# Multi-State Contractor & Trade License Lookup (`fried_calamaries/multistate-contractor-license-lookup`) Actor Verify & search contractor and trade licenses across US states (WA, OR, TX, CT) by license number, business, or person. Official open-data sources; pay only per match. - **URL**: https://apify.com/fried\_calamaries/multistate-contractor-license-lookup.md - **Developed by:** [ByteMe](https://apify.com/fried_calamaries) (community) - **Categories:** Lead generation - **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks - **User rating**: No ratings yet ## Pricing $0.004 / license match This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events. Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/platform/actors/running/actors-in-store#pay-per-event ## What's an Apify Actor? Actors are a software tools running on the Apify platform, for all kinds of web data extraction and automation use cases. In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours, and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store. In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server. Actors are written with capital "A". ## How to integrate an Actor? If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects. You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready. The best way to integrate Actors is as follows. In JavaScript/TypeScript projects, use official [JavaScript/TypeScript client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js.md): ```bash npm install apify-client ``` In Python projects, use official [Python client library](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python.md): ```bash pip install apify-client ``` In shell scripts, use [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): ````bash # MacOS / Linux curl -fsSL https://apify.com/install-cli.sh | bash # Windows irm https://apify.com/install-cli.ps1 | iex ```bash In AI frameworks, you might use the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/platform/integrations/mcp.md). If your project is in a different language, use the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md). For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below. For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt). # README ## Multi-State Contractor & Trade License Lookup ### Pain points - Checking a contractor's license means visiting each state's board site, one at a time. - Every state board has a different website, search form, and data format. - Hard to confirm a subcontractor or vendor is licensed — and still current — across the states you work in. ### What we solve - One search across multiple states' official license registries at once. - Results normalized to the same fields no matter which state they came from. - Look up by license number, business name, or person. - Returns status, license type, expiration, location, plus bond/insurance where the state publishes it. - Pay only per match — searches with no matches are free. ### Summary Check a contractor or tradesperson's license across several states at once, instead of visiting each state board by hand. Give a license number, business name, or person's name and the actor searches every selected state's official open-data license registry, returning one normalized row per match: license number, business/person, license type, status, expiration, location, and (where the state publishes it) bond and insurance. Built for subcontractor vetting, insurance/KYC checks, compliance, and lead enrichment. Covers Washington, Oregon, Texas, and Connecticut; coverage grows as more states are added. ### Who it's for - General contractors vetting subcontractors before a hire - Insurance underwriters and KYC / onboarding teams - Compliance and risk teams verifying vendors across states - RevOps, agencies, and data teams enriching contractor lists ### How to use Set the input, run the actor, and collect results from the run's dataset (export to JSON/CSV/Excel, or pull via the Apify API). Example input: ```json { "query": "construction", "states": [ "WA", "OR", "TX", "CT" ] } ```` See **Inputs** below for every available field. ### What you get One row per record: | Field | Description | |---|---| | `state` | State the license is from (2-letter code) | | `license_number` | The license/registration number | | `business_name` | Licensed business name | | `person_name` | Associated person (owner/principal/responsible individual), where published | | `license_type` | License classification / trade | | `status` | License status (where the state publishes it) | | `issue_date / expiration_date` | Issue and expiration dates | | `city / county / address / zip_code` | Location fields the state exposes | | `phone` | Listed phone, where available | | `bond_amount / bond_company / insurance_company` | Bond & insurance, where the state publishes them (e.g. OR) | | `matched_by` | Whether the match came from a license-number or name search | | `source_url` | The state's official license-verification page | Sample: ```json { "state": "OR", "license_number": "100362", "business_name": "GARY EPPING CONSTRUCTION CO INC", "person_name": "GARY EPPING", "license_type": "Residential General Contractor", "status": "Active", "issue_date": "1990-05-01T00:00:00.000", "expiration_date": "2026-05-01T00:00:00.000", "city": "SALEM", "county": "MARION", "bond_amount": "25000", "bond_company": "Western Surety Company", "insurance_company": "Oregon