Georgia Contractor Licensing
Trade-by-trade licensing requirements for Georgia, sourced directly from the state regulatory board and maintained by Gabriel Giner, editor. We currently publish 18 published trade guides, with direct links to each underlying board, statute, or exam-provider resource.
Choose your trade
General Contractor
Georgia General Contractor (Unlimited Tier)
Verified 2026-09-04
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Electrician
Georgia Electrical Contractor (Class I or Class II)
Verified 2026-09-04
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Plumber
Georgia Master Plumber (Class I or Class II)
Verified 2026-09-04
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HVAC Technician
Georgia Conditioned Air Contractor (Class I or Class II)
Verified 2026-09-04
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Roofing Contractor
Georgia Roofing Work — Specialty-Contractor Exemption and Local Requirements
Verified 2026-09-04
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Painting Contractor
No Georgia painting-contractor license; Georgia RRP certification can apply
Verified 2026-09-04
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Landscaping Contractor
No Georgia landscape-contractor license; pesticide and land-disturbance rules can apply
Verified 2026-09-04
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Masonry Contractor
No Georgia masonry-contractor license; masonry is a recognized specialty
Verified 2026-09-04
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Concrete Contractor
Georgia Concrete Contractor — No Standalone State Concrete License
Verified 2026-09-08
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Carpentry Contractor
No Georgia carpentry license; specialty exemptions can apply
Verified 2026-09-04
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Solar Installer
Georgia — No Standalone Solar License (Electrical Contractor Class I or Class II Unrestricted)
Verified 2026-09-04
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Low-Voltage Technician
Georgia Low-Voltage Contractor License — LV-A, LV-G, LV-T, and LV-U
Verified 2026-09-04
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Fire Sprinkler Contractor
Georgia Fire Sprinkler Contractor Certificate of Competency (Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire)
Verified 2026-09-04
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Home Inspector
No statewide Georgia home inspector license
Verified 2026-09-04
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Pool Contractor
No Georgia pool-contractor license; Outdoor Environment specialty work may be exempt
Verified 2026-09-04
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Handyman
No Georgia handyman license; residential threshold and repair exemption apply
Verified 2026-09-04
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Pest Control
Structural Pest Control Company License
Verified 2026-09-04
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Septic Contractor
Georgia Septic Installer Certification and Installer Company Certification
Verified 2026-09-30
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- Published guides
- 18
- Exam-backed
- 11
- Bond-backed
- 0
- Local / municipal
- 10
- Avg initial fee
- $202
How licensing works in Georgia
Georgia is not a one-size-fits-all licensing market. Across the 18 guides currently live on this state hub, 11 require a formal trade examination and 0 require a surety bond before the credential can issue. 10 of the published entries rely on city, county, or municipal registration rather than a single statewide credential, so contractors need to confirm the local building department or business-license office before bidding work.
The point of this state page is to give you a fast read on the regulatory model before you dive into a specific trade. Start with the trades grid below if you already know your specialty. If you are comparing jurisdictions, use the cost calculator for first-year cost and the reciprocity matrix for license portability.
Main boards and agencies
Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors
The Board identifies traditional and limited-service specialty categories. Local authorities and the applicable broader contractor path govern work outside an exemption.
Open agency siteGeorgia Construction Industry Licensing Board (within the Georgia Secretary of State, Professional Licensing Boards Division)
The Georgia CILB licenses electrical contractors, plumbers, conditioned air contractors, low-voltage contractors, and utility contractors statewide. The Board adopts the National Electrical Code, International Plumbing Code, and International Mechanical Code by reference. General contractors are licensed by a separate body — the State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors (SLBRGC).
Open agency siteGeorgia State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors; Georgia EPD Lead-Based Paint Program
The contractor board recognizes masonry as a traditional specialty and licenses broader Residential and General Contractor work. EPD regulates covered RRP work.
Open agency siteGeorgia State Licensing Board for Residential and Commercial General Contractors
The Board regulates residential and commercial general contracting and publishes specialty-contractor policy statements. Local authorities retain responsibility for their permits, inspections, and business requirements.
Open agency siteGeorgia Department of Agriculture Pesticide Program; Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission; Georgia SOS contractor board
The contractor board recognizes landscape and irrigation as a specialty. GDA licenses pesticide contractors and commercial applicators; GSWCC administers erosion and sediment-control education and certification for land-disturbance roles.
Open agency siteGeorgia Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire
OCI Safety Fire issues certificates of competency and contractor licenses for water-based fire protection sprinkler work and administers applications through its Citizenserve portal.
Open agency siteGeorgia Department of Agriculture, Structural Pest Division (with the Georgia Structural Pest Control Commission)
Regulates and licenses structural pest control companies, certified operators, and registered employees under the Georgia Structural Pest Control Act. Company licenses are approved by the Structural Pest Control Commission (SPCC), which meets monthly on the second Tuesday.
Open agency siteState Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors
Administers Georgia Residential and General Contractor licenses. It does not issue a pool-specific credential. Its Outdoor Environment limited-service specialty policy identifies the pool-related work that a specialty contractor may complete or coordinate without holding a Residential or General Contractor license, subject to applicable trade licensing, codes, and ordinances.
Open agency siteGeorgia Secretary of State Professional Licensing Boards Division
Georgia SOS administers numerous professional boards, but the official board listings do not include a home-inspector licensing board.
Open agency siteGeorgia Department of Public Health
Certifies septic installers and companies; county environmental health offices schedule examinations and administer local pumping permits.
Open agency site
Compare Georgia against other states
Every trade above also has a national comparison hub showing how Georgia's exam, bond, fee, and experience requirements stack up against the other 50 jurisdictions.
- GC by state
- Electrician by state
- Plumber by state
- HVAC by state
- Roofing by state
- Painting by state
- Landscaping by state
- Masonry by state
- Concrete by state
- Carpentry by state
- Solar by state
- Low-Voltage by state
- Fire Sprinkler by state
- Home Inspector by state
- Pool by state
- Handyman by state
- Pest Control by state
- Septic by state
States bordering Georgia
Licensing rules change at the state line. Contractors bidding work across the border should review the neighboring hub before assuming Georgia's requirements carry over.
- Alabama licensing
- Florida licensing
- North Carolina licensing
- South Carolina licensing
- Tennessee licensing
Best starting points in Georgia
Budget
Estimate first-year cost
Compare filing fees, bond premiums, insurance assumptions, and renewal cost before you apply.
Mobility
Check reciprocity pathways
See whether this state accepts NASCLA or uses bilateral reciprocity for the trade you hold now.
Research
Search related guides
Jump directly to linked state and trade pages if you are comparing multiple jurisdictions side by side.
Related reading
Original analyses drawn from our national dataset that put Georgia's rules in context — how its requirements compare, what a record means for eligibility, and how to carry a license across state lines.
Can you get a contractor license with a criminal record?
A 50-state breakdown of background checks, which offenses actually disqualify, and how long a conviction counts.
Contractor license difficulty index
Where each state ranks on exam, experience, and bond burden — hardest to easiest.
License costs ranked by state
Cheapest to most expensive states once fees, bond, and first-year insurance are counted.
How to transfer a license to another state
Which states accept NASCLA or bilateral reciprocity, and what re-testing each requires.
