Renovation permits and contractor licences in Georgia

Trades that need a licence in Georgia

• General contracting and renovation

  Residential and general contractors are licensed by the same state board, in separate divisions with their own tiers: the residential division separates basic from light commercial work, and the general division has a limited tier capped by contract value alongside a standard tier.

  Sources:Georgia – Qualifications for licensure, residential contractor division⁠(opens in a new tab)Georgia – Qualifications for licensure, general contractor division⁠(opens in a new tab)

• Certified trades

  Electrical contractors, low voltage contractors, master and journeyman plumbers, conditioned air contractors and utility contractors each hold their own licence type from the construction industry board. Ask which licence type covers your job.

  Sources:Georgia – Construction industry licence types (Chapter 121-2)⁠(opens in a new tab)

• General contracting and renovation

  Repair work has its own rules. Georgia defines repair as fixing, mending, maintenance, replacement or restoring part of a property to good condition, and sets conditions under which unlicensed people may do it, including disclosure requirements and limits on structural changes.

  Sources:Georgia – Repair work rules (Chapter 553-8)⁠(opens in a new tab)

• Consumer protection

  Georgia's mandatory codes apply to all construction whether or not the local government enforces them, so a project can be subject to a code even where no one inspects it. Confirm with your local building office which codes and permits apply.

  Sources:Georgia Department of Community Affairs – Mandatory and permissive state codes⁠(opens in a new tab)

Before you hire a contractor in Georgia

Practical checks you can do yourself, using official tools where they exist.

1. 1

   Ask whether your project needs a residential or a general contractor licence, and which tier covers its value.

   Official lookup: Georgia – Rules of the State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors⁠(opens in a new tab)

2. 2

   For electrical, plumbing or conditioned air work, ask which construction industry licence type the contractor holds.

   Official lookup: Georgia – Construction industry licence types (Chapter 121-2)⁠(opens in a new tab)

3. 3

   If the job is being treated as repair work rather than licensed contracting, check the conditions that apply.

   Official lookup: Georgia – Repair work rules (Chapter 553-8)⁠(opens in a new tab)

4. 4

   Check which state minimum codes apply to your project, including any local permissive codes.

   Official lookup: Georgia Department of Community Affairs – Current state minimum codes for construction⁠(opens in a new tab)

5. 5

   Apply for your building permit with your city or county before work starts.

6. 6

   Confirm the contractor's licence and insurance with your state or county government, and get the work, materials and price in writing.

   Official lookup: FTC – How to avoid a home improvement scam⁠(opens in a new tab)