Georgia licensing for homeowners

Who must be licensed in Georgia

Georgia requires state licences for residential and general contractors, electricians, plumbers, and conditioned-air contractors through the Secretary of State's Professional Licensing Boards division. Residential contractors (RC) may perform residential work within scope rules; general contractors (GC) handle broader construction. Electrical, plumbing, and HVAC contracting each have separate board exams and licence types. A handyman who only paints interior walls faces different rules than a firm advertising whole-house remodels — but once you cross into regulated contracting or licensed trades, the state lookup is mandatory before you pay a deposit.

Licensing boards and lookups

Licence classes and what they authorize

• RC — Residential Contractor

  One- and two-family residential construction and remodeling within RC scope limits.

• GC — General Contractor

  Commercial and residential building construction beyond RC limits when properly classified.

• Electrical contractor — Low-voltage / electrical contractor

  Electrical contracting statewide per board rules and NEC adoption.

• Conditioned air (HVAC) — Conditioned Air Contractor

  HVAC installation and service statewide.

• Plumbing contractor — Master plumber / plumbing contractor

  Plumbing and gas piping within approved classifications.

Verify a licence in about two minutes

1. Open the Georgia SOS One Stop license search.
2. Search by exact licence number from the quote header.
3. Read profession and licence type — RC versus GC versus trade contractor.
4. Confirm licence status is Active and note expiration date.
5. Cross-check the insured business name with the Secretary of State entity search if the contract is with an LLC.

Insurance and bond minimums

Georgia contractors must meet board insurance requirements, including general liability and workers' compensation compliance. Amounts depend on licence type. Municipal permits in Atlanta may require additional documentation.

Who issues permits

County and city building departments enforce the Georgia State Minimum Standard Codes. Metro Atlanta jurisdictions (Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett) each issue permits. State licences do not replace local business tax certificates.

Homeowner permits — can you pull one, and should you

Owner-builders may pull permits in many counties for their own residence with an affidavit and inspection schedule. Licensed trades must perform electrical, plumbing, and HVAC work under state law even when the owner holds the permit.

Deposits, cancellation rights, and liens

Deposit rules

Georgia does not mirror California's 10% deposit statute. The Fair Business Practices Act still prohibits unfair practices — document deposits against defined milestones.

Rescission / cooling-off

Door-to-door sales contracts may include a right of rescission when federal or state cooling-off notices apply to the transaction.

Mechanic's lien timeline

Georgia lien law (O.C.G.A. Title 44, Chapter 14) requires claimants to file within 90 days of last work for many residential claims, with preliminary notice rules for subs. Use statutory waiver forms at each draw.

Written contracts are standard on regulated jobs; retain copies of change orders signed by both parties.

Where to file a complaint

File licence complaints with the Georgia Secretary of State Professional Licensing Boards. Consumer complaints about fraud may go to the Governor's Office of Consumer Protection. Local code enforcement handles permit violations.

If you hire someone unlicensed

Contracting without a required Georgia licence can result in fines and stop-work orders. Homeowners may struggle to collect warranties. Title insurers and lenders flag unpermitted additions at refinance.

Which trades need a licence here

Reciprocity

Georgia offers reciprocity for some contractor and trade licences with states meeting comparable exam standards — check the current reciprocity schedule on the board site before moving.

Cities and counties with an extra layer

Atlanta, Savannah, and Augusta add business licence and sometimes supplemental registration. Coastal counties enforce wind-load roofing standards stricter than inland jurisdictions.

Related guides

Common questions — Georgia

Sources

• O.C.G.A. Title 43, Chapter 41 — Contractors
• Georgia lien statutes (Title 44, Chapter 14)
• Georgia SOS License Search

Content reviewed 2026-10-06. Statutes and board URLs were checked at publication; confirm current text on the official site before relying on it in a dispute.