Evansville and Vanderburgh County Business License: Building Commission Contractor Licenses

If you searched for an Evansville business license or a Vanderburgh County business license, start with this finding: the research behind this guide did not turn up a general business license from the city or county. What the Evansville-Vanderburgh County Building Commission does issue is a contractor or tradesman license, and it grants those licenses by exam. For most people starting a trade or construction business in the area, that Commission license is the credential that matters.

Indiana does not have one comprehensive business license for every company, either. If you are working out how to start a business in Evansville, your checklist has three parts: the state filings that create your business, the local trade license from the Commission, and any building permit a specific job requires. This guide covers the Commission process in order, with the fees, bond and insurance amounts that apply to each license class. It also covers the state steps that usually come first, since many applicants form their business before they apply.

What you need before you start

Gather these items before you open an application. Missing one is the most common reason applicants stall.

• Proof of at least four years of experience in the trade, supported by three letters of recommendation.
• For electrical and HVAC applicants, letters written on letterhead and notarized.
• A surety bond of $25,000 for master, contractor and sub-contractor licenses.
• General liability insurance at the amount that matches your license class (see the table in Step 5).
• Workers' compensation coverage or an exemption affidavit, due within six months of passing your exam.
• Funds for the exam fee, which Ivy Tech sets, plus the Commission application and license fees.
• If you have not formed your business yet: a registered agent in Indiana, the $95 LLC filing fee, and a name check with the Indiana Secretary of State.

Step 1: Pick the right license class

The Commission's fees come from the City of Evansville's current fee schedule, shown below. Check the City's published schedule before you pay, because fees change.

License class	New	Renewal
Building Contractor	$360	$210 (two-year renewal: $400)
Residential Contractor	$210	$150
Tradesman Master	$300	$125
Journeyman	$35	$25

Choose the class that matches the work you will sign for, and confirm its scope on the City site before you apply. The class you pick also determines which insurance amount and exam you need, so a wrong choice costs time and money.

Step 2: Document four years of experience

The Commission requires proof of at least four years of experience in the trade. Ask three people who know your work to write letters of recommendation that describe your role, the years involved, and the kind of work you did. Electrical and HVAC letters must be on letterhead and notarized. Keep copies of everything you submit.

You may see hours-based experience figures online for electrical and HVAC work. Any hours equivalent is not confirmed for this Commission, so do not build your application around one. Ask the Commission directly what documentation it accepts.

Step 3: Submit your application for board approval

Submit the application and your three letters to the Evansville-Vanderburgh County Building Commission, City of Evansville Civic Center, Room 310. Confirm the current office hours and submission method before you go. The relevant board reviews your file and approves qualified applicants to sit for the exam. You do not test until that approval comes through.

Step 4: Schedule and pay for your exam through Ivy Tech

Exams are scheduled and paid through Ivy Tech. Call 812-429-9852 once you have board approval. Ivy Tech sets the exam fee. The amount was not confirmed for this guide, so ask for the current fee on the call and budget for it before you book.

Passing scores depend on the exam type:

• 75% for electrical master, master mechanical, sheet metal, ventilation and refrigeration.
• 70% for all other license exams.

Plan for the possibility of a retake, and confirm the retake rules and fees with Ivy Tech and the Commission before you test.

Step 5: Pay for the provisional license and file your insurance and bond

After you pass, the Commission issues a provisional license once you pay and show proof of insurance and bond. General liability amounts vary by class:

Required general liability	License classes
$1,000,000	Master, commercial general contractor, unlimited roofing
$500,000	Residential general contractor, limited roofing, wrecking, Sign Erector Class B
$300,000	Other sub-contractor licenses

The surety bond is $25,000 for master, contractor and sub-contractor licenses. Ask your insurance agent and bonding company to issue certificates in the exact business name the Commission requires. A certificate with the wrong name can delay your provisional license.

Step 6: Wait for final approval from the Licensing and Disciplinary Board

The Licensing and Disciplinary Board gives final approval on the fourth Thursday of the month. A provisional license does not replace that step. Plan your start date around the board's meeting, not the day your exam result arrives. A single end-to-end processing time for the full sequence is not in the verified information for this guide, so ask the Commission how long each step usually takes.

Step 7: Set up your business and tax accounts

The trade license covers your work, but your business carries separate state obligations. If you have not formed an entity yet, these are the verified Indiana steps.

• Form an LLC with the Indiana Secretary of State. The Articles of Organization (State Form 49459) cost $95 and are filed online through INBiz at https://inbiz.in.gov/. The state offers no expedited option and publishes no processing time for formations.
• Reserve a name for $10 for 120 days at https://inbiz.in.gov/start-business/step-one. The name must include Limited Liability Company or an abbreviation, and it must be distinguishable on state records. Check existing names at https://bsd.sos.in.gov/publicbusinesssearch.
• Keep a registered agent in Indiana at a street address. A business cannot serve as its own registered agent, and an entity may have only one agent.
• If you operate under a name other than your legal entity name, file an assumed business name for $20 per name online through INBiz.
• Calendar the Business Entity Report: $32, due every other year by the end of the month in which the business was formed. The first report is due two years after formation.
• If you sell taxable goods, obtain a Registered Retail Merchant Certificate from the Department of Revenue for $25.

Indiana has no franchise tax. An LLC's income generally passes through to its owners, who pay the individual adjusted gross income tax (2.95% for 2026) plus their county local income tax. Vanderburgh County's income tax rate is 1.25%, per the Department of Revenue, and it applies based on where you live. Vanderburgh County also levies a 1% county food and beverage tax, in effect since August 1, 1985. If your business sells prepared food or beverages, confirm how that tax applies with the Department of Revenue at https://www.in.gov/dor/.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Searching for a general business license first. Start with the Commission's trade license and the state filing, since those are what the research found.
• Sending electrical or HVAC letters without letterhead or notarization.
• Submitting fewer than three letters of recommendation.
• Paying an exam fee without confirming the amount with Ivy Tech.
• Applying after January 31 of the license's effective year, which adds a $25 late fee.
• Carrying general liability insurance below the amount for your class, or a bond below $25,000.
• Missing the workers' compensation deadline of six months after you pass.
• Assuming an Indiana license covers work in Henderson, Kentucky.

Expected results

With complete paperwork, a passing exam score, and the required bond and insurance in place, you may receive a provisional license and then final approval at the board's next meeting. Those outcomes depend on the Commission's review and on the accuracy of what you submit, so treat any timeline as an estimate to confirm with the Commission. Some applicants may need a second exam attempt, and a missing letter or certificate can delay the process.

Permits and the Kentucky side of the metro

A contractor license is not a building permit. Individual jobs may require their own permits, and permit fees are not part of the verified schedule for this guide. Ask the Commission which permits your project needs and what they cost before you bid. The Evansville area is also part of a cross-state metro with Henderson, Kentucky. This guide covers Indiana only. If you plan to work across the river, confirm Kentucky licensing directly with Henderson.

Official resources

• Indiana Secretary of State, Business Services Division: https://www.in.gov/sos/business/
• INBiz online filing: https://inbiz.in.gov/
• Indiana business entity search: https://bsd.sos.in.gov/publicbusinesssearch
• Indiana Department of Revenue: https://www.in.gov/dor/
• Indiana Small Business Development Center: https://isbdc.org/
• Exam scheduling and fees: Ivy Tech, 812-429-9852

Disclaimer

This article is informational, not legal or tax advice. Fees, insurance amounts, and deadlines change, so confirm each one with the responsible agency before you pay or sign. Talk to an Indiana attorney before you form an entity or sign contracts, and to a CPA about how your business will be taxed.