A question I get often, particularly from construction contractors outside of Virginia is whether they need to get a Virginia contractor’s license.  The answer is almost invariably “yes.”  The next question is why?  The answer is almost always “Because state law says so.”  With some minor exceptions for material suppliers and the like, Virginia law requires that all of those that perform construction for others carry the proper license and specialization for the work performed.  There is no exception for the proverbial “paper contractor” that takes money from an owner and subcontracts all of the actual physical work.  It does not matter if you use a different term for what you do for the owner.  If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck. . .its a duck.  If you take money to perform construction, you’re a contractor. Continue Reading