How to Check an Idaho Contractor Registration
Idaho requires every general contractor to register with DOPL under the Contractor Registration Act (Idaho Code § 54-5201 through § 54-5224). The public lookup is at ibol.idaho.gov. Here is the six-step verification workflow, with Iron Crest's own registration (RCE-6681702) as a working example — search us at the portal to see what a valid record looks like.
Quick answer
Go to ibol.idaho.gov, search by license / registration number or business name, and confirm Active status. Iron Crest Remodel is RCE-6681702 — verify us as a working example. Idaho requires every general contractor to register with DOPL under Idaho Code § 54-5201 through § 54-5224. Registration is not the same as a professional license: it confirms bond / disclosure requirements are met but does not certify skill in any specific craft. That's why plumbing (§ 54-2601) and electrical (§ 54-1001) work must be performed by separately licensed trades — verify their licenses at the same portal.
Quick answer
Go to ibol.idaho.gov (the Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses public database) and search by company name or registration number. A valid record shows the current status (Active), the registration number, the registration type (Contractor, Electrical Contractor, Plumbing Contractor, etc.), and the expiration date.
This is the workflow Iron Crest recommends every homeowner run before signing a contract with any contractor — including us. It takes five minutes and catches the most common consumer-protection issues at the point where they are cheapest to catch.
Ask the contractor for their registration number
A registered Idaho contractor will give you the number without hesitation. Iron Crest's is RCE-6681702; other RCE- or BC-prefix numbers are also legitimate. A contractor who says 'we don't need one' or 'ours is being renewed' is a red flag — every active Idaho contractor knows their number.
Open the DOPL / IBOL lookup
Navigate to ibol.idaho.gov and click into the public license search. You can search by license/registration number, business name, or individual name. Number search is fastest and least ambiguous.
Enter the registration number and search
Enter the RCE- or BC- prefix plus the digits. The system returns the record (or 'no match'). A valid record shows license/registration type, holder name, city, status, and expiration date.
Confirm 'Active' status
Look for the Active status marker. Any other status — Inactive, Expired, Suspended, Lapsed, Revoked — is a stop sign. Also check the expiration date; if it is within the next 60 days and the contractor will still be working then, ask about renewal timing.
Match the record to the entity signing your contract
The DBA or legal entity on the IBOL record should match the entity name on the contract you are about to sign. If Iron Crest's record shows 'Iron Crest Remodeling Group LLC' but the contract is drawn under a different LLC, ask before you sign — it might be a legitimate related entity or it might be a shell without registration.
For plumbing / electrical scopes, verify the trade licenses too
Under Idaho law, plumbing (§ 54-2601) and electrical (§ 54-1001) work must be performed by separately licensed trades. Ask which licensed electrician and licensed plumber will be on the project, get their license numbers, and search them at the same portal. If Iron Crest is the general contractor, our trades' license numbers are on the trade permits and available on request.
Verify Iron Crest right now.
Open ibol.idaho.gov, search for RCE-6681702. You should see Iron Crest Remodeling Group LLC, Active status, Idaho, with a current expiration date. That is what a valid record looks like.
A source of homeowner confusion in Idaho: 'is my contractor licensed?' is not the right question, because Idaho does not license general contractors — it registers them. The trades (electrical, plumbing, HVAC) ARE licensed. These are two different things.
Registered General Contractor
- Registration prefix: RCE- (residential) or BC- (building)
- Authorized by Idaho Contractor Registration Act (§ 54-5201 – § 54-5224)
- Scope: general construction, additions, remodeling — coordinates trades but does not perform electrical or plumbing work themselves
- Iron Crest example: RCE-6681702
Licensed Trade
- Licenses: Master Electrician / Journeyman Electrician (§ 54-1001), Master Plumber / Journeyman Plumber (§ 54-2601), HVAC
- Authorized by respective Idaho licensing statutes — a real professional license, not just a registration
- Scope: performs the licensed trade and pulls the trade permit through the state licensing framework
- Verifiable at the same ibol.idaho.gov portal
Verify both when you hire an Idaho contractor. Registration of the general contractor (RCE / BC number) AND licenses of the electrical and plumbing trades that will be on the project (Master / Journeyman numbers). Both types of record appear in the same ibol.idaho.gov database.
How do I verify an Idaho contractor is registered?
Go to ibol.idaho.gov (the Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses public database) and search by company name or registration number. A valid record shows the current status (Active), the registration number, the registration type (Contractor, Electrical Contractor, Plumbing Contractor, etc.), and the expiration date. Always search before signing a contract. Iron Crest Remodel's registration is RCE-6681702 — you can verify it right now at ibol.idaho.gov as a working example. A contractor who cannot give you a registration number to check, or gives you a number that returns 'no match' at ibol.idaho.gov, is either unregistered, has let the registration lapse, or is misrepresenting who they are. All three are grounds to look elsewhere.
What is an Idaho RCE contractor registration number?
RCE stands for Residential Contractor / Electrician — a registration prefix DOPL uses for residential general contractors. Idaho also issues BC-prefix numbers for building contractors and separate prefixes for the state-licensed trades (electrical, plumbing, HVAC). The registration is issued under the Idaho Contractor Registration Act (Idaho Code § 54-5201 through § 54-5224), which requires any person or company that contracts to perform construction, improvement, or repair on real property for compensation to register with DOPL. The registration is not the same as a professional license — it confirms the contractor has met the state's registration requirements (bond or equivalent, disclosure filings, no disqualifying findings) but does not certify skill in any specific craft. That is why the licensed-trade distinction below matters.
