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Are You Licensed to Practice as a Painter in Indianapolis?

Section 875-101 of the Indianapolis and Marion County Code of Ordinances mandates that contractors obtain licenses before carrying out any construction-related activities on existing or new structures in Indianapolis. This includes the improvement, rehabilitation, or remodeling of these structures.

Subsequently, per this law, painters in Indianapolis are required to obtain a general contractor's license from the Indianapolis Department of Business and Neighborhood Services(IDBNS) before carrying out work within the city. Failure to meet this licensing requirement may result in a fine as well as a civil suit against such painter by the city in compliance with the city's regulations. Also, although there is no penalty for hiring an unlicensed painter, doing so could leave you open to dubious professionals who may carry out shoddy work or even work that does not align with the city's specifications.

Painters who wish to obtain a general contractor's license will need to complete a license application, pay the requisite fee, and provide other necessary documents to the Indianapolis Department of Business and Neighborhood Services. Before the requested license is issued, the painter is also required to obtain valid general liability insurance and worker's compensation where applicable, as well as a permit surety bond of $10,000. Completed applications may be emailed to the IDBNS or mailed to the department at

You should also bear in mind that there are federal regulations concerning the existence of lead-based paint in homes, particularly in homes constructed before 1978. Per these regulations, contractors are required to obtain a 'Lead-Safe Certification' from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or an EPA-certified state agency before carrying out work on homes constructed before 1978. The EPA also has guidelines for contractors that work on homes constructed before 1978, and it also provides other resources that homeowners are advised to familiarise themselves with.

You can find properly licensed painters in Indianapolis by accessing the List of License General Contractors provided for this purpose by the IDBNS. You can contact the IDBNS at (317) 327- 8700 if you have inquiries concerning licenses or the licensing process.

How Much Do You Charge Compared to Other Painters in Indianapolis?

According to data provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, painters in Indianapolis earn an average hourly wage of $20.92, which is the same as the state average. However, painters in Indianapolis charge different amounts depending on a variety of factors. Some of these factors include the nature of the project, the type, and cost of materials to be used, as well as the duration and amount of labor required for the job. Therefore, before you hire any painter near you, it is advisable that you obtain multiple estimates from different painters. This would enable you to get the best price and spot scams.

A painter in Indianapolis earns an annual average wage of $43,520. The table below provides the hourly mean wage of painters in Indianapolis and compares this with the wages of painters in other parts of Indiana and several other major cities in the United States:

What Kind of Painting Services Do You Offer?

Painters in Indianapolis offer a wide variety of services to interested parties. These include interior and exterior painting of walls, doors, and window frames, installation and removal of wallpapers, reconditioning of wooden decks and sidings, gel staining of fiberglass doors, and power washing.

When you want to hire a painter, you should bear in mind that not all painters can handle the same types of projects or have the same expertise. Some painters specialize in commercial painting, while others only handle residential paintings. Equally, some painters may also focus on specific painting-related niches, such as only handling interior or exterior wall painting or painting only new structures.

Note that each type of service will typically have its own requirements, and some work may require that the painter possess specialized tools and specific skills and knowledge. Consequently, before hiring a painter, you should ensure that the intended painter can properly handle your project and has the required tools to carry out such a task. You should also ensure that you obtain a proper estimate of the job's cost before deciding who to hire. Listed below are cost estimates for some painting services provided by painters in Indianapolis:

Do You Carry the Necessary Insurance Policy for Painters in Indianapolis?

Painters, like other licensed contractors in Indianapolis, are mandated under the Indianapolis-Marion County Code of Ordinances to possess valid general liability insurance, a permit surety bond, and worker's compensation if they have employees. The general liability insurance coverage must have individual plans of $100,000 for each incidence of property damage or $500,000 for each incidence of bodily injury or death. If the painter seeks to have a shared policy, the minimum value of this policy for either property damage or bodily injury must be $500,000. Painters with employees must also maintain worker's compensation in compliance with state regulations, and before bidding for a job, the painter must post a bond of a value of $10,000 with the city.

Failing to hire an insured painter could result in liability for any unforeseen injuries, death, or property damage that occurs while executing your project, so you must only hire properly insured painters. Before you hire any painter, you should always confirm that this individual has a valid insurance cover. You can do this by requesting a copy of the painter's policy certificate and contacting the insurance policy provider to authenticate it.