Electrical Contractor Permit Requirements in Providence, RI

1. EIN (Employer Identification Number)

   Required if you have employees or operate as an LLC or corporation. Free from the IRS.

   Official government source

   Free·Immediate (online application)

   Free

   Immediate (online application)

1. Rhode Island Division of Taxation — Sales Tax Permit

   Required for all businesses selling tangible personal property or taxable services in Rhode Island. Rhode Island charges a 7% state sales tax with no local sales taxes. Register with the RI Division of Taxation online via the RI Tax Portal.

   Official government source

   Free·Immediate (online)

   Free

   Immediate (online)

1. Rhode Island DLT - Electrical Contractor License

   Electrical contractors in Rhode Island are licensed by the RI Department of Labor and Training's Division of Professional Regulation (Board of Examiners of Electricians), not by a 'Board of Electricians' and not by the Contractors' Registration and Licensing Board, whose own guidance directs electrical applicants to DLT. The Electrical Contractor A examination requires verification of at least six years of trade experience plus a Rhode Island Journeyperson Electrician licence held for at least two years before applying. A corporation performing electrical work holds a separate Corporation Electrical Contractor (AC) licence, which requires no examination.

   Official government source

   $75.00 non-refundable application processing fee plus a $240.00 two-year licence fee for Electrical Contractor A; the Corporation Electrical Contractor (AC) licence is $200.00 for two years with no test; Journeyperson Electrician B is $75.00 plus $72.00 for two years. The licence fee is invoiced only after a passing exam score of 70 or better.·Not published by DLT; the two-year licence fee is invoiced after the examination is passed.

   $75.00 non-refundable application processing fee plus a $240.00 two-year licence fee for Electrical Contractor A; the Corporation Electrical Contractor (AC) licence is $200.00 for two years with no test; Journeyperson Electrician B is $75.00 plus $72.00 for two years. The licence fee is invoiced only after a passing exam score of 70 or better.

   Not published by DLT; the two-year licence fee is invoiced after the examination is passed.

2. No Providence General Business License

   Providence does not require a general business license or a fee based on gross revenue. The city's Board of Licenses issues licenses only for specific regulated activities - liquor, entertainment, food establishment, body works, second-hand dealer and second-hand auto, motor vehicle repair, vendor, private detective, pawnbroker, valet, trash hauling and similar. Photography, tutoring and wedding planning are not licensed categories. Check the Board's online licensing portal to see whether your specific activity appears on the list.

   Official government source

   Not applicable - no general Providence business license exists. Fees for the specific regulated categories are set per license type in the Board of Licenses portal.·Not applicable; applications for the specific licenses are scheduled for a hearing before the Board of License Commissioners.

   Not applicable - no general Providence business license exists. Fees for the specific regulated categories are set per license type in the Board of Licenses portal.

   Not applicable; applications for the specific licenses are scheduled for a hearing before the Board of License Commissioners.

3. City of Providence - Electrical Permit (per project)

   An electrical permit must be obtained from the City of Providence Department of Inspection and Standards for each electrical project, filed through the city's e-Permitting system. Rhode Island counties have no government, so there is no Providence County building department. A final inspection is required upon completion.

   Official government source

   Valuation-based; Providence publishes a Permit Fee Calculator on its e-Permitting page rather than a flat per-project fee.·Not published by the city.

   Valuation-based; Providence publishes a Permit Fee Calculator on its e-Permitting page rather than a flat per-project fee.

   Not published by the city.

Official Sources

• Rhode Island Board of Electricians — Electrical Contractor License
• City of Providence Department of Finance — Revenue Division

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