Quick answer: In Georgia, general contractors, residential contractors, electricians, plumbers, HVAC (conditioned air) contractors, low-voltage contractors and utility contractors are licensed at the state level through boards administered by the Secretary of State. Roofers, painters, carpenters, landscapers, handymen and cleaners have no separate state trade license — but anyone acting as a general/residential contractor still needs a contractor license once a single project exceeds $2,500.
Georgia regulates construction trades through statewide licensing boards under the Secretary of State, with clear thresholds and specialty-trade exemptions.
Which trades need a license in Georgia?
| Trade | State license required? | Licensing body |
|---|---|---|
| Plumber | Yes | State license required. The Division of Master and Journeyman Plumbers (State Construction Industry Licensing Board, under the Secretary of State) issues Journeyman Plumber and Master Plumber licenses. Master Plumber Class I covers single-family/duplex dwellings and commercial buildings under 10,000 sq ft; Class II is unrestricted. |
| Electrician | Yes | State license required. The Division of Electrical Contractors licenses electrical contractors statewide. Class I is restricted to single-phase installations not exceeding 200 amperes at the service drop; Class II is unrestricted. |
| HVAC | Yes | State license required. HVAC work is licensed as "conditioned air" contracting through the State Board of Conditioned Air Contractors. Class I is limited to systems not exceeding 175,000 BTU of heating and 60,000 BTU (about 5 tons) of cooling; Class II is unrestricted. |
| General Contractor | Yes ($2,500+) | State license required above the threshold. The State Licensing Board for Residential and Commercial General Contractors licenses Residential-Basic, Residential-Light Commercial, General Contractor Limited Tier (contracts up to $1,000,000) and General Contractor (unrestricted). No license is required for a single undertaking with a total value of $2,500 or less. |
| Roofer | No | No separate Georgia state roofing license. Roofing is treated as specialty-trade work under O.C.G.A. § 43-41-17, so a residential/general contractor license is not required to perform roofing within that specialty. A contractor license is still needed if you act as the general contractor on a project over $2,500, and a local business license/permit typically applies. |
| Painter | No | No separate Georgia state painting license. Painting is specialty-trade work exempt from the residential/general contractor requirement. You still need a local business license, and a contractor license applies only if you take on broader general-contracting work above $2,500. |
| Carpenter | No | No separate Georgia state carpentry license. Finish and rough carpentry are specialty trades exempt from the contractor-license requirement when performed within the specialty. Structural jobs where you serve as the general contractor over $2,500 require a general/residential contractor license. |
| Landscaper | No | No Georgia state license for general landscaping, lawn care or grounds maintenance. (Note: "landscape architect" is a separate protected title licensed by its own state board, and any irrigation/plumbing or electrical tie-ins must be done by the appropriate licensed trade.) A local business license generally applies. |
| Handyman | No | No Georgia state handyman license. You may perform small repair and improvement work, but a residential/general contractor license is required once a single project's total value exceeds $2,500, and you cannot perform electrical, plumbing, or HVAC work without the corresponding state trade license. A local business license typically applies. |
| Cleaner | No | No Georgia state license for residential or commercial cleaning. Cleaning is not construction-trade work and is not regulated by the Secretary of State's construction boards; a local business license or occupational tax certificate is generally all that is required. |
"Yes" means a statewide license from a Secretary of State board is required; "No" trades still need a local business license and must use licensed trades for electrical, plumbing and HVAC work.
How Georgia licenses construction trades
Georgia licenses its skilled construction trades at the state level through professional licensing boards administered by the Georgia Secretary of State's Licensing Division. Two structures matter:
- The State Licensing Board for Residential and Commercial General Contractors licenses general and residential contractors.
- The State Construction Industry Licensing Board oversees five divisions: Electrical Contractors, Master and Journeyman Plumbers, Conditioned Air (HVAC) Contractors, Low-Voltage Contractors, and Utility Contractors.
Applications are submitted through the Secretary of State's online GOALS portal; paper applications are no longer accepted.
