Licensing Board Charged 118 Violators Last Year

Howard Williams, administrator of the State Contractors Licensing Board in Little Rock, said there were a total of 118 violations in Benton and Washington counties between July 1, 2004 and June 30, 2005 worth a total of $22.2 million, or an average of $118,135 each. Of those violations, 18 were for residential construction, he said.

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

The three-home exemption that got some contractors around the $20,000 rule was revoked in July of 2003. The exemption allowed contractors to work on up to three homes in the state without being licensed, he said.

The Licensing Board allowed a grace period but really started cracking down on contractors violating the revoked exemption in January 2004. Investigators for the board are beginning to pursue residential violations more aggressively, Williams said.

The board has a total of 14 contractor violations from Washington and Benton counties set for hearings in October, Williams said. Of those, five are residential construction violations and the remaining nine are commercial construction violations.