most contracting businesses carry workers comp and general liability not because one statewide license forces it, but because the law reaches their employees and their contracts reach everything else.
A Salem example
Illustrative, not a quote. A Salem electrician holds a state electrician license and runs the business with two employees. There is no statewide general-contractor license involved, but because he has employees, New Hampshire requires workers comp under RSA 281-A, and the general contractors he works for require proof of it before he sets foot on site. When he subcontracts a small low-voltage job to another shop, he collects that shop's certificate first, so an uninsured sub's injury cannot become his responsibility under RSA 281-A:18. We handle his employee coverage and confirm his certificates are ready. See our workers comp for electricians page.
Real questions New Hampshire owners ask
What insurance does a New Hampshire contractor license require?
There is no statewide general-contractor license in New Hampshire, so no single license forces coverage. But if you have employees, workers comp is required under RSA 281-A, and clients require it before you start.
Does New Hampshire have a state contractor license?
Not a general one. The state does not issue a statewide general-contractor license, and most towns require none. It does license some trades directly, including electricians and plumbers.
Do I need workers comp as a contractor with no employees?
Not by the workers comp law itself, since RSA 281-A applies once you have employees. But general contractors and clients often require proof of coverage before you can start, so many solo contractors carry it anyway.
Which trades does New Hampshire license directly?
New Hampshire licenses certain trades at the state level, including electricians and plumbers, each with apprentice, journeyman, and master levels. General contractors are not licensed statewide.
Can I be liable for a subcontractor's injured workers?
Yes. Under RSA 281-A:18, if you hire a subcontractor who does not carry its own workers comp, you can be responsible for that sub's injured workers. Collecting a certificate from every sub protects you.
Do I need general liability or a bond for my license?
There is no single statewide mandate, but a town permit, project owner, or trade board may require general liability or a surety bond. General contractors and property managers usually require them by contract.
Do I have to register my contracting business in New Hampshire?
Yes. Every business must register with the New Hampshire Secretary of State before operating. That registration is separate from any trade license or the workers comp coverage your employees require.
Why New Hampshire owners choose Morrow
- We shop the right market for you. In New Hampshire you buy workers' comp on the open market from any private carrier licensed in the state, because there is no state fund, and if no carrier will take you the NCCI-run assigned risk plan is the guaranteed fallback, so we can shop your rate freely and still have a backstop for hard-to-place work.
- We catch pricing mistakes. Your price depends heavily on the category your work falls into for pricing (the class code). Put people in the wrong category and you overpay for years. We review your payroll and classifications before you buy.
- Proof of coverage, fast. Need a certificate (proof of coverage) for a general contractor or a landlord before Monday? We turn those around the same business day for most carriers.
- We help lower the score that drives your price. Insurers give you a score based on your past claims that raises or lowers your cost (the experience modification rate). We review it each year, flag errors, and connect you with return-to-work and safety resources that bring it down.
- Real people when a claim happens. When someone gets hurt, we stay involved through the life of the claim, not just at renewal.
Related New Hampshire guides
Every New Hampshire business is set up a little differently. These companion guides answer the same question for other situations, plus the national explainers behind the terms used here.
- Business insurance in New Hampshire (start here)
- Workers comp: the owner's overview
- I own an LLC: do I need workers comp?
- I'm a sole proprietor: do I need workers comp?
- I own a corporation (C-corp or S-corp): do I need it?
- We're a partnership: do we need workers comp?
- We're a nonprofit: do we need workers comp?
- My workers are 1099: do I still need it?
- Only part-time or seasonal staff: do I need it?
- I only employ family: do I need workers comp?
- Remote or out-of-state staff: do I need coverage?
- What happens if I don't carry workers comp?
- How much does workers comp cost?
- How do I get workers comp (even if turned down)?
- Workers compensation insurance, explained
- What workers comp costs (national guide)
- Do I need workers comp for 1099 contractors?
- What workers comp does not cover
- New Hampshire electrician workers comp
This guide is general information, not legal advice. New Hampshire rules and penalty amounts can change, so verify current requirements with New Hampshire Department of Labor, Workers' Compensation Division or a licensed advisor before you rely on them. Last updated: July 2026.