Paving Contractor (Residential)
Paving contractors contract with clients to apply concrete, asphalt or other materials to road beds, parking lots, or airport runways and taxiways, or to tamp gravel, dirt or other materials.
Typically, only contractors require licenses, not the paving equipment operators who work for them. In some states, licensing requirements differ based on the setting. Those with a residential license may work only on residential properties, while those with a commercial license may work on commercial properties. Other states require the same license regardless of the setting, and this report records that license in both settings. Many states have contract minimums before the contractor’s license applies. See Appendix B for details.
License required by 28 states
49th most burdensome licensing requirements
48th most widely and onerously licensed occupation
Twenty-eight states license paving contractors working on residential properties. On average, states require 329 days of education and experience, $295 in fees, and about one exam. All in all, 14 states require at least one exam (California requires three). These requirements rank as the 49th most burdensome.
| Burden Rank | State | States Licensed | Fees | Estimated Calendar Days Lost | Education | Experience | Exams | Minimum Grade | Minimum Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nevada | 28 | $1,078.25 | 1,460 | - | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 2 | California | 28 | $579.00 | 1,460 | - | 4 years | 3 | 0 | 18 |
| 3 | Hawaii | 28 | $615.00 | 1,460 | - | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 4 | Arizona | 28 | $636.00 | 1,460 | - | 4 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 5 | New Mexico | 28 | $317.76 | 730 | - | 2 years | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 6 | Maryland | 28 | $433.00 | 730 | - | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 7 | Virginia | 28 | $320.00 | 731 | 8 clock hours | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 8 | Utah | 28 | $477.00 | 733 | 20 clock hours | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | South Carolina | 28 | $50.00 | 365 | - | 1 years | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | Mississippi | 28 | $290.00 | 67 | - | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | Oregon | 28 | $385.00 | 3 | 16 clock hours | - | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 12 | Louisiana | 28 | $460.00 | 0 | - | - | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | Rhode Island | 28 | $200.00 | 1 | 5 clock hours | - | 0 | 0 | 18 |
| 14 | North Dakota | 28 | $125.00 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | 18 |
| 15 | Tennessee | 28 | $305.00 | 0 | - | - | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | D C | 28 | $442.20 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | North Carolina | 28 | $145.00 | 0 | - | - | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | West Virginia | 28 | $132.00 | 0 | - | - | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | Alabama | 28 | $350.00 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | Alaska | 28 | $300.00 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | Connecticut | 28 | $220.00 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | Washington | 28 | $113.40 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | New Jersey | 28 | $110.00 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | Arkansas | 28 | $50.00 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | Iowa | 28 | $50.00 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | Pennsylvania | 28 | $50.00 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | Idaho | 28 | $35.00 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 28 | Nebraska | 28 | $0.00 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | 0 |