The Georgia General Assembly created the State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors in 2004 to regulate individuals engaged in construction contracting. Applicants for licensure must pass a two-part examination covering the license they are attempting to obtain, and business and law. The Board has the authority to adopt rules, set standards for licensure, adopt mandatory standards of professional conduct, and investigate and discipline unauthorized, negligent or incompetent practice.

The Board is comprised 15 members representing the industry and consumers.  Eight serve on the Residential Division and seven on the General Division.

Board meetings are open to the public and are generally held at the Office of Secretary of State, Professional Licensing Boards Division office located at 237 Coliseum Drive, Macon, Georgia. Meeting dates, time and location are posted on this website. Persons wishing to submit complaints or other matters for Board consideration should submit the matter in writing to the office.

Secretary of State Handel Reminds Georgians about Contractor Licensing Law, Warns Consumers about Potential Contractor Scams Following Recent Floods

Pursuant to Georgia law, the following types of contractors must obtain a license from the State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors by July 1, 2008:

• Residential-Basic Contractor (Contractor work relative to detached one-family and two-family residences and one-family townhouses not over three stories in height).
• Residential-Light Commercial Contractor (Contractor work or activity related to multifamily and multiuse light commercial buildings and structures).
• General Contractor (Contractor work or activity that is unlimited in scope regarding any residential or commercial projects).

After July 2, 2007, all applicants for licensure must pass a two part examination: A practical section related to the license they are trying to obtain and a business and law section. To download an application and to see further instructions and information on the examination, please click  Examination Information for details. Examinations are offered Mondays through Fridays in Atlanta, Macon, and Tifton.

Please review the Board Rules and our Frequently Asked Questions for help in completing the applications. Please note, we cannot decide for you which license type for which you must apply. You must determine this by reading the definitions found in Georgia Law or by comparing the various license types and applying the definitions to your scope of work. If you still have unanswered questions, please call 478-207-2440.

Currently, the Board does not reciprocate with any state.