What's the difference between a registered contractor and a licensed trade in Idaho?
General contractors register under the Idaho Contractor Registration Act (Idaho Code § 54-5201–5224). Electricians, plumbers, and HVAC mechanics hold separate trade licenses under their own Idaho licensing statutes (§ 54-1001 for electrical, § 54-2601 for plumbing). The practical difference: a general contractor who is only RCE-registered cannot legally perform electrical or plumbing work themselves — they must have separately licensed trades on the project to pull trade permits for that scope. When you hire a registered general contractor, confirm that their electrical and plumbing trades are separately licensed and that each trade pulls its own permit. That trade permit is the paper trail that protects you.
What does 'Active' status mean on the IBOL lookup?
Active means the contractor has current registration on file with DOPL — bond or equivalent in place, no revocation or suspension in effect, and the registration has not expired. IBOL will also show statuses like Inactive, Expired, Suspended, Lapsed, or Revoked. Any status other than Active is a stop-sign at the pre-contract stage: it means either the paperwork lapsed (fixable) or there is a disciplinary issue (not fixable). Iron Crest's Active status means the state considers our registration current and in good standing on the day you check.
How do I look up an electrician or plumber in Idaho?
Same portal — ibol.idaho.gov — but you search for the trade license, not a general contractor registration. Electricians hold license types like Master Electrician or Journeyman Electrician under Idaho Code § 54-1001. Plumbers hold Master Plumber or Journeyman Plumber licenses under § 54-2601. When Iron Crest is on a project, our licensed electrical and plumbing trades appear on the trade permits by name and license number — you can verify each trade the same way you verified our general contractor registration.
What if the contractor's registration is not on the IBOL lookup?
That is a hard stop. If the contractor gave you a number and it does not return an Active record at ibol.idaho.gov, you should not sign a contract with that party. Common reasons for a 'no match' result: the number was fabricated, the registration was never issued, the registration has expired and not been renewed, or the number was for a different entity than the one contracting with you. Ask the contractor to confirm the exact company name they operate under and re-search. If it still returns nothing, walk away. Under Idaho Code § 54-5217, unregistered contractors cannot enforce liens or contract claims — a signed contract with an unregistered contractor gives you very limited legal protection.
Does contractor registration mean the work will be quality work?
No — registration is a paperwork threshold, not a quality guarantee. It confirms the contractor has met DOPL's baseline requirements (bond or equivalent, disclosure filings, no disqualifying findings) but does not certify craftsmanship, business practices, or reputation. Registration is necessary, not sufficient. Add these three steps on top of the IBOL lookup: (1) verify the workmanship warranty in writing (Iron Crest's is 3 years); (2) confirm the contract will be written with itemized scope, payment schedule, and change-order procedure (Idaho Code § 54-5215 requires written disclosure for residential jobs over $2,000); (3) check independent reviews and past project references. Registered + good reviews + a real written contract + a written warranty is the baseline.
What insurance should an Idaho contractor carry?
General liability insurance protects you if the contractor damages your property or a third party during the project. Workers' compensation protects you if a worker is injured on your property — without it, the injured worker's medical costs can flow to your homeowner's insurance. Ask any contractor bidding your project for a Certificate of Insurance (COI) naming both coverages, with policy numbers and expiration dates. Iron Crest carries both and provides COIs on request as part of the pre-contract package. If a contractor cannot or will not provide a current COI, treat it the same way you treat a 'no match' on the IBOL lookup — walk away.
How do I check Iron Crest Remodel specifically?
Iron Crest Remodel is registered in Idaho as RCE-6681702. Go to ibol.idaho.gov, click the license search, enter the number, and confirm Active status. You can also search by company name — 'Iron Crest Remodel' or the legal entity name Iron Crest Remodeling Group LLC. Our licensed electrical and plumbing sub-trades are on trade permits under their own license numbers, verifiable at the same portal. Insurance certificates are provided as part of the pre-contract package. Warranty is 3 years on workmanship, in writing on every contract.
Idaho DOPL / IBOL Contractor Lookup
The public license lookup for every Idaho contractor and trade license. Verify Iron Crest at RCE-6681702.
Idaho Code § 54-5201 – § 54-5224 (Contractor Registration Act)
The statutes that require contractor registration and set the enforcement framework.
Idaho Code § 54-5215 (pre-job disclosure)
Written disclosure required for residential jobs over $2,000 — the legal minimum contract standard.
Idaho Code § 54-1001 (electrical licensing)
The statute that requires electrical work be performed by licensed electricians.
Idaho Code § 54-2601 (plumbing licensing)
The statute that requires plumbing work be performed by licensed plumbers.
Hiring a Contractor in Idaho (parent hub)
The full consumer-protection guide — DOPL lookup, pre-job disclosure, mechanic's liens, bid comparison.
Verified. Registered. Insured. Warrantied.
Iron Crest Remodel is Idaho-registered (RCE-6681702), Active status at ibol.idaho.gov. General liability + workers' comp insurance current, COI on request. 3-year workmanship warranty in writing on every project. Free estimates.