Do you need a general contractor license in Georgia?
Yes, a license. In Georgia, contracting for residential work (one- and two-family homes, townhouses and light commercial buildings) worth more than $2,500, or doing commercial general contracting, requires a state residential contractor or commercial general contractor license. A residential contractor license is issued as residential-basic (detached one- and two-family homes and townhouses up to three stories) or residential-light commercial. A contract for licensed work made by an unlicensed contractor is unenforceable by that contractor, and no lien or bond claim exists in its favor. A person may do repair work for an owner without a license if the person discloses that it is unlicensed and the work does not affect the structural integrity of the property, and an owner may build a structure for the sole use of the owner’s family or firm that is not offered for sale or lease. Cities and counties can add their own licensing on top of the state’s. This is O.C.G.A. §§ 43-41-2, 43-41-17.
| What | Georgia |
|---|---|
| General contractors | Residential or commercial general contractor license |
Source
Read the statute in the Official Code of Georgia (Georgia General Assembly): legis.ga.gov.
The linked sections open Justia’s free copy of the code, because the state’s own site has no stable address for each section.
Checked against the statute on November 13, 2026.
This is a summary of a published statute, not legal advice. Rules change, local ordinances can add to them, and the terms of a specific lease may differ. Check the citation and speak to a lawyer before acting.
How Seayora uses this rule
A contractor on Seayora keeps each license with its issuing state, its expiry date and the last four digits of its number, and the business is warned before one lapses — on the website and both phone apps. A customer finding a pro on Seayora sees whether a license is on file.
Guides on this rule
- Contractor License Requirements by State: Every Trade — Which states require a state license for electricians, plumbers, HVAC, general and home improvement contractors, with the statute for each.
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