Georgia Construction and Licensing Law for Residential Contractors, Specialty Contractors and Home Owners

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Residential and General Contractor Licensing Information
The Georgia licensing law for residential and general contractors went into effect on July 1, 2005 but there was no actual licensing requirement until July 1, 2008. There are categories of licenses:
  • Residential - Basic
  • Residential - Light Commercial
  • General Contractor

For an comparison of the differences, please review the License Comparision page.

 

Any residential or general contractor performing “construction” after July 1, 2008 is required to have a contractor’s license unless the work falls under the very limited exceptions.  There will be a number of new rules and determinations as the licensing program is implemented.  Sign up for the newsletter or blog feeds for important updates and other information. 

  

Examination applications are available for contractors. The examination process as outlined by the Board requires that you complete the application and then submit it to the Board with the fee and supporting documents. Upon approval, applicants will receive written notification of the approval, alone with details for scheduling and taking the exam.  Applicants can check the status of their application online. Check your status frequently.  See the Denial or Deficiency page for an important tip regarding monitoring your application. 
 
ONCE YOU ARE APPROVED FOR EXAMINATION ELIGIBILITY, then you may register with PSI. Be sure to download and review the Candidate Information Bulletin.
 
If you get a denial or deficiency letter, do not delay.  Take appropriate action.  See Denial or Deficiency. 
 
I failed the exam.  What do I do now? 
 
I have my license, now I want to port it over to my individual name or to another company.  You will want to complete the appropriate board forms for "prior approval status."  To find the forms on the Board website, go to download forms. 

For current information from the State Licensing Board of Residential and General Contractors, please visit the official website. This website also has the links to the current applications, some FAQ, the current Georgia code and the current rules of the Board. 
 
Beware of overstating to the need to be licensed.  Not all contractors need a state residential or general contractors license.  For an example of an well-intended but misleading advertisement, click here.  

The HEAVY HAMMER
Why does a contractor want to be sure to comply with the law?  There is a HEAVY HAMMER given the consumer:  under the current law, any contract entered into after July 1, 2008 for the performance of work for which a residential contractor or general contractor license is required, which contract is between an owner and a contractor who does not have a valid and current license required for such work (determined as of the date of entering into the contract) is UNENFORCEABLE. If the contract is unenforcable, no lien or bond claim in favor of the unlicensed contractor for any labor, services or materials shall exist in favor of the contractor.

 

 

Is YOUR CONTRACTOR licensed?

Not all contractors need to be licensed.  Specialty contractors and handymen are examples of contractors that do not need to be licensed. 

 

Click on the search you desire:

 

Search by individual name or qualified agent name

 

Search by company name

 

These links will take you to the Georgia Professional Licensing Board search site.  Be sure to check the type of license you are searching for and consider search alternatives -- Ken Jones could be under J. Kenneth Jones or Ken J. Jones.  Acme Remodel and Construction may have several alternatives. 

 

Be sure to check out the public history of your contractor also.  In some cases, your contractor (or the Qualified Agent for your contractor) may have filed bankruptcy.  There are many reasons that may happen.  Even a personal bankruptcy that results from a hospitalization may come show for a qualified agent.  A corporation may have overextended in the housing boom.  But it may also signal a issue for concern. 

 

Some qualified agents have personal background issues that may raise concerns for some.  A conviction for a DUI while in college may not be a big deal for some.  A theft issue may have greater concern. 

 

You may want to discuss a license history with legal counsel to determine if there are steps that may be advisable. 

My application is pending, so I am okay to start bidding, right?

 

Absolutely not.  The definition of contractor under the law includes those who submit a bit or proposal.  Submitting a bid or proposal for a construction project prior to actually having been approved for your license MAY be a violation of law and may subject you to penalties and Board action.  There are complaints already pending before the Board for similar situations. 

 

Before you consider making a bid or submitting a proposal, you should consult with your legal counsel to be sure that your "bid" is not actually a bid.