Moving to District of Columbia as a residential contractor: every state's rule

1. 1Business license. Obtain a business license ($99). Register a corporation, partnership or LLC with the DLCP Corporations Division, with a registered agent: $99 for a domestic for-profit entity or $220 for a foreign (out-of-District) for-profit entity. A sole proprietor does not register an entity. Every applicant also needs a District tax registration and a Clean Hands certification through the District's business portal..
2. 2Other. A Certificate of Occupancy for the business premises, or a Home Occupation Permit if the business is run from a home. Post office boxes are not accepted as the premise address..
3. 3Surety bond. Post a surety bond ($25,000). Home Improvement Surety Bond of $25,000 running to the District of Columbia, kept in force for the two-year license period, from a corporate surety authorized by the U.S. Treasury and by the D.C. Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking. Instead of a bond the applicant may deposit $25,000 in cash or by certified or cashier's check with the D.C. Treasurer, or US government bonds or notes with a maturity value of at least $26,000; a deposit is held for at least three years after the license expires..
4. 4Insurance. Carry the required insurance. Certificate of public liability and property damage insurance covering the whole license period, with minimum limits of $50,000 for bodily injury or death of one person, $100,000 for more than one person in a single accident and $10,000 property damage, cancelable only on 30 days notice to DLCP. The certificate must be issued by an insurer authorized in the District, to the business as registered with the Corporations Division and to the premise address on the application, and must name the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection, 1100 4th Street SW, Washington, DC 20024, as certificate holder..
5. 5Financial responsibility. Show financial responsibility of at least $100,000 (if applicable). Optional alternative to insurance: qualify as a self-insurer by showing that the business employs qualified people to handle and pay claims and has a net worth of at least $100,000, including a reserve of at least $5,000 for anticipated or pending claims. DLCP may accept an affidavit for the claims-handling point and a certified public accountant's certificate for the net worth..
6. 6Background check. Complete a background check. A certified Police Criminal History Report from the jurisdiction where you live, no older than 30 days when you apply. Every partner of a partnership, and the president, vice president, secretary and treasurer of a corporation, must provide one; include court dispositions for any conviction to avoid delay. District residents request it on PD Form 70 from the Metropolitan Police Department's Arrest and Criminal History Section, 441 4th Street NW, (202) 727-4245, for $7, with processing of up to 10 business days; residents of Maryland, Virginia or elsewhere get it from their own local police, at that agency's fee..
7. 7Other. Two pre-printed home improvement contracts in at least triplicate, on a form that complies with the D.C. Code and the D.C. Municipal Regulations, filed with the application. DLCP publishes a sample Home Improvement Contract..
8. 8Other. Designate at least one Home Improvement Salesperson who holds their own Basic Business License, and keep one designated for as long as the contractor license is held. A salesperson may be registered to only one contractor at a time; officers, partners and principals who negotiate contracts count as salespeople..
9. 9License fee. Pay the license or certificate fee ($99). Basic Business License fee: $99 for a two-year license or $198 for a four-year license. The six-month term is not available for the Home Improvement Contractor endorsement. DLCP lists no separate application fee..

Published fees on this path total $99, excluding exam-vendor fees, bonds, and insurance.