DC is unusual: licensing and permitting live in two separate agencies. Understanding which is which is the foundation of hiring safely in the District — and it is exactly the part national cost-guide sites get wrong.
The two-agency system
On October 1, 2022, the old Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) split into two bodies:
- DLCP — the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection. Handles business licenses (including the contractor’s HIC endorsement) and consumer-protection complaints.
- DOB — the Department of Buildings. Handles construction permits, plan review, and inspections.
Most consumers still search “DCRA,” so we bridge the old and new names throughout these guides.
What this section covers
- The DC contractor license — what a Basic Business License (BBL) and Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) endorsement actually are.
- How to verify a license — a step-by-step walkthrough using the official DC tool.
- Bonding and insurance — the required $25,000 HIC surety bond and liability coverage.
- Permits — when DC requires a building permit, the online “Postcard Permit” path, and what permits cost.
Licensing is the moat. A licensed contractor is bonded, insured, and — critically — brings you under the protection of the DC Home Improvement Guaranty Fund. Start with the verification walkthrough.