How to Get a Georgia Contractor License: Residential and General Tiers, State Board and Trade Licenses
If you plan to build, remodel or repair property in Georgia for pay, you need to know which license applies before you bid a job. Georgia splits contractor licensing into two tracks. Residential and general contractors are licensed by one state board. Electrical, plumbing, conditioned air (HVAC), low-voltage and utility contractors are licensed by a different board under a different chapter of state law. You will also need the local occupation tax certificate from the city or county where your business operates. This guide covers each track, the local step, and the filings that come next.
This article is informational content, not legal or tax advice. Licensing affects contract enforcement, lien rights and tax obligations, so talk with a licensed Georgia attorney or a CPA before you sign contracts or set up your business.
Do You Need a Contractor License in Georgia?
The answer depends on the type of work and the dollar amount. Georgia requires a residential or general contractor license for certain work above a threshold set by the State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors. Older sources cite $2,500, but that figure may have changed, so check with the board for the current threshold before you take on a job.
Skipping the license has real consequences. A contractor who needs a license and does not have one cannot enforce the contract, and has no lien or bond claim on the project (O.C.G.A. 43-41-17(b)). You may do the work and still be unable to collect for it.
Local governments generally may not add their own licensing requirements for a contractor who holds a state license. The exception is older local rules that are at least as strict as state law (O.C.G.A. 43-41-17(c)). A city or county certificate does not substitute for a required state license.
Track One: Residential and General Contractors
The State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors, part of the Georgia Secretary of State's office, issues these licenses. Applications go through the Secretary of State's online portal. Before you file, check the board's pages for how to apply, the current requirements, and any documentation the board asks for. The license comes in four tiers:
| Tier | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Residential-Basic | Detached one- and two-family homes and townhouses |
| Residential-Light Commercial | Light commercial work within the scope the board defines |
| General Contractor | General contracting work within the scope the board defines |
| General Contractor Limited Tier | A limited scope of general contracting, as the board defines it |
Financial and insurance requirements differ by tier. The board looks at a net worth requirement and general liability coverage. Older sources list the following figures, so confirm each one with the board before you rely on it: a net worth of $25,000 for the lower tiers and $150,000 for the General Contractor tier, and general liability coverage of $300,000 for Residential-Basic and $500,000 for the other tiers.
Pick the tier that matches the work you actually do. Bidding or performing work outside your tier creates licensing problems, and a tier that is too narrow means you cannot take the job. If your plans include both home building and light commercial work, confirm with the board which tier or tiers you need before you apply.
Track Two: Trade Contractors Under Chapter 14
Electrical, plumbing, conditioned air, low-voltage and utility contractors are licensed separately under Title 43, Chapter 14, by the State Construction Industry Licensing Board (O.C.G.A. 43-41-17(e)). This is a different board and a different set of rules from the residential and general track. A residential or general license does not give you a trade license, and the reverse is also true.
These requirements have just changed. Senate Bill 553 (Act 472) repealed and reenacted Chapter 14 effective July 1, 2026, and a 2025 law (SB 125) changed continuing education and renewal rules. Confirm the current requirements with the State Construction Industry Licensing Board before you apply or renew.
This guide does not cover roofing, concrete or landscaping. Confirm with the state boards and your local jurisdiction whether any license applies to those trades. For the business setup steps specific to each trade, see the business-start guides for general contractors, electricians, plumbers and HVAC businesses.
The Local Step: The Occupation Tax Certificate
Georgia issues no general statewide business license. The Secretary of State issues none, and registering with the Department of Revenue for sales tax is not a business license. The local license is an occupation tax certificate, often called a business license, issued under O.C.G.A. Title 48, chapter 13. A city issues it for businesses inside city limits. The county issues it for unincorporated areas. More than half of Georgians live outside any city, so for many contractors the county is the issuer. A business inside a city pays the city, not the county.
Georgia has 159 counties and about 537 cities and towns, and each sets its own formula, deadlines and prerequisites. Contact your city or county clerk or tax office before you apply. Two requirements come up often:
- Proof of state license. Where a state license is required, the local certificate requires proof of it (O.C.G.A. 36-60-6).
- E-Verify affidavit. A private employer with more than 10 employees, counted on January 1, must use E-Verify to get the certificate. An employer with 10 or fewer files an exemption affidavit instead (O.C.G.A. 36-60-6). Gwinnett County also requires a legal-presence affidavit with a secure ID.
Business Filings and Next Steps
The contractor license is one piece of the setup. A contractor operating through an LLC or corporation also needs the following:
- Formation filing. Articles of Organization for an LLC, or Articles of Incorporation for a corporation, cost $110 in total ($100 fee plus a $10 service charge). Online filings take about 7 to 10 business days and paper filings about 15 business days. Expedited review costs $120 (2 business days), $275 (same day if received by noon) or $1,200 (one hour on business days).
- Name reservation (optional). A name can be reserved for 30 days for $35. Check the Secretary of State's name rules before you file.
- Annual registration. The fee is $60 ($50 plus a $10 service charge), due between January 1 and April 1 each year. An LLC files its first registration the year after it forms, and a new corporation files within 90 days of incorporating. A late filing carries a $25 penalty. Confirm the current window and penalty with the Secretary of State. An entity that stays delinquent can be administratively dissolved, and reinstatement costs about $260.
- Taxes. A typical single-member or partnership LLC pays no Georgia franchise tax. Corporations, and LLCs taxed as corporations, pay a net worth tax of $0 to $5,000 depending on net worth. Income passes through at one flat rate: 5.19% for 2025 and 4.99% for 2026. Register with the Department of Revenue through the Georgia Tax Center if you sell taxable goods or have employees.
- Workers' compensation. Required once you have three or more workers, including part-time workers.
Where to Confirm Current Requirements
- Secretary of State, Corporations Division: https://sos.ga.gov/corporations-division
- Secretary of State eCorp filing portal: https://ecorp.sos.ga.gov/
- Secretary of State business search: https://ecorp.sos.ga.gov/BusinessSearch
- Georgia Department of Revenue: https://dor.georgia.gov/
- Georgia Tax Center: https://gtc.dor.ga.gov/
- Georgia Small Business Development Center at the University of Georgia: https://www.georgiasbdc.org/
Licensing rules, thresholds and local requirements change. Confirm each figure in this guide with the agency named before you rely on it, and talk with a licensed Georgia attorney or CPA if your project involves multiple tiers, trades, entities or local jurisdictions. This article is informational content, not legal or tax advice.