Hiring a contractor in Vermont: check, red flags, complaints
Check OPR's Find a Professional and insist on a written contract. (source: OPR: Residential Contractors (opens in a new tab), source: OPR: Residential Contractor FAQs (opens in a new tab))
Check a license on the OPR website (official site, opens in a new tab)
How: Use OPR's Find a Professional to look up a residential contractor or download the roster. Any sanctions are public. (source: OPR: Residential Contractors (opens in a new tab), source: OPR: Residential Contractor FAQs (opens in a new tab))
Checked against official Vermont Secretary of State, Office of Professional Regulation sources. See sources.
Red flags when hiring
- No written contract with price, dates, scope and change-order terms. (source: OPR: Residential Contractor FAQs (opens in a new tab))
- Not in OPR's registry on a job of $10,000 or more. (source: OPR: Residential Contractor FAQs (opens in a new tab))
Consumer protections
Written contract and down payment
- Get a written contract before work starts. (source: OPR: Residential Contractor FAQs (opens in a new tab))
- With a maximum-price contract, the down payment can be up to half the labor cost or half the materials price, whichever is greater. (source: OPR: Residential Contractor FAQs (opens in a new tab))
Getting money back
- The Office of Professional Regulation can't recover damages for you. For that, contact the Attorney General's Consumer Assistance Program. (source: OPR: Residential Contractors (opens in a new tab))
Sources and last verified
Last verified: . Next check due: . Every fact on this page links to one of these official pages.
- OPR: Residential Contractors (opens in a new tab) (checked Oct 24, 2026)
- OPR: Residential Contractor FAQs (opens in a new tab) (checked Oct 24, 2026)
- OPR Initial Licensing, Renewal Fees and Dates (opens in a new tab) (checked Oct 24, 2026)
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