The Basics of General Contractor License in Georgia

March, 2018

Why does Georgia general contractor to be licensed?

In the State of Georgia, any project that exceeds the amount of $2,500.00 requires the general contractor to be a licensed contractor.  Thus, whenever a building is built or an existing structure is remodeled, owners and property developers need to hire a prime contractor who holds a Georgia State License.

Four Basic Types of Georgia Contractor Licenses:

There are four basic types of licenses in the State of Georgia, and Georgia law prohibits anyone to engage in residential or general contracting without a valid license. The four categories:

  • Residential-Basic Contractor – Preforms work on family homes, with the limit of maximum a two-family residence and/or a townhouse.
  • Residential-Light Commercial Contractor – Preforms work on family homes, bigger than the Residential-Basic Contractor but is limited to multifamily or multi residential properties.
  • General Contractor – There are no work or activity limitations on developing/remodeling residential or commercial properties, or other construction projects for the General Contractor.
  • Limited Tier General Contractor – Is very similar to General Contractor but with one limitation, this license is limited to a contract amount of $500,000 or less.

Seven Steps to Become a Georgia Licensed General Contractor:

Step One:

Prior to becoming a licensed general contractor, there certain, minimum standards which each candidate must meet.  These requirements include the following:

  • Minimum age requirement is 21-years old.
  • Good character and Financially responsible; this will be controlled by a background check and proof of financial letter referenced by a CPA.*
  • Meet at least one of the following:
    • A 4-year degree from an accredited university in Architecture, Building Construction, Construction Management, or any other related field.**
    • A combination of college courses and practical experience, adding up to a minimum of 4-years.**
    • A minimum of 4-years’ experience in the field, which at least 2 of the years should have been with a general contractor.

Step Two:

As mentioned above, Georgia recognizes four different categories for licensure which include the following:

  • Residential-Basic Contractor – Preforms work on family homes, with the limit of maximum a two-family residence and/or a townhouse.
  • Residential-Light Commercial Contractor – Preforms work on family homes, bigger than the Residential-Basic Contractor but is limited to multifamily or multi residential properties.
  • General Contractor – There are no work or activity limitations on developing/remodeling residential or commercial properties, or other construction projects for the General Contractor.
  • Limited Tier General Contractor – Is very similar to General Contractor but with one limitation, this license is limited to a contract amount of $500,000 or less.

Step Three:

Prepare the application form, it can either be filled out online at or printed and filled out by hand.  In order to access the current forms to apply to be a Georgia general contractor, please select from the links below:

PDF Forms – https://sos.ga.gov/cgi-bin/plbforms.asp?board=49

Online Application – https://secure.sos.state.ga.us/mylicense/Login.aspx?process=app

Step Four:

There is a $200.00 fee that must be paid when submitting the application to become a Georgia licensed general contractor; unfortunately, this fee is , that is not refundable if the license is not granted or if you change your mind. 

Step Five:

 As an applicant for a license, you are required to submit proof of workers compensation and liability insurance, with the following amounts:

  • Residential-Basic Contractor – $300,000
  • Residential-Light Commercial Contractor – $500,000
  • General Contractor – $500,000
  • Limited Tier General Contractor – $500,000

In addition, applicants will need to obtain a $25,000 Georgia Residential and General Contractors Bond*

Step Six:

 When all documents have been filled out, and reviewed by yourself or by a  Georgia construction lawyer, to make sure every step is completed and all the documents are included. It is time to submit it all to the Licensing Board.

Step Seven:

 If everything is in place, you, the applicant, will receive a written notification of the approval of the application. Even thus the application has been approved, you will need to pass the examination before receiving the license.The notification will include information about how to proceed and to take the examination. It is required to pass the examination to be able to receive the license and to start operating in the State of Georgia.

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