Handyman License Requirements By State

Are you performing any handymen work, renovations, remodeling or other work on residential buildings? If so, you may need a handyman license or general contractor’s license to conduct the work legally in your state.

We’re going to outline the states that require and do not require you to have a license.

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Additionally, even if the state itself doesn’t have a licensing requirement, you may need to obtain a local license to perform certain contracted jobs or jobs worth over a certain monetary value.

Handyman License Requirements by State

Below, you’ll find a list of states which do and do not require licensing for performing handymen work.

States That Require a General Contractors License

Alabama

You don’t need a handyman license in Alabama, but there is one exception: projects with a value over $50,000. If the project exceeds this value, you’ll need to obtain your license.

Alaska

Handymen in Alaska will be required to have a license if they perform any work with a value up to $10,000. You’ll need to apply for the license on the official state website, here.

Note: Licensing will require you to hold:

General liability insurance
Property damage insurance

Arizona

Arizona handymen may or may not need licensing. You’ll need to consider the following:

Licenses are not required for work with a value of less than $1,000
Licenses are required for work valued at $1,000 or higher, or if a permit is necessary for the project

If you need a license, you’ll need to pass an exam and submit proof of a bond. You can obtain your license here.

Arkansas

You may need a license, called a Home Improvement License, if you plan on doing any of the following:

Work of $2,000 or higher
Work, including flooring, roofing or painting

Obtaining a home improvement license is easy and doesn’t require passing a test or exam. Instead, you’ll need to provide a financial statement and workers’ compensation insurance.

However, you may need to obtain additional licensing for more substantial work, such as being a residential remodeler or rebuilding license.

California

California allows you to perform work on jobs with a value of $500 or less without a license. However, you’ll need to obtain a general contractor license for any work with a value exceeding $500.

If the work you perform isn’t part of the fixed structure of the home, such as hanging a picture, it will not count towards the $500 limit.

To obtain your license, you’ll need to:

Show that you have work experience spanning four years
Have a certificate of insurance
Obtain a contractor’s bond of $15,000

California also requires you to pass multiple exams for your license, including a business, law and trade exam.

Florida

Florida allows you to conduct certain work without a license, such as:

Door repairs
Window repair
Tile installation
Non-structural work

However, for roofing, building or structural work, including renovations, you’ll need to pass an exam, show four years of experience and proof of insurance.

Georgia

Georgia allows you to conduct work of up to $2,500 without a license. However, if the value of work exceeds this amount, you’ll need to have a Residential-Basic Contractor license.

Hawaii

Hawaii will require you to have a license if you conduct work that requires a building permit or has a value of $1,000 or more. You’ll need to pass a business, law and trade exam, show proof of insurance and have at least four years of experience in the last ten years.

Louisiana

You won’t need a handyman license in Louisiana for minor work, but you will need it for work that has costs of $7,500 or higher. The total cost includes all labor and material expenses. Registration is required for projects of $7,500 and higher, and you’ll only need to provide proof of insurance to register.

Maryland

Maryland’s Department of Labor requires every handyman to have a license. Licensing will require you to pass a law and business exam as well as show that you have two years or more of experience in home improvement.

Massachusetts

Massachusetts doesn’t require a state license, but you’ll need to register with the state as a home improvement contractor. However, you’ll need to have a license if you conduct work that may be classified as:

Renovation
Larger building projects
Structural work

Multiple license options are available in the state, and you’ll need to show at least three years of experience and pass a licensing exam.

Michigan

Michigan does not have a specific handyman license, but you will be required to obtain a license if you perform certain types of work, like painting, tiling or carpentry. For these jobs, you will need a Maintenance and Alteration Contractor License. This will require 60 hours of educational courses and to pass an exam.

Minnesota

If you perform more than $15,000 worth of handymen work each year, you will need a Residential Remodeler License. The license is issued by the Department of Labor and Industry.

Licensing isn’t required if you only perform services in one specialty area, such as masonry or drywall and plaster.

To obtain your license, you’ll need to pass an exam and obtain workers’ compensation and general liability insurance.

Mississippi

Handymen are not required to be licensed in Mississippi unless the job is worth more than $10,000. For jobs of this value, you will need a Residential Remodeling license that’s awarded by the Mississippi Contractor Licensing Board. You’ll also need to pass exams and show proof of insurance (workers’ compensation and general liability).

Nevada

Handymen in Nevada will need to obtain a contractor license for jobs worth more than $1,000. Licenses are given by the Nevada Contractors Board. To obtain a license, you will need to show four years of work experience. You’ll also need to pass exams.

New Mexico

Some handymen are considered general contractors in New Mexico and must be licensed. Depending on the classification, you may need to show proof of experience, pass a business and law exam as well as a trade exam.

North Carolina

North Carolina only requires licensing if projects are worth more than $30,000. Those who are working as subcontractors under a general contractor do not need to be licensed.

North Dakota

In North Dakota, you must be licensed if you want to perform any work worth more than $4,000. This license covers repairs, construction or alteration to a property. Licenses are awarded by the Secretary of State of North Dakota.

Oregon

In Oregon, a handyman must be licensed to work on jobs worth more than $1,000. Any construction work that includes property improvements must have a contractor’s license that’s issued by the Oregon Construction Contractors Board.

To obtain your license, you must pass an exam and a pre-license training. You must also show proof of workers’ compensation and general liability insurance.