Mutual", "matched_by": "business_name", "source_url": "https://search.ccb.state.or.us/search/" } ``` ### Inputs | Field | Required | Type | Default | Description | |---|---|---|---|---| | `query` | yes | string | `"construction"` | A license number, business name, or person's name to verify/search. We search every selected state and return all matches. | | `states` | no | array | — | Which states to search (2-letter codes). Leave empty to search all supported states. Supported: WA, OR, TX, CT. | | `maxResults` | no | integer | `50` | Cap on matches returned across all states (bounds cost). | | `proxyConfiguration` | no | object | `{"useApifyProxy": false}` | Optional. The state open-data APIs are reachable directly; a proxy is not needed. | ### Pricing (Pay Per Event) You pay per result (`dataset-item`) — **no charge for empty runs**. Example: **1000 license matches** at *$0.004/result* ≈ **$4.00**. You're only charged per license match returned — searches with no matches are free. Apify platform usage (compute) is billed separately per your plan. ### Use cases - Subcontractor vetting — a GC confirms a sub is licensed and current before signing, across every state they operate in. - Insurance & KYC — underwriters verify a contractor's license at onboarding without checking each state board by hand. - Compliance & due diligence — risk teams pull license status, type, and (where published) bond/insurance in one call. - Lead enrichment — RevOps and agencies append verified license data to a list of contractor businesses. ### Why this actor - One search across multiple states' official registries — no visiting each board by hand. - Normalized output: the same fields regardless of which state a license came from. - Official open-data sources; pay only per match, and searches with no matches are free. ### Limitations & updates Covers only the states listed (currently WA, OR, TX, CT) — each backed by that state's official Socrata open-data registry; more states are added over time. Some states license only specific trades (e.g. CT covers Home Improvement Contractors; electrician/plumber may require separate state actors), and expose different fields — anything a state doesn't publish (e.g. TX has no street address or status; WA's dataset has no bond; CT has no person name or address) comes back null. Data is as-published by each state and may lag the board's live record. Not all US states are covered; states without open data are handled by separate per-state actors. ### FAQ **Which states are covered?** Washington, Oregon, Texas, and Connecticut today, with more open-data states added over time. Pick states with the `states` input, or leave it empty to search all. **Where does the data come from?** Each state's official open-data license registry (WA L\&I, OR CCB, TX TDLR, CT DCP). It's public, non-personal license data — not a third-party copy. **Can I search by name, not just license number?** Yes — pass a license number, a business name, or a person's name; we match and return all hits across the selected states. **How am I charged?** Pay-per-result: you're charged per matched license returned. Searches that return nothing are free. **Do all states return the same fields?** Core fields (license number, business, type, status, location) are consistent. Some states add extras like bond/insurance (OR); trades-only states (TX) have no general-contractor license. **How fresh is the data?** It reflects each state's published open-data feed, which the states refresh on their own cadence (typically daily to weekly). ### Which actor to choose Part of the contractor-license suite — pick the actor for the state(s) you need: - **Multi-State Contractor & Trade License Lookup** *(this actor)* — verify/search licenses across the open-data states (WA, OR, TX, CT, and more) in one run. - **California Contractor License Lookup** — verify/search California CSLB licenses (business, license #, or owner/personnel name). # Actor input Schema ## `query` (type: `string`): A license number, business name, or person's name to verify/search. We search every selected state and return all matches. ## `states` (type: `array`): Which states to search (2-letter codes). Leave empty to search all supported states. Supported: WA, OR, TX, CT. ## `maxResults` (type: `integer`): Cap on matches returned across all states (bounds cost). ## `proxyConfiguration` (type: `object`): Optional. The state open-data APIs are reachable directly; a proxy is not needed. ## Actor input object example ```json { "query": "ABC Construction", "states": [ "WA", "OR", "TX", "CT" ], "maxResults": 50, "proxyConfiguration": { "useApifyProxy": false } } ``` # Actor output Schema ## `licenses` (type: `string`): Matched licenses: number, business/person, type, status, dates, location. # API You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup. ## JavaScript example ```javascript import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client'; // Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token // Replace the '' with your token const client = new ApifyClient({ token: '', }); // Prepare Actor input const input = { "query": "construction" }; // Run the Actor and wait for it to finish const run = await client.actor("fried_calamaries/multistate-contractor-license-lookup").call(input); // Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any) console.log('Results from dataset'); console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`); const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems(); items.forEach((item) => { console.dir(item); }); // 