Georgia contractor license lookup: how to check and get a license
Georgia contractor license lookup: who issues home improvement contractor licenses (Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors (Georgia Secretary of State, Professional Licensing Boards)), how to check one online, the license types, and 3,067 residential remodelers by county.
Do home improvement contractors need a license in Georgia?
| Who licenses them | Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors (Georgia Secretary of State, Professional Licensing Boards) |
|---|---|
| License types | Residential-Basic Contractor, Residential-Light Commercial Contractor, General Contractor, General Contractor Limited Tier |
| When a license is required | State residential or general contractor license required when the value of the work or the contractor's compensation, whichever is higher, exceeds $2,500; Limited Tier general contractors capped at $1,000,000 per contract |
Licensed residential contractors must offer a written warranty on single-family home contracts over $2,500 and carry liability insurance (at least $300,000 for Residential-Basic, $500,000 for Residential-Light Commercial). Specialty trades (plumbing, electrical, HVAC) need their own trade licenses, and building permits come from your city or county.
How do you look up a home improvement contractor's license in Georgia?
- Ask the home improvement contractor for the license number and the exact business name on the license.
- Open the Georgia contractor license lookup run by Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors (Georgia Secretary of State, Professional Licensing Boards).
- Search by license number first. A name search can return several people or companies with similar names.
- Check that the status is active or current, that the license type covers your job, and that the name matches the company on your contract.
- If something doesn't match, ask the home improvement contractor about it before you sign or pay a deposit, or contact Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors (Georgia Secretary of State, Professional Licensing Boards).
What contractor licenses does Georgia issue?
- Residential-Basic Contractor
- Residential-Light Commercial Contractor
- General Contractor
- General Contractor Limited Tier
How do you get a contractor license in Georgia?
Licenses are issued by the Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors (Georgia Secretary of State, Professional Licensing Boards). Requirements such as experience, exams, insurance and fees change, so read the current rules on the official Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors (Georgia Secretary of State, Professional Licensing Boards) source before you apply. Already licensed? List your business on Expert Helper to get matched with customers.
Which Georgia city is the job in?
How many home improvement contractors are there in Georgia?
The Census Bureau counted 3,067 residential remodelers with employees in Georgia in 2023. The counties with the most:
| Gwinnett County | 537 |
|---|---|
| Fulton County | 321 |
| Cobb County | 317 |
| DeKalb County | 206 |
| Cherokee County | 151 |
| Forsyth County | 148 |
| Chatham County | 93 |
| Hall County | 80 |
What do Georgia homes mean for home improvement work?
The median home in Georgia was built in 1991, 35% of households rent and 71% of homes are single-family houses. 38% of homes heat with utility gas and 56% with electricity.
How do you choose a home improvement contractor in Georgia?
- Check the contractor's license with the state or city. Many places require a home improvement license for residential work over a few hundred dollars.
- Get a written contract with the scope, materials, schedule, total price and payment schedule. Don't pay most of it upfront.
- Ask who pulls the permits. If the contractor suggests skipping a permit that the job needs, find another contractor.
- Ask for proof of liability insurance and workers' compensation, and make sure the policy is current.
- Ask for two or three recent jobs like yours that you can see or call about.
Home Improvement Contractors in other states
Sources: Georgia licensing agency (linked above); US Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 and ACS 2023 5-year estimates.