Virginia home service questions, answered with sources
Guides answer the questions people ask, citing the public sources they checked. Marketplace answers are computed from completed jobs, transaction-verified reviews, verified credentials and the prices providers publish, and when the evidence is too thin to rank, they say so instead of naming a best.
Guides
Questions people ask, answered with sources
Each guide cites the sources it checked, with the date it checked them.
What is Virginia's Contractor Transaction Recovery Fund, and who can claim from it?
It is a state fund, paid for by licensed contractors, that covers part of a court judgment a homeowner cannot collect from a contractor who was licensed at the time. The judgment has to rest on improper or dishonest conduct on work on your Virginia home, not a mere breach of contract, and one claim is capped at $30,000.
Do you need a permit to replace a water heater in Virginia?
For a gas or oil water heater, yes: Virginia's building code only waives permits for replacing appliances that are not fueled by gas or oil, so a gas swap needs one even like for like. An electric replacement in a house may be exempt, but your local building official decides, so call them first and have the licensed plumber pull the permit.
How do I check if a contractor is licensed in Virginia?
Search the contractor's name or licence number on Virginia DPOR's free License Lookup, or call the Board for Contractors at (804) 367-8511. Check three things: the licence is current, its class covers the size of your job (Class C under $30,000, Class B under $150,000, Class A above that), and its specialty matches the work, such as plumbing or electrical.
How do I file a complaint against a contractor in Virginia?
Put the problem to the contractor in writing first. If that fails, send DPOR's complaint form to the Board for Contractors within three years of the problem. The Board can fine a contractor or suspend or revoke its licence, but it cannot order a refund or repairs, so getting money back usually takes a court judgment.