The contractors face fines of $1,000 to $10,000 each after being cited by the county’s Department of Consumer Protection, the department said on October 1.

Inspectors from the department spent two weeks visiting work sites throughout the county, checking whether the contractors had licenses. In all, the inspectors performed checks on 273 contractors.

Among those cited for not having proper licenses, were a number of tree-care companies. Under the county’s definition of contractors, all are supposed to show they have insurance, no outstanding consumer complaints and no history of serious criminal convictions. A contractor who meets those main requirements can get a license.

For a complete list of the contractors and companies facing fines, visit https://lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081002/BUSINESS01/810020397/-1/SPORTS.

Gary Brown, the county’s director of consumer protection, noted that 8.4 percent of the contractors who were checked were working without licenses.

In two previous investigations – conducted in July 2007 and June of this year – 17 percent of the contractors lacked licenses, he said.

Brown said the drop indicates that the increased fines and the threat of equipment seizure are convincing more contractors that trying to skirt the licensing law is not worth the risk.

The sweep that took place in June found 98 contractors were working without licenses. The July 2007 investigation found 96 unlicensed contractors.