The independent guide to vetting, licensing, and hiring contractors in Washington, DC. Verify a DC contractor license, understand permits and the $25,000 HIC bond, spot red flags, and learn what jobs cost — grounded in DLCP, DOB, DC OAG, BBB and FTC guidance.https://dc.contractors/https://dc.contractors/licensing/dlcp-dob-dcra-explained/https://dc.contractors/licensing/dlcp-dob-dcra-explained/Washington, DC split the old DCRA into DLCP and DOB on October 1, 2022. Here's which agency licenses contractors, which handles permits and inspections, and where to go for verification, complaints, and recovery.Tue, 16 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://dc.contractors/protection/contractor-red-flags/https://dc.contractors/protection/contractor-red-flags/The twelve warning signs that a Washington, DC contractor is one to avoid — from cash-only deposits and missing licenses to storm-chasing and high-pressure closes — and exactly what each red flag is hiding.Tue, 16 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://dc.contractors/protection/file-complaint-against-contractor-dc/https://dc.contractors/protection/file-complaint-against-contractor-dc/A step-by-step guide to filing a complaint against a contractor in Washington, DC — which agency to use, the $250 and three-year thresholds, what documentation to gather, and how to escalate to the DC Attorney General.Tue, 16 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://dc.contractors/hiring/https://dc.contractors/hiring/The master guide to finding, screening, and contracting with a contractor in the District — from comparing bids to safe payment schedules and written contracts.Sat, 13 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://dc.contractors/licensing/https://dc.contractors/licensing/The DLCP/DOB split, the Basic Business License and Home Improvement Contractor endorsement, the $25,000 bond, and when you need a DC building permit — in plain language.Sat, 13 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://dc.contractors/protection/https://dc.contractors/protection/How DC residents get burned by contractors and how to recover — warning signs, common scams, the Home Improvement Guaranty Fund, and how to file a complaint with DLCP and the DC OAG.Sat, 13 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://dc.contractors/trades/https://dc.contractors/trades/What jobs cost in Washington, DC, whether they need a license or permit, and what to ask — plumbing, electrical, roofing, HVAC, remodeling, restoration, painting and more.Sat, 13 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://dc.contractors/hiring/how-to-hire-a-contractor-in-dc/https://dc.contractors/hiring/how-to-hire-a-contractor-in-dc/A consumer-advocate walkthrough for hiring a contractor in Washington, DC — verifying the license, comparing bids that describe the same work, reading the contract, structuring safe payments, and using the District's protections if a job goes wrong.Sat, 13 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://dc.contractors/hiring/questions-to-ask-a-contractor/https://dc.contractors/hiring/questions-to-ask-a-contractor/The exact questions to ask a Washington, DC contractor before you sign — covering licensing, the $25,000 bond and insurance, subcontractors, permits, the written contract, payment schedule, and warranty, with the answers a professional should give.Sat, 13 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://dc.contractors/licensing/dc-contractor-bond-insurance/https://dc.contractors/licensing/dc-contractor-bond-insurance/What Washington, DC's $25,000 home improvement surety bond and $50,000 liability insurance requirement actually mean for homeowners — how a bond differs from insurance, how a claim works, and why both depend on hiring a licensed contractor.Sat, 13 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://dc.contractors/licensing/dc-contractor-license-requirements/https://dc.contractors/licensing/dc-contractor-license-requirements/What it takes to be a licensed home improvement contractor in Washington, DC — the Basic Business License, the HIC endorsement, the $25,000 surety bond, insurance minimums, and the DLCP/DOB system, with every requirement cited to its official source.Sat, 13 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://dc.contractors/licensing/verify-dc-contractor-license/https://dc.contractors/licensing/verify-dc-contractor-license/A step-by-step walkthrough for checking whether a Washington, DC contractor holds an active license — what the HIC endorsement is, where to look it up, and what an 'active' record must show before you sign.Sat, 13 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://dc.contractors/protection/dc-home-improvement-guaranty-fund/https://dc.contractors/protection/dc-home-improvement-guaranty-fund/How Washington, DC's Home Improvement Guaranty Fund lets homeowners recover money from a failed contractor — who qualifies, why it only covers licensed contractors, how it relates to the $25,000 bond, and how to file.Sat, 13 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT