What Type of Work Can a Handyman Do Legally?

When most people think of handymen, they think of someone who takes care of small tasks around the house. It could be hanging curtains, cleaning out the gutters or fixing a home appliance. But where do you draw the line between a handyman and a general contractor?

If you’re considering offering handyman services, you may be wondering what you can do legally. Let’s take a closer look at what services you may be able to offer and the difference between a handyman and a general contractor.

What Can Handymen Do Legally?

What a handyman can and can’t do legally will largely depend on state and local laws. It will also depend on what services you plan to offer.

Some states will require handymen to be licensed before performing any work. Others only require licensing if you’re working on projects that are of a certain monetary value. Sometimes, you may need a license to perform certain types of work.

Even if the state itself does not have any laws requiring licensing, the city may. For example, Illinois does not require handymen to be licensed, but Chicago does. If you want to work as a handyman in the Windy City, you must have a general contractor license.

In general, however, handymen can typically perform small repairs that aren’t dangerous, can be completed by a single person and are generally inexpensive. Cleaning gutters or hanging shelves are two examples of jobs that handymen can generally perform legally. More complicated and expensive jobs will likely require you to be licensed as a general contractor.

How to Determine if You’re Operating Legally as a Handyman

• Check with your state’s contractor’s board. Their website may have information about licensing and laws that govern handyman work.
• Ask an established handyman.
• Check your local advertising laws. Some states do not allow handymen to advertise their services.

Another important note: Don’t advertise yourself as a general contractor unless you are licensed as one. If you can advertise, it’s best to err on the side of caution and state that you are not a general contractor.

These are just a few things to consider when working as a handyman. Contact your local or state government to find out more about the requirements.

Insurance and Other Considerations

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It’s important to consult with your state and city laws to determine whether you need a license to work as a handyman. But even if you don’t need to be licensed, there may be other requirements, such as:

• Registration. Some states may not require licensing, but they will require you to register with a local office.
• Insurance. Many states require handymen to have insurance, including general liability and workers’ compensation.

You may be limited to the type of work that you can perform without a license, too. If a customer asks you to perform certain tasks that are outside the scope of what a handyman can legally offer, you must turn down that work even if you know how to do the job.

Handyman vs. General Contractor: What’s the Difference?

While their work is similar in nature, there’s a major difference between a handyman and a general contractor.

The primary difference between a handyman and a general contractor is the scope of work that can be performed.

• General contractors are licensed and must pass exams that test their knowledge of skills and local codes.
• Handymen may not need to be licensed and generally only work on small projects.

General contractors typically oversee big projects. In most cases, they don’t perform the work themselves, but rather, hire and manage crews. Handymen, on the other hand, perform simple tasks and complete the work themselves.

A homeowner would hire a handyman to fix a clog in a sink, but if they wanted to replace that sink or remodel their bathroom, they would hire a general contractor.

Obtaining a general contractor license will allow you to take on a variety of different jobs, but if you’d rather not go through the hassle of obtaining a license, you’ll likely need to limit the scope and cost of your work in order to work legally as a handyman.

The Bottom Line

The work handymen can perform will depend entirely on local and state laws. Some states have very few restrictions, while others have strict licensing requirements for any handyman work.

Check your local and state websites to learn more about the rules and requirements for handymen. You may be required to register with a government agency but not necessarily be licensed. Registration may have fees, insurance requirements and other requirements.