Tennessee

Handymen in Tennessee are not required to be licensed unless the job is more than $25,000. For jobs worth more than $3,000 but less than $25,000, you will need a home improvement license.

Licenses are given by the Department of Commerce and Insurance Board for Licensing Contractors. Additionally, you’ll need to pass a business and law exam and a trade exam. Workers’ compensation and general liability insurance are also required.

Utah

In Utah, handymen must be licensed to work on projects worth more than $3,000. Anything less than that is considered a handyman exemption.

For projects that are more than $1,000 and less than $3,000, you will need to have workers’ compensation insurance and general liability insurance.

For projects greater than $3,000, you will need to obtain a contractor license from the Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing. To qualify, you must pass an exam and show that you have two years of experience working under a licensed contractor. You must also have workers’ compensation and general liability insurance.

Virginia

All handymen must have a Virginia contractor’s license to work on projects worth more than $1,000. The state has three classes of licenses in this category. The right class for you will depend on the value of the projects you will be working on.

Prior to getting your license, you’ll go through a pre-license education that’s approved by the board. For some license classes, you will also need to show proof of experience.

West Virginia

West Virginia does not have a handyman license specifically. However, for projects that are more than $2,500 and less than $10,000, you’ll need to obtain a contractor’s license from the WV Division of Labor.

In order to obtain your license, you will need to pass an exam and obtain workers’ compensation insurance.

Wisconsin

In Wisconsin, you’ll need a Wisconsin Dwelling Contractor Qualifier license to work as a handyman. This is the contractor’s license that’s issued to individuals.

In order to obtain your license, you’ll need to take a 12-hour course. Your license can be obtained from the Department of Safety and Professional Services.

States With No Handyman License Requirements

Colorado

Colorado puts all handymen under the same categorization as a general contractor. The state doesn’t have a license requirement for a general contractor, but you may need to meet local requirements, which you’ll need to check before conducting any work.

Connecticut

Connecticut has relaxed laws and doesn’t require a handyman to have a state license. However, if you’re a contractor and make permanent changes to a residence, you’ll need to contact the Department of Consumer Protection.

Delaware

Delaware doesn’t have a handyman license, but they do require that you have a business license to perform any handyman work. You’ll also need to register with the state if you work on projects of $50,000 or higher.

Idaho

Idaho does not require you to have a contractor’s license, but you do need to register with the Contractor’s Board if you claim to be a contractor.

Illinois

Illinois State doesn’t require you to have a license, but you may need to have a general contractors license, depending on certain jurisdictions, such as Chicago.

Indiana

Indiana doesn’t have a handyman license requirement. However, local requirements may differ.

Iowa

Iowa doesn’t require a state license to be a handyman. However, you must register with the Iowa Division of Labor as a contractor if you earn more than $2,000 per year as a handyman.

Kansas

Kansas doesn’t have a state-level license for a handyman, but you may need a license to work on the local level.

Kentucky

Kentucky also doesn’t have a handyman license requirement on the state-level. You’ll want to contact your local representatives to determine if you need a local license to work as a handyman.

Maine

Maine doesn’t have licensing requirements for handymen. However, you may need a local license to meet regulations.

Missouri

Missouri does not require handymen to be licensed. City regulations may differ, so check them before working.

Montana

Handymen are not required to be licensed in Montana, but if you have employees, you will need to be registered with the Department of Labor and Industry, Contractor Registration Unit.

Registration requires proof of workers’ compensation insurance.

Nebraska

Handymen in Nebraska do not need to be licensed by the state. However, they do need to be registered with the Nebraska Department of Labor.

New Hampshire

New Hampshire does not require handymen to be licensed.

New Jersey

Handymen in New Jersey do not have to be licensed, but they do have to be registered with the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs.

New York

New York does not require handymen to be licensed. Check local regulations, which may require licensing.

Ohio

Handymen in Ohio do not need to be licensed, but cities may have their own requirements.

Oklahoma

Oklahoma does not have any licensing requirements for handymen.

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania does not require handymen to be licensed. But if you plan to perform at least $5,000 of home improvement work each year, you will need to register with the state’s Attorney General Office.

Rhode Island

No license is required to work as a handyman in Rhode Island. However, you will need to register with the state’s Contractors’ Registration and Licensing Board if you want to perform remodeling, repair projects or alterations.

South Carolina

Handymen working as a Residential Specialty Contractor do not need to be licensed in South Carolina. However, you do need to register with the state’s Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation.

South Dakota

South Dakota does not have licensing requirements, but local regulations may differ.

Texas

Texas does not have any licensing requirements for handymen. However, cities may have special regulations. They may have licensing rules or permits for construction work and general contractors.

Vermont

Handymen in Vermont do not need to be licensed. However, there may be regulations at the local level that require licensing.

Washington

The state of Washington does not require handymen to obtain a general contractor’s license. But all handymen, which are considered specialty contractors, will need to register with the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries.

In order to register, you will need to buy a $6,000 bond and obtain general liability insurance.

Handymen are individuals who perform minor work on properties with a value of under $2,000.

Wyoming

On the state level, Wyoming does not require handymen to be licensed. However, local regulations can vary. Check the rules for the city in which you plan to operate.

If you’re a handyman, be sure to obtain your handyman license or general contractor’s license if the state you’re performing work in requires it. Also, be sure to double check with local authorities to ensure that you do not overlook a local-level license requirement.