Georgia Masonry Contractor License Requirements (2026)

Georgia does not license masonry contractors at the state level. The Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors (under the Secretary of State) issues Residential Basic, Residential Light Commercial, and General Contractor licenses, but masonry is explicitly listed as an exempt specialty under O.C.G.A. §43-41-17(g) — meaning masonry-only contractors do not need a state license. Local jurisdictions (Atlanta, Savannah, Augusta, Macon) may impose business tax certificates and project-by-project permits. This page documents the verified path including the exempt-specialty rules and OSHA silica enforcement.

The Licensing Authority

Authority over this credential rests with Georgia Construction Industry Licensing Board (within the Georgia Secretary of State, Professional Licensing Boards Division) (GA CILB), which issues and polices it under Official Code of Georgia Annotated (O.C.G.A.) Title 43 Chapter 14 (electrical, plumbing, conditioned air, low-voltage, utility); Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. Chapter 121. 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).

Official portal: https://sos.ga.gov/georgia-construction-industry-licensing-board
Address: 237 Coliseum Drive, Macon, GA 31217
Phone: (478) 207-2440

Baseline Eligibility

The threshold requirements are straightforward: age 18 or above, plus a valid Social Security Number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). No Georgia residency requirement; out-of-state entities must register with the Georgia Secretary of State.

Good moral character

No state character review for exempt-specialty masonry. Local jurisdictions may review.

Background investigation

No state background check for exempt masonry. Atlanta and Savannah may require disclosure on local business tax applications.

Experience and Education Requirements

Rather than a set number of years, the cited materials define eligibility through Georgia imposes no state experience requirement on exempt-specialty masonry contractors. Insurance carriers and prime contractors typically require demonstrated journey-level masonry experience by contract..

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

Optional: signed letters from prior masonry employers
Project list (used for prime subcontracts and insurance underwriting, not the state)

The Licensing Examination

There is no statewide written trade test for this credential in the cited record; the controlling process is: No state exam required

Examination fee: No state exam fee — Georgia masonry is exempt specialty.

Financial Security and Insurance

No statewide contractor license surety bond is required for this credential in the cited sources. Project-specific, permit, or public-works bonds may still apply, so confirm bonding before bidding a given job.

General liability

No state minimum, but most owners and prime contractors require $1,000,000 per occurrence GL. Local business tax certificates do not impose insurance minimums.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation is mandatory under O.C.G.A. §34-9-2 for any Georgia employer with three or more employees. Masonry NCCI 5022 carries one of the highest manual rates in Georgia.

Additional financial requirements

No financial statement required.

Fee Schedule

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	No separate state fee
Initial license	No separate state fee
Renewal (every year)	No separate state fee

License Renewal

The Georgia Masonry — Local Jurisdiction Only (No State Specialty License) must be renewed every year. A standalone statewide renewal fee is not published in the cited record. No state renewal required for exempt-specialty masonry. Local business tax certificates renew annually at the issuing city.

Downloadable Asset

2026 Georgia Masonry License Roadmap (PDF) — a printable step-by-step checklist for the application process.

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity Map

Georgia grants no NASCLA reciprocity for this classification.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
No formal bilateral reciprocity agreements identified.

Not applicable — Georgia does not license masonry, so there is no state credential to reciprocate.

Weighing more than one jurisdiction? The national hub compares Masonry license requirements in every state — exam, bond, fee, and experience thresholds side by side.

The Licensing Roadmap

Confirm exempt-specialty status. Verify your scope falls under the §43-41-17(g) masonry exemption — masonry-only work outside structural foundations is exempt; mixing trades may trigger Residential or GC licensing.
Form a Georgia entity. Register your LLC or corporation with the Georgia Secretary of State and obtain an EIN.
Bind GL and workers compensation. Bind GL ($1M+ practical) and workers comp once you reach three employees.
Obtain local business tax certificate. Atlanta, Savannah, Augusta, Marietta, and most Georgia cities require an annual business tax certificate ($75–$300) before operating.
Pull project permits at the AHJ. Local building departments require permits for masonry on permitted projects — the GC of record typically pulls them; standalone masonry contractors must coordinate with the prime.
Implement OSHA silica program. Federal OSHA enforces 29 CFR 1926.1153 in Georgia; written exposure control plan and Table 1 controls are mandatory on every masonry job.

Common Application Pitfalls

The errors below are the ones that most frequently cost Georgia Masonry applicants time, drawn from the cited board guidance.

Crossing into structural GC scope

Masonry foundation walls or load-bearing structural masonry on residential or commercial projects may exceed the §43-41-17(g) exemption and trigger GC licensing requirements.

Skipping local business tax certificate

Atlanta and Savannah cite contractors operating without an active business tax certificate; first offense fines run $500–$1,000.

Workers comp lapse at three employees

Crossing the three-employee threshold triggers immediate mandatory workers comp; lapses cause Department of Labor stop-work orders.

Anchored veneer ties wrong gauge

Atlanta wind code requires corrosion-resistant ties at TMS 402 spacing; Atlanta and Marietta inspectors fail jobs with undersized ties.

Silica plan absent

OSHA targets Atlanta and Savannah masonry sites; missing 29 CFR 1926.1153(g) plans draw immediate citations.

Before Filing: A Checklist

Before submitting to GA CILB, the applicant should have each of the following ready:

☐ Georgia Secretary of State entity registration
☐ EIN and Georgia Department of Revenue tax account
☐ Local business tax certificate (city of operation)
☐ GL insurance certificate ($1M+ practical)
☐ Workers compensation certificate (3+ employees)
☐ OSHA silica written exposure control plan

Preparation Resources

The following references are cited by the regulator, used in the application process, or commonly used to prepare for the trade scope. Listed for reader convenience; CLR receives no compensation for these recommendations.

Georgia State Minimum Standard Building Code (IBC with Georgia amendments) — Georgia DCA. Georgia adopts IBC including Chapter 21 masonry provisions.
TMS 402/602 Building Code Requirements and Specification for Masonry Structures — The Masonry Society. Adopted by reference under IBC Chapter 21.
O.C.G.A. §43-41 Residential and General Contractors statute — State of Georgia. Includes the §43-41-17(g) masonry exemption language.

Other Georgia Trade Licenses

For a different Georgia credential, see these companion guides published by CLR:

Answers to Common Questions

Does Georgia license masonry contractors?

No. Masonry is explicitly exempt under O.C.G.A. §43-41-17(g). The Georgia State Licensing Board does not issue or test masonry contractors.

Can I work statewide without a state license?

Yes for masonry-only scope. Mixing trades, building structural elements, or contracting as a GC requires a Residential Basic, Residential Light Commercial, or General Contractor license.

What about local business tax certificates?

Atlanta, Savannah, Augusta, and most Georgia cities require annual business tax certificates ($75–$300). These are not licenses — they are local revenue.

When does workers comp kick in?

Three or more employees triggers mandatory workers comp under O.C.G.A. §34-9-2. Masonry NCCI 5022 is high — budget accordingly.

Does Georgia enforce OSHA silica?

Federal OSHA enforces 29 CFR 1926.1153 in Georgia. Written exposure control plan is mandatory for masonry cutting, grinding, and mixing.

Primary Sources

Regulatory requirements on this page are drawn from the official board, statute, and exam-provider materials listed below.

Verified 2026-05-24 · Next scheduled review 2026-08-22