Are You Licensed to Practice as a Carpenter in Washington, D.C.?

The licensing and regulation of all contractors in Washington, D.C., that perform new construction, renovation, or home improvement activities is handled by the district's Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA). These contractors, including carpenters, are required to obtain either a General Contractor/Construction Manager License or a Home Improvement Contractor License, depending on the project scope. Individuals with a Home Improvement Contractor license are limited to only repairing and remodeling residential property. On the other hand, individuals with a General Contractor/Construction Manager license can perform both residential and commercial new construction work and remodeling and can also oversee the activities of any other contractors that are involved in the project.

The requirements for obtaining these licenses involve providing proof of corporate and tax registration to the DCRA, proof of liability insurance, and any other additional documentation that the department may deem necessary at the time of the license application. License applications can be made online via the DC Business Portal or in person at:

Carpenters that perform home improvement or new construction work in Washington D.C. without an appropriate contractor license can be found guilty of a Class 1 Infraction. This offense carries a minimum penalty of $2,000 in fines for first offenders. You should always confirm that any carpenter you intend to employ in the district has been duly licensed by the DCRA, and you can do this by calling (202) 442-4400. You can also confirm the licensing status of your preferred carpenters online by accessing the DCRA's Access DC portal. Note that using this portal requires the creation of a user account.

How Much Do You Charge Compared to Other Carpenters in Washington, D.C.?

Per figures published by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, carpenters in the Washington D.C. area earn a mean wage of more than $24 per hour. With that being said, it should be noted that the specific amount of money you will have to pay any carpenter in the district that you intend to hire depends on several factors. These include the specific nature and scope of your woodworking project, the amount of time and labor that will be needed to accomplish this project, and the cost of materials that the project will require. To this end, it is always a good idea to get and compare quotes and bids from several carpenters near you before undertaking your project to help you determine the average rate of your required carpentry service within your vicinity.

A carpenter in Washington, D.C., earns an annual average wage of $51,950. The table below provides a comparison of the mean hourly wage for carpenters in Washington, D.C., against those of carpenters across several other major American cities:

Do You Comply with the Washington, D.C. Building Code for Carpentry Work?

Hiring a carpenter in Washington, D.C., who is licensed and familiar with the requirements of the district's Construction Codes is a sure way to ensure the success of your home improvement project. The Washington D.C. Construction Codes control all matters that involve the construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, maintenance, addition, removal, use, demolition, location, equipment, and occupancy of all buildings, structures, and premises in the district. These include existing or proposed structures and any appurtenances that may be attached or connected to these buildings or structures. Knowledge of these codes is important because they were designed to ensure the health, welfare, and public safety of Washington, D.C., residents through the regulation and governance of the conditions and maintenance of premises, buildings, and structures in the district.

Failure to adhere to the district's Construction Codes requirements can lead to criminal and civil penalties, including jail time of up to 90 days and a fine of up to $2,000 per violation. You can get information on the Washington Construction Codes and the provisions of these codes that govern your intended home improvement project by contacting the district's Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs at (202) 442-4400 or via email.

Will You Get the Home Improvement Permits as Required by the Washington, D.C. Code?

A building permit is generally required for the construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, movement, demolition, or change of the occupancy of any building or structure in Washington, D.C. However, some types of carpentry-related construction and home improvement projects can be undertaken without a building permit. Examples of these types of projects include:

• Repairing fences with the same kind of materials
• The installation of cabinets, countertops, floor covering, and other similar types of finish work
• The installation of window screens and storm windows
• Carpentry work involving movable fixtures, counters, cases, racks, and partitions that are not over 5 feet 9 inches in height

Building permits are issued by the Washington D.C. Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA), and individuals who wish to obtain them can do so via the following steps:

• Establishing the full nature and scope of the project and making sure that the property in question does not have any development restrictions that apply to it. This can be done by contacting the DC Office of Zoning at (202) 727-6311 or online via the DCRA's SCOUT platform.
• Submitting a building permit application online via either the DCRA Permit Wizard Portal if the project involves a one- or two-family residence or the DCRA Citizen Access Portal if the project is commercial. Note that applicants will be required to create a user count to utilize either of these platforms. Also, depending on the nature of the project, the provision of additional documentation, like building plans, may be required after the permit application has been submitted and screened. This additional documentation will have to be submitted via the DCRA's ProjectDox portal.

Once all the necessary documents have been submitted, reviewed, and approved, applicants will also have to pay a stipulated permit fee before the required building permits can be issued. Note that once these permits have been issued and the project begins, the DCRA may conduct inspections at several stages to ensure compliance with the relevant provisions of the Washington D.C. Construction Codes. These inspections are usually performed before the work done is covered or concealed. You can direct inspection-related queries to the DCRA at (202) 481-3524. General permitting and inspection-related inquiries can also be directed to this department via phone numbers (202) 442-4400 and (202) 442-8959, email, or in person at:

What Kind of Carpentry Services Do You Offer?

Carpenters in Washington, D.C., provide several types of carpentry and woodwork-related services, so it is essential to make sure that your preferred carpenter is duly equipped to perform the specific task you require. The services provided by Washington D.C. carpenters include new carpentry, cabinet, countertop, furniture making and modification, and installing doors and windows. Some of these services require a higher level of expertise and attention to detail than others, and so you must always get confirmation from any carpenter you intend to hire that they are up to the task.

It is a good idea to request proof of this via pictures of previously completed projects and by requesting references that you can contact to get first-hand reviews on the carpenter's prowess. Once you have done this, you should always get confirmation on the exact cost of the carpenter's services. Some cost estimates for common carpentry services that are readily available in Washington, D.C., are provided below:

Do You Carry the Necessary Insurance Policy for Carpenters in Washington, D.C.?

Figures published by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics suggest that about 11,960 non-fatal work-related injuries occurred amongst carpenters in 2020. With common carpentry-related handheld tools accounting for approximately eight percent of all compensable workplace injuries that occur in the country, it is crucial to always work with insured carpenters. Hiring an insured carpenter provides you with financial cover in situations involving workplace injuries during your project or if the carpenter damages your property while working on said project.

As such, any individual with a General Contractor/Construction Manager license in Washington, D.C., must have a minimum liability insurance coverage of $500,000 per occurrence. Likewise, individuals with a Home Improvement Contractor license must have a minimum coverage of $50,000 for bodily injury or death per person in any single accident and $10,000 for property damage, as well as a surety bond of $25,000.

You can get more information on the mandatory insurance and bonding requirements for carpenters in Washington, D.C., by contacting the DCRA at (202) 442-4400. It is also advisable to request proof of this insurance and bonding from any carpenter near you that you intend to hire and confirm it with the appropriate insurance or bond provider.