Louisiana Contractors

Major License Classifications in Louisiana

1. Building Construction
The building, maintenance, repair, raising, leveling, development, or demolition of any and
all structures as well as the landscaping, earthwork, parking areas, driveways, sidewalks, etc.
Building Construction contractors wishing to build residential homes must separately hold
the Residential Building Contractor license.

2. Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction
Construction, maintenance, or repair of highways, streets, bridges, and all
related work, including general earthwork and general paving such as
sidewalks, driveways, and parking lots.

3. Heavy Construction
Construction activities related to industrial facilities, waterway and
flood diversion projects, railroads, and oilfields.

4. Municipal and Public Works Construction
The installation, maintenance, or repair of the infrastructure of water, sewer, gas,
and storm water treatment and/or distribution systems for municipalities. It also
includes power plants, electrical transmission lines, and underground electrical
conduit. This classification is limited to only these scopes of work as specified.

5. Electrical Work Statewide
An electrical contractor is the installation, construction, alteration, improvement,
movement, maintenance, repair, or demolition of wiring, cabling, fixtures, appliances,
equipment, and/or hardware for the supply of electricity to any structure, building, or
project provided the value exceeds $10,000. The installation of low voltage, including Cat
5, Cat 6, coaxial cables, etc., or fiber optic equipment and infrastructure requires
Electrical if any portion of the work involves the installation of equipment, mounting
hardware, wiring, etc. which penetrate walls, ceilings, floors, closed spaces, or the building
envelope. Penetration of walls, floors, ceilings, closed spaces, or the building envelope
includes creating new pathways through walls, floors, ceilings, etc., and running cables
through existing pathways through walls, floors, ceilings, etc. Electrical is not required for
the purchase or installation of non-attached equipment, which merely involves plugging
equipment into an existing wall outlet.

6. Mechanical
Hydraulic and pneumatic systems, including such components as heating, ventilation, air
conditioning, refrigeration, hydronic and steam systems, pressure vessels, plumbing, gas
piping, process piping, mechanical equipment, air and process heaters and seals, and air
vacuums. A license is required when the value exceeds $10,000.
“Mechanical contractor” means any person who undertakes to, attempts to, or submits a price or bid or offers to
construct, supervise, superintend, oversee, direct, or in any manner assume charge of the construction, alteration,
repair, improvement, movement, demolition, putting up, tearing down, or furnishing labor, or furnishing labor
together with material 5 and equipment, or installing the same for the construction, installation, maintenance,
testing, and repair of air conditioning, refrigeration, heating systems, and plumbing for all residential,
commercial, and industrial applications as well as ventilation systems, mechanical work controls, boilers and
other pressure vessels, steam and hot water systems and piping, gas piping and fuel storage, and chilled water
and condensing water systems and piping, including but not limited to any type of industrial process piping and
related valves, fittings, and components, when the cost of the undertaking exceeds the sum of ten thousand
dollars. This Paragraph shall not be deemed or construed to limit the authority of a contractor, general
contractor, or residential contractor, as those terms are defined in this Section, nor to require such individuals to
become a mechanical contractor. Mechanical contractors installing, moving, or reinstalling boilers or other
pressure vessels may be subject to licensure with the Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshal. May bid, contract and
perform any kind of mechanical work without limit anywhere throughout the state. Exempt from any local
licensing exam. Local license must still be obtained as required. Employees not required to hold a separate license
to perform mechanical work or pull permits. Exempt from all Fire Marshal licensing requirements for piping for
fire sprinkler systems.

7. Plumbing
The construction, installation, maintenance, or repair of potable and non-potable tap
water and/or sewer water systems within a building structure or house. A license is
required when the value exceeds $10,000. Plumbing is also a subclassification of
Mechanical.
Applicants for the classification of Plumbing must submit a copy of their Master
Plumber’s License from the State Plumbing Board of Louisiana, along with a commercial
contractor’s license application requesting this classification.

PLEASE NOTE: The grandfathering provisions of Act 725 do not apply to plumbers.
State Plumbing Board of Louisiana
12497 Airline Hwy Baton Rouge LA 70817
225-756-3434 http://www.spbla.com
8. Hazardous Materials
Requires the proper credentialing from the Louisiana Department of Environmental
Quality for Asbestos, Lead, and Underground Storage Tanks and refers to the handling,
treatment, abatement, cleanup and/or removal of hazardous and toxic materials and
waste and other materials regulated by the Louisiana Department of Environmental
Quality such as asbestos, lead, and underground storage tanks.
A license is required when the value exceeds $1

Visit the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality at
https://www.deq.louisiana.gov/
For any additional requirements that may be related to this classification.