Licensed trades and the $2,500 contractor threshold
Contractors. Georgia offers Residential-Basic Contractor (min. $300,000 general liability), Residential-Light Commercial Contractor (min. $500,000), General Contractor Limited Tier (contracts capped at $1,000,000) and unrestricted General Contractor licenses. Per O.C.G.A. § 43-41-17, no residential or general contractor license is required for a single undertaking whose total value is $2,500 or less; contracts requiring a license that are signed by an unlicensed contractor are unenforceable.
Mechanical and electrical trades. Electricians (Class I limited to single-phase up to 200A; Class II unrestricted), plumbers (Journeyman; Master Class I for single-family/duplex and small commercial, Class II unrestricted), and HVAC/conditioned air contractors (Class I up to 175,000 BTU heating / 60,000 BTU cooling; Class II unrestricted) each require a statewide license. Low-voltage contractors and utility contractors are licensed by their own divisions.
Trades with no separate Georgia state license
Roofing, painting, carpentry, landscaping, general handyman work and cleaning have no separate statewide trade license in Georgia. Roofing, painting and carpentry are recognized as specialty trades, so a residential/general contractor license is not needed to perform that specialty work. However, two limits always apply: (1) if you act as the general contractor on a project over $2,500 you need a contractor license, and (2) any electrical, plumbing, or HVAC portion must be performed by the appropriately licensed trade.
Local permits and business requirements
Even when no state license is required, Georgia cities and counties require a local business license / occupational tax certificate, and most construction work requires building permits issued and inspected locally. O.C.G.A. § 43-41-17 also directs that state licensing does not override county or municipal permit and registration requirements — so always confirm rules with the city or county where the work is performed.
How to get licensed in Georgia
- Identify your trade: if it's electrical, plumbing, HVAC/conditioned air, low-voltage, utility, or general/residential contracting, a state license is required.
- Choose the correct classification (e.g., Electrical Class I vs. II, Master Plumber Class I vs. II, Conditioned Air Class I vs. II, Residential vs. General Contractor, GC Limited Tier vs. unrestricted).
- Meet the prerequisites for that class: required years of experience, exam, general-liability insurance, workers' compensation, and (for GC) minimum net worth.
- Apply through the Secretary of State's online GOALS portal and pass the required examination; paper applications are not accepted.
- Obtain a local business license/occupational tax certificate and pull the required building permits from the city or county before starting work.
Ready to price your work? Build a quote with the free estimate generator, or invoice from your phone with BIG INVOICE.
Frequently asked questions
Does a handyman need a license in Georgia?
There is no state handyman license, but you must hold a residential or general contractor license once a single project's total value exceeds $2,500, and you cannot legally perform electrical, plumbing, or HVAC work without the corresponding state trade license. A local business license also applies.
What is Georgia's $2,500 contractor rule?
Under O.C.G.A. § 43-41-17, a residential or general contractor license is not required for a single undertaking with a total value of $2,500 or less. Above that threshold, unlicensed contracting is prohibited and the contract is unenforceable by the unlicensed contractor.
Do roofers and painters need a state license in Georgia?
No. Roofing and painting are specialty trades that do not require a separate state trade license or a residential/general contractor license when performed within that specialty. You still need a local business license, and a contractor license is required only if you act as the general contractor above $2,500.
Who licenses electricians, plumbers and HVAC contractors in Georgia?
The State Construction Industry Licensing Board, administered by the Georgia Secretary of State, licenses these trades through its divisions for Electrical Contractors, Master and Journeyman Plumbers, and Conditioned Air (HVAC) Contractors, each with Class I (limited) and Class II (unrestricted) tiers.
Sources: Georgia Secretary of State — Licensing Division, State Licensing Board for Residential and Commercial General Contractors, General Contractor Exemptions (O.C.G.A. § 43-41-17), Rules — State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors (GAC 553), Construction Industry Licensing Board rules (GAC 121-3), Georgia State Board of Conditioned Air Contractors, 2025. Licensing rules change — always confirm current requirements with the relevant state board and your local city before you work.