Contractor Violations Fall Due to Slump

Greg Crow, administrator of the State Contractors Licensing Board in North Little Rock, said there were a total of 86 violations in Benton and Washington counties between July 1, 2008, and June 30, 2009, down from 108 the previous year.

It is illegal for contractors from any state to work in Arkansas on jobs worth more than $20,000 without a license from the contractors licensing board.

Statewide, there were 376 commercial violations in fiscal 2009, worth $58.1 million, and 68 residential violations worth $12.5 million. In fiscal 2008, there were 396 commercial violations worth $177.3 million, and 74 residential violations worth $17.4 million.

Dollar amounts for Northwest Arkansas-specific violations were not available.

Crow attributed the drop in number of violations to the slowdown in both residential and commercial construction during fiscal 2009.

Also, he explained that during boom years, unlicensed contractors tend to show up to take advantage of the growth. But when times get tough, these fly-by-night folks are quick to move on, leaving the more reputable, licensed contractors in place.

The state had 8,330 licensed contractors in fiscal 2009, including 6,516 commercial contractors. That’s down from the previous year’s 8,777 licensed contractors, of whom 6,664 were commercial contractors.

Crow hasn’t received the April agenda for violation hearings, but said there were two commercial and two residential hearings for contractors in Northwest Arkansas in March.