Georgia Contractor License Requirements
verifiedState-Level License RequiredGeorgia requires licensing for all residential construction regardless of project value. Commercial work also requires licensing. Three tiers of general contractor licenses with increasing scope.
gavelHow Contractor Licensing Works in Georgia
Georgia licenses residential construction at any dollar value, with no minimum threshold, through licensing boards under the Georgia Secretary of State. The general contractor structure comes in three tiers: Residential/General for home construction, Residential Light Commercial adding commercial projects up to $500,000, and the unlimited General Contractor classification for full-scope work. Electrical and plumbing each run through their own state boards. This makes Georgia notably stricter than Alabama and Mississippi, where the state license only kicks in above $50,000; a remodeler who worked legally unlicensed on small jobs across the state line must be licensed to do the same work in Georgia. The PSI-administered exam, background check, financial statement, and insurance requirements apply across the general contractor tiers.
Sequence matters in Georgia: choose your tier first, because the exam and qualifications track the classification, and upgrading later means going through the board again. Then schedule the PSI exam, assemble the financial statement, complete the background check, and document general liability coverage at the $300,000 minimum. Workers compensation becomes mandatory at three or more employees, and the biennial renewal lands in your birth month on an even or odd year depending on the license. Georgia has no reciprocity agreements, so licenses from Florida, Tennessee, South Carolina, or Alabama do not transfer. The delay that catches the most applicants is experience and financial documentation submitted in the wrong format; the boards return incomplete packages rather than holding them, which restarts the review clock.
account_balanceLicensing Board
Board Name
Georgia Division of Secretary of State — Licensing Boards
Phone
(478) 207-2440
descriptionLicense Types
| Type | Threshold | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Residential/General Contractor | All work | Required for residential projects of any value |
| Residential Light Commercial | All work | Residential plus light commercial up to $500,000 |
| General Contractor (Unlimited) | All work | Unlimited scope of work |
| Electrical | All work | Licensed through GA Board of Electricians |
| Plumbing | All work | Licensed through GA Board of Plumbers |
checklistRequirements
- check_circlePass trade exam (PSI)
- check_circleProof of insurance
- check_circleWorkers compensation
- check_circleBackground check
- check_circleFinancial statement
paymentsFee Schedule
Application
$200
Annual Renewal
$100
Exam Fee
$175
event_repeatRenewal Period
Biennial — birth month of even/odd years
shieldInsurance Minimums
General Liability
$300,000
Workers Compensation
Required if 3+ employees
swap_horizReciprocity
- arrow_forwardNo reciprocity agreements
helpFrequently Asked Questions
Do I need a contractor license in Georgia?
Yes. Georgia requires licensing for residential construction at any project value and for commercial work as well, through boards under the Secretary of State. The three general contractor tiers are Residential/General, Residential Light Commercial (commercial up to $500,000), and unlimited General Contractor. Electrical and plumbing work require separate licenses from their own state boards at all job sizes.
What happens if I contract without a license in Georgia?
Georgia law makes contracts entered by unlicensed contractors unenforceable, which means no legal path to collect payment and no lien rights when a client refuses to pay. The state boards can also pursue enforcement action. Because Georgia licenses residential work from the first dollar, there is no small-job safe harbor like neighboring Alabama's $50,000 threshold.
Does Georgia have contractor license reciprocity?
No reciprocity agreements exist for Georgia's general contractor license, so credentials from Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, or the Carolinas do not carry over. Incoming contractors take the PSI exam for their chosen tier, pass the background check, and submit the financial statement and proof of insurance at the $300,000 general liability minimum like any new applicant.
How long does it take to get a Georgia contractor license?
Plan for two to three months. The PSI exam can usually be scheduled within weeks, but board review of your experience documentation, financial statement, and background check adds the bulk of the timeline, and incomplete packages are returned rather than queued. Renewals then fall every two years in your birth month, alternating even or odd years.
infoData sourced from state licensing board websites. Requirements change frequently — verify with your state board before applying. Last updated April 2026.