How to Verify a Georgia Contractor's License Before You Hire

Any Georgia contractor who performs residential construction or remodeling work worth more than $2,500 must hold a valid state license from the Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and Commercial General Contractors. You can verify any contractor for free at verify.sos.ga.gov/verification/. Search by the contractor’s name or license number, select the correct license type, and confirm the status reads “Active.” If the status is anything other than Active, the contractor is not authorized to work on your home.

What Georgia requires

Under O.C.G.A. § 43-41-2, any person or company performing residential contracting work valued at more than $2,500 must hold a valid state license. The threshold applies to the combined value of labor and materials, not just the contractor’s fee. That covers almost every kitchen remodel, bathroom renovation, or addition a homeowner would consider.

Four license classifications exist for residential and general contractors in Georgia:

• Residential Basic (RB): Covers work on detached one-family and two-family homes and townhouses up to three stories tall. Minimum general liability insurance: $300,000 per occurrence.
• Residential Light Commercial (RLC): Covers everything an RB license allows, plus multifamily buildings and light commercial structures up to four stories and under 25,000 square feet. Minimum liability insurance: $500,000 per occurrence.
• General Contractor Limited Tier: For commercial or mixed-use projects up to $1 million in value.
• General Contractor: Unlimited project scope.

For a kitchen or bathroom remodel in a single-family home, the contractor should hold at least an RB license. Confirm the license type in the lookup result matches the work being proposed.

What the license does NOT cover

A Georgia residential contractor license covers general construction management. It does not authorize the contractor to perform electrical, plumbing, HVAC, or gas work. Those trades are licensed separately by other boards under the Secretary of State. Ask for the names of the licensed subcontractors who will handle electrical and plumbing, and verify those licenses separately at the same portal.

A local business license or county occupational tax certificate is not a state contractor license. Many homeowners confuse the two. A business license shows that the contractor has registered with a county or city. It says nothing about the state’s determination that the contractor has the qualifications and insurance to perform residential work safely.

How to do the lookup: step by step

1. Go to verify.sos.ga.gov/verification/
2. Under “Select a board,” choose State Licensing Board for Residential and Commercial General Contractors
3. Search by the contractor’s business name or their license number
4. Review the result for:
   • Status: Active
   • The correct license classification (RB, RLC, or GC) for the work being proposed
   • An expiration date that extends beyond your expected project completion date
   • Any disciplinary actions listed on the record

If a business name search returns no result, try a partial name or search by the license number if the contractor has provided one. A licensed contractor will have their number available before you sign anything.

What the contract should include

Georgia does not have a single statewide home improvement contract statute the way some states do, but best practices under O.C.G.A. § 43-41 apply. Before signing any agreement for remodeling work, confirm the contract includes:

• The contractor’s full legal name, business address, and state license number
• A written description of the work and the principal materials to be used
• Total project price and a payment schedule
• Start date and estimated completion date
• Proof of general liability insurance coverage

Do not proceed based on a verbal agreement alone. Any project over $2,500 should be fully documented in writing before work starts.

Red flags worth pausing on

These patterns come up repeatedly in contractor disputes across Fulton, Gwinnett, Cobb, and DeKalb counties:

• No license number on the estimate, contract, or business website
• Status on verify.sos.ga.gov shows Expired, Suspended, or returns no result
• A contractor who offers a local business license as a substitute for a state contractor license
• Pressure to skip permits (“the county won’t bother us on a small job”)
• Request for more than one-third of the total price as a deposit before work begins
• No written contract for work clearly above $2,500
• Request to pay entirely in cash with no documentation

A contractor who resists basic transparency on licensing, permits, and a written contract is showing you something important. Take it seriously.

What a payment schedule should look like

A reasonable payment schedule for a Georgia remodeling project looks like this: a deposit of no more than one-third of the total price before work starts, additional draws tied to completed milestones, and the final payment held until the work is done and inspections have passed. A contractor who insists on payment in full before starting, or who has no clear milestone structure, is a risk.

What you lose without a licensed contractor

Using an unlicensed contractor for work over the $2,500 threshold limits your legal options if things go wrong. Contracts with unlicensed contractors can be harder to enforce. The contractor may not carