Does Indiana require contractors to be licensed in Indianapolis?

Indiana does not require a statewide general contractor license. With the exception of plumbers (who are licensed by the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency), most contractor licenses in Indiana are issued at the local level. Indianapolis contractors must comply with Marion County and City of Indianapolis permit and registration requirements. Always verify local licensing status with the Indianapolis Department of Business and Neighborhood Services.

How do I verify a plumber's license in Indiana?

Indiana plumbing contractors are licensed statewide through the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency (PLA). Verify any plumber at mylicense.in.gov/everification — free, instant lookup. For all other trades and general contractors, contact your local building department to confirm what licensing is required and how to verify it.

What should I know about contractor fraud in Indianapolis?

Indianapolis has documented cases of serial contractor fraud. Hank Eversole was ordered to pay $97,631 in restitution to three clients in 2016 — then continued operating and was sued again by the Indiana AG in October 2024 for the same pattern of taking deposits and abandoning projects. He targeted Indianapolis homeowners specifically. Serial offenders who change business names are the dominant fraud pattern in Indiana.

How do I report a contractor scam in Indianapolis?

File a complaint with the Indiana Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division at indianaconsumer.com or call 1-800-382-5516. Also file with the Indianapolis Better Business Bureau and the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency for licensed trade complaints. Document everything: contracts, payment receipts, text messages, photos.

How much should a deposit be for an Indianapolis contractor?

10–25% of the total project cost is the standard Indianapolis contractor deposit. Never pay more than 30% before work visibly begins. Indiana has no statutory cap on deposits, but any contractor requesting more than 33% upfront should be asked to explain in writing why they need that level of pre-funding — established local contractors have supplier accounts and don't need homeowners to front-load materials.

How to Find a Good Contractor in Indianapolis: Indiana Licensing, Fraud Cases, and Verified Pros

Finding a good contractor in Indianapolis requires understanding a critical gap in Indiana's regulatory structure: there is no statewide general contractor license. Anyone can call themselves a contractor in Indianapolis and legally accept home improvement contracts without demonstrating credentials, posting a bond, or passing any examination. This has allowed serial offenders to operate — and in at least one documented case, to re-offend after a court-ordered restitution judgment.

Indiana's Contractor Licensing Gap — What Indianapolis Homeowners Need to Know

Indiana licenses plumbers statewide through the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency (PLA). Every other trade — electricians, HVAC, general contractors — is handled at the local level or not licensed at all.

What this means in Indianapolis:

General contractors: No state license. Verify with Marion County Building Services or the City of Indianapolis Department of Business and Neighborhood Services
Plumbers: State-licensed. Verify at mylicense.in.gov/everification
Electricians and HVAC: Check with Indianapolis city building department for local license requirements

The verification baseline that matters most in Indiana: Because licensure is limited, your primary filters are:

Verifiable local business address and business history
References from Indianapolis-area projects in the last 12 months
Active insurance confirmed by calling the carrier directly
Indiana AG complaint search at indianaconsumer.com

The Hank Eversole Case: Why Serial Offenders Are Indiana's Biggest Threat

The most important contractor fraud story in Indianapolis is also the most instructive — because it shows how the system fails homeowners when licensing requirements are absent.

First action (2016): A Marion Superior Court judge ordered Hank Eversole to pay $97,631 in restitution to three clients after he took deposits for home improvement work and failed to complete it.

Second action (October 2024): The Indiana AG filed a new lawsuit against Eversole for the same pattern — targeting Indianapolis homeowners, collecting deposits, and abandoning projects. In one documented case, an Indianapolis couple paid $19,000 for work that was never performed. Another homeowner paid a $3,000 deposit for a deck roof in February 2023 and never saw the contractor return. (The Indiana Lawyer) | (Inside Indiana Business)

The Eversole case illustrates why checking the AG's complaint database — not just the Better Business Bureau — is essential in Indiana. A contractor can receive a court judgment against them, continue operating under the same or a modified business name, and find new victims.

Before hiring any Indianapolis contractor: Search the owner's name (not just the company name) at indianaconsumer.com and the Indiana AG's public court records.

Indiana AG Partnership with Builders Association

The Indiana AG has partnered with the Indiana Builders Association specifically to combat home improvement fraud — a formal acknowledgment of how prevalent the problem is statewide. (Indiana AG Consumer Alert)

Senior-targeting: Indiana state officials specifically highlight that seniors, people who live alone, and victims of recent weather events are the most common targets. Indianapolis's large suburban senior population is actively targeted by door-to-door contractor scams, particularly in spring.

What to Ask Before Hiring in Indianapolis

Do you have a business address in Marion, Hamilton, Hendricks, or Johnson County?
What permits does this project require, and who pulls them?
For plumbing work: What is your Indiana PLA license number? (Verify at mylicense.in.gov)
Can you provide three references from Indianapolis-area projects completed in the last 12 months?
What is your exact payment schedule, and what project milestone triggers each payment?
Will you provide signed lien waivers at each payment milestone?

A contractor who is vague about permit requirements or who suggests you pull the permits yourself is showing you an important warning sign.

Find Verified Contractors in Indianapolis

For the complete step-by-step checklist — license verification, bid comparison, contract requirements, and what to do if a contractor scams you — see the complete Midwest contractor guide.

Report fraud in Indiana: indianaconsumer.com or 1-800-382-5516.