Contractor licensing — Indiana

Indiana's contractor licensing is partly state, partly local. The Indiana Professional Licensing Agency (PLA) licenses plumbers statewide through the Indiana Plumbing Commission. Electrical and HVAC/mechanical licensing is delegated to cities, counties, and towns, and there is no statewide general contractor license. State-level trade licenses. - Plumbing. The Indiana Plumbing Commission at PLA licenses Journeyman Plumbers, Plumbing Contractors, and plumbing apprentices under Indiana Code Title 25, Article 28.5. Source: Indiana Plumbing Licensing Information (https://www.in.gov/pla/professions/plumbing-home/plumbing-licensing-information/). - Electrical. No state-level electrical license. Individual cities and counties license electricians and electrical contractors through their own ordinances. - HVAC and Mechanical. No state-level mechanical license. Individual cities and counties license HVAC and mechanical contractors through their own ordinances. - Fire Sprinkler and Alarm. Separately licensed under various state and local regimes; check the specific rule for the specialty. Building codes. The Indiana Fire Prevention and Building Safety Commission under Indiana Code Title 22, Article 13 adopts and amends the building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and fuel-gas codes applied in Indiana. Local jurisdictions enforce the adopted edition through their permitting and inspection functions. Source: Indiana Fire Prevention and Building Safety Commission (https://www.in.gov/dhs/fire-and-building-safety/). Local licensing (representative examples, not exhaustive). - Indianapolis / Marion County. The Department of Business and Neighborhood Services administers electrical, mechanical, and plumbing contractor registrations, each with its own exam, bond, and insurance requirements. - Fort Wayne. City of Fort Wayne maintains local contractor registrations. - Evansville, South Bend, Bloomington, Gary, Hammond. Each maintains its own licensing ordinance. Business registration. - Formation. Indiana LLCs are formed under Indiana Code Title 23, Article 18 by filing Articles of Organization with the Indiana Secretary of State via INBiz. The filing fee is $95 online (plus a small processing fee) or $100 by mail. Source: Indiana Secretary of State — Business Filings via INBiz (https://inbiz.in.gov/business-filings). - Business Entity Report. Every two years, Indiana LLCs must file a Business Entity Report with the Secretary of State ($32 online, $50 by mail). - Assumed name (DBA). Required if operating under a name other than the legal entity name. - Sales tax. Register with the Indiana Department of Revenue. Source: Indiana Department of Revenue (https://www.in.gov/dor/). - Unemployment and withholding. Register with the Indiana Department of Workforce Development for unemployment and the Department of Revenue for withholding. A realistic Indiana trades launch involves (1) qualifying for and obtaining the individual trade license (state plumber for plumbing, or the local license for electrical or HVAC), (2) forming the LLC or corporation with the Secretary of State via INBiz, (3) carrying the required liability insurance and posting local bonds, (4) registering tax and employer accounts, and (5) obtaining each municipal license required in your service area.