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs ``` ## Python example ```python from apify_client import ApifyClient # Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token # Replace '' with your token. client = ApifyClient("") # Prepare the Actor input run_input = { "query": "construction" } # Run the Actor and wait for it to finish run = client.actor("fried_calamaries/multistate-contractor-license-lookup").call(run_input=run_input) # Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any) print("💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/" + run["defaultDatasetId"]) for item in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items(): print(item) # 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start ``` ## CLI example ```bash echo '{ "query": "construction" }' | apify call fried_calamaries/multistate-contractor-license-lookup --silent --output-dataset ``` ## MCP server setup ```json { "mcpServers": { "apify": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "mcp-remote", "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fried_calamaries/multistate-contractor-license-lookup", "--header", "Authorization: Bearer " ] } } } ``` ## OpenAPI specification ```json { "openapi": "3.0.1", "info": { "title": "Multi-State Contractor & Trade License Lookup", "description": "Verify & search contractor and trade licenses across US states (WA, OR, TX, CT) by license number, business, or person. Official open-data sources; pay only per match.", "version": "0.2", "x-build-id": "p0srRkX77qc3CTcf0" }, "servers": [ { "url": "https://api.apify.com/v2" } ], "paths": { "/acts/fried_calamaries~multistate-contractor-license-lookup/run-sync-get-dataset-items": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-get-dataset-items-fried_calamaries-multistate-contractor-license-lookup", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for its completion, and returns Actor's dataset items in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } }, "/acts/fried_calamaries~multistate-contractor-license-lookup/runs": { "post": { "operationId": "runs-sync-fried_calamaries-multistate-contractor-license-lookup", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor and returns information about the initiated run in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK", "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/runsResponseSchema" } } } } } } }, "/acts/fried_calamaries~multistate-contractor-license-lookup/run-sync": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-fried_calamaries-multistate-contractor-license-lookup", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for completion, and returns the OUTPUT from Key-value store in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } } }, "components": { "schemas": { "inputSchema": { "type": "object", "required": [ "query" ], "properties": { "query": { "title": "Search query", "type": "string", "description": "A license number, business name, or person's name to verify/search. We search every selected state and return all matches." }, "states": { "title": "States", "type": "array", "description": "Which states to search (2-letter codes). Leave empty to search all supported states. Supported: WA, OR, TX, CT.", "items": { "type": "string" } }, "maxResults": { "title": "Max results", "minimum": 1, "maximum": 500, "type": "integer", "description": "Cap on matches returned across all states (bounds cost).", "default": 50 }, "proxyConfiguration": { "title": "Proxy configuration", "type": "object", "description": "Optional. The state open-data APIs are reachable directly; a proxy is not needed.", "default": { "useApifyProxy": false } } } }, "runsResponseSchema": { "type": "object", "properties": { "data": { "type": "object", "properties": { "id": { "type": "string" }, "actId": { "type": "string" }, "userId": { "type": "string" }, "startedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "finishedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "status": { "type": "string", "example": "READY" }, "meta": { "type": "object", "properties": { "origin": { "type": "string", "example": "API" }, "userAgent": { "type": "string" } } }, "stats": { "type": "object", "properties": { "inputBodyLen": { "type": "integer", "example": 2000 }, "rebootCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "restartCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "resurrectCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "computeUnits": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "options": { "type": "object", "properties": { "build": { "type": "string", "example": "latest" }, "timeoutSecs": { "type": "integer", "example": 300 }, "memoryMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 1024 }, "diskMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 2048 } } }, "buildId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultKeyValueStoreId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultDatasetId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultRequestQueueId": { "type": "string" }, "buildNumber": { "type": "string", "example": "1.0.0" }, "containerUrl": { "type": "string" }, "usage": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 1 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "usageTotalUsd": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "usageUsd": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } } } } } } } } } ```