Arizona Revised Statutes

Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 32-1101 (2026)

Definitions

✓ current as of May 2026

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A. In this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:

1. "Advertisement" means any written or oral publication, dissemination, solicitation or circulation that is intended to directly or indirectly induce any person to enter into an agreement for contracting services with a contractor, including business cards and telephone directory display advertisements.

2. "Commercial contractor" is synonymous with the terms "commercial builder", "industrial builder" and "public works builder" and means any person, firm, partnership, corporation, association or other organization, or a combination of any of them, that, for compensation, undertakes to or offers to undertake to, purports to have the capacity to undertake to, submits a bid or responds to a request for qualification or a request for proposals for construction services to, does himself or by or through others, or directly or indirectly supervises others, except within residential property lines, to:

(a) Construct, alter, repair, add to, subtract from, improve, move, wreck or demolish any building, highway, road, railroad, excavation or other structure, project, development or improvement, or to do any part thereof, including the erection of scaffolding or any other structure or work in connection with the construction.

(b) Connect such a structure or improvements to utility service lines and metering devices and the sewer line.

3. "Contractor":

(a) Is synonymous with the term "builder" and means any person, firm, partnership, corporation, association or other organization, or a combination of any of them, that, for compensation, undertakes to or offers to undertake to, purports to have the capacity to undertake to, submits a bid or responds to a request for qualification or a request for proposals for construction services to, does himself or by or through others, or directly or indirectly supervises others to:

(i) Construct, alter, repair, add to, subtract from, improve, move, wreck or demolish any building, highway, road, railroad, excavation or other structure, project, development or improvement, or to do any part thereof, including the erection of scaffolding or any other structure or work in connection with the construction.

(ii) Connect such a structure or improvements to utility service lines and metering devices and the sewer line.

(iii) Provide mechanical or structural service for any such structure or improvements.

(b) Includes subcontractors, specialty contractors, floor covering contractors, hardscape contractors and consultants who represent that they are able to supervise or manage a construction project for the property owner's benefit, including hiring and firing specialty contractors, scheduling work on the project and selecting and purchasing construction material.

4. "Dual licensed contractor" is synonymous with the term "commercial and residential builder" and means any person, firm, partnership, corporation, association or other organization, or a combination of any of them, that for compensation undertakes to or offers to undertake to, purports to have the capacity to undertake to, submits a bid or responds to a request for qualification or a request for proposals for construction services to, does himself or by or through others, or directly or indirectly supervises others under a single license on commercial or residential property to:

(a) Construct, alter, repair, add to, subtract from, improve, move, wreck or demolish any building, excavation or other structure or improvement, including any appurtenances, or to do any part thereof.

(b) Connect such a structure or improvements to utility service lines and metering devices and the sewer line.

5. "License" means an authorization for the person who is listed on the electronic, paper or other records maintained by the registrar to act in the capacity of a contractor.

6. "Named on a license" means required to be identified pursuant to section 32-1122, subsection B.

7. "Person" means a corporation, company, partnership, firm, association, trust, society or natural person.

8. "Qualifying party" means a person who is responsible for a licensee's actions and conduct performed under the license and who either:

(a) Has an ownership interest in the license.

(b) Is regularly employed by the licensee.

9. "Registrar" means the registrar of contractors.

10. "Residential contractor":

(a) Is synonymous with the term "residential builder" and means any person, firm, partnership, corporation, association or other organization, or a combination of any of them, that for compensation undertakes to or offers to undertake to, purports to have the capacity to undertake to, submits a bid or responds to a request for qualification or a request for proposals for construction services to, or does himself or by or through others, within residential property lines:

(i) Construct, alter, repair, add to, subtract from, improve, move, wreck or demolish any residential structure, such as houses, townhouses, condominiums or cooperative units and any appurtenances on or within residential property lines.

(ii) Connect such a residential structure to utility service lines, metering devices or sewer lines.

(iii) Provide mechanical or structural service for any such residential structure.

(b) Does not include an owner making improvements to the owner's property pursuant to section 32-1121, subsection A, paragraph 5.

B. Only contractors as defined in this section are licensed and regulated by this chapter.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 55 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 1959–2022 · leading case: Crowe v. Hickman's Egg Ranch, Inc., 41 P.3d 651 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2002).

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Crowe v. Hickman's Egg Ranch, Inc., 41 P.3d 651 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2002). · cites it 8× “We find Crowe's conduct clearly falls within the scope of contracting work contemplated by the legislature in A.R.S. § 32-1101(A)(2) and (B), and, indeed, constitutes a criminal offense.”

Brown Wholesale Elec. Co. v. H.S. Lastar Co., 730 P.2d 267 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1986). · cites it 12× “The term “contractor” had been broadly defined in A.R.S. § 32-1101: In this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires, the term “contractor” is synonymous with the term “BUILDER” and means a person, firm, partnership, corporation, association or other organization, or a…”

Brown Wholesale Elec. Co. v. Merchants Mut. Bonding Co., 713 P.2d 291 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1984). · cites it 15× “Since SWL’s bond was required and issued pursuant to A.R.S. § 32-1101 et seq., we set out the rather complex legislative history of the pertinent provisions.”

Earthworks Contracting, Ltd. v. Mendel-Allison Constr. of California, Inc., 804 P.2d 831 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1990). · cites it 12× “In 1983, the legis *104 lature amended A.R.S. § 32-1101, to no longer require a contractor working on a commercial project to be licensed.”

Arizona Tile, L.L.C. v. Berger, 224 P.3d 988 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2010). · cites it 4× “to a contractor, as defined in § 32-1101, as payment for labor, professional services, materials, machinery, fixtures or tools for which a lien is not provided in this article shall be deemed for all purposes to be paid in trust and shall be held by the contractor for the…”

Levitan v. State, Registrar of Contractors, 33 P.3d 796 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2001). · cites it 20× “Levitan accordingly filed a *226 complaint against the Arizona Registrar of Contractors seeking a declaratory judgment that he and his employees can perform the repairs without obtaining a contractor’s license because Levitan is not a contractor within the meaning of A.R.S. §…”

Indus. Power & Lighting Corp. v. W. Modular Corp., 623 P.2d 291 (Alaska 1981). · cites it 6× “" [13] Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 32-1101 (1972) provided at the time of this case: In this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires, "contractor" means a person, firm, partnership, corporation, association or other organization, or a combination of any of them, who, for…”

Matison v. Barassi, 578 P.2d 619 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1978). · cites it 10× “It is undisputed that Barassi was not a licensed contractor as defined under A.R.S. § 32-1101. Matison contends that the nature of the work in question required that it be performed by a licensed contractor under Arizona law and that Barassi comes under none of the statutory…”

Aesthetic Prop. Maint., Inc. v. Capitol Indem. Corp., 900 P.2d 1210 (Ariz. 1995). · cites it 3× “Arizona’s Licensing Scheme A.R.S. §§ 32-1101 to -1170.03 set forth the requirements for obtaining and keeping a contractor’s license.”

Butch Randolph & Assocs., Inc. v. Int'l Fid. Ins., 136 P.3d 232 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2006). · cites it 4× “A.R.S. § 32-1101(A)(3)(a) (2002). The term also includes subcontractors.”

Fowler Bros., Inc. v. Bounds, 188 P.3d 1261 (N.M. Ct. App. 2008). · cites it 3× “{12} The law governing contractor licensing in Arizona is found at Ariz.Rev.Stat. Ann. §§ 32-1101 to -1170.02 (1951, as amended through 2007).”

Arizona Dep't of Revenue v. Ormond Builders, Inc., 166 P.3d 934 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2007). · cites it 2× “See A.R.S. § 32-1101(A)(3) (2002). Ormond did not cite this statute in its opening brief and the Department did not raise it in its answering brief.”

Show all 55 citing cases →

— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 32-1101(A)(2) — 2 cases

Crowe v. Hickman's Egg Ranch, Inc., 41 P.3d 651 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2002). “We find Crowe's conduct clearly falls within the scope of contracting work contemplated by the legislature in A.R.S. § 32-1101(A)(2) and (B), and, indeed, constitutes a criminal offense.”

Ray Elec., Inc. v. Merchants Bonding Co., 758 P.2d 149 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1988).

— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 32-1101(A)(2)(a) — 1 case

Mohave Concrete & Materials, Inc. v. Scaramuzzo, 739 P.2d 1345 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1987).

— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 32-1101(A)(3) — 4 cases

Levitan v. State, Registrar of Contractors, 33 P.3d 796 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2001). “Levitan accordingly filed a *226 complaint against the Arizona Registrar of Contractors seeking a declaratory judgment that he and his employees can perform the repairs without obtaining a contractor’s license because Levitan is not a contractor within the meaning of A.R.S. §…”

Arizona Tile, L.L.C. v. Berger, 224 P.3d 988 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2010). “to a contractor, as defined in § 32-1101, as payment for labor, professional services, materials, machinery, fixtures or tools for which a lien is not provided in this article shall be deemed for all purposes to be paid in trust and shall be held by the contractor for the…”

Arizona Dep't of Revenue v. Ormond Builders, Inc., 166 P.3d 934 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2007). “See A.R.S. § 32-1101(A)(3) (2002). Ormond did not cite this statute in its opening brief and the Department did not raise it in its answering brief.”

Fowler Bros., Inc. v. Bounds, 188 P.3d 1261 (N.M. Ct. App. 2008). “{12} The law governing contractor licensing in Arizona is found at Ariz.Rev.Stat. Ann. §§ 32-1101 to -1170.02 (1951, as amended through 2007).”

— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 32-1101(A)(3)(a) — 3 cases

Beazer Homes Arizona, Inc. v. Goldwater, 993 P.2d 1062 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1999).

Butch Randolph & Assocs., Inc. v. Int'l Fid. Ins., 136 P.3d 232 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2006). “A.R.S. § 32-1101(A)(3)(a) (2002). The term also includes subcontractors.”

Baker v. Dolphin Beach Rental & Mgmt., LLC, 233 P.3d 636 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2010).

— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 32-1101(A)(3)(a)(i) — 2 cases

SPUS8 Dakota LP v. KNR Contractors LLC (D. Ariz. 2022).

— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 32-1101(A)(3)(b) — 1 case

SPUS8 Dakota LP v. KNR Contractors LLC (D. Ariz. 2022).

— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 32-1101(A)(3)(c) — 1 case

Baker v. Dolphin Beach Rental & Mgmt., LLC, 233 P.3d 636 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2010).

— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 32-1101(A)(4) — 1 case

Kost v. Aroc (Ariz. Ct. App. 2014).

— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 32-1101(A)(5) — 2 cases

Better Homes Constr., Inc. v. Goldwater, 53 P.3d 1139 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2002).

— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 32-1101(A)(7) — 1 case

State v. Wilkinson, 10 P.3d 634 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2000).

— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 32-1101(B) — 2 cases

Butch Randolph & Assocs., Inc. v. Int'l Fid. Ins., 136 P.3d 232 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2006). “A.R.S. § 32-1101(A)(3)(a) (2002). The term also includes subcontractors.”

— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 32-1101(D) — 3 cases

James v. Burlington N. Santa Fe Ry. Co., 636 F. Supp. 2d 961 (D. Ariz. 2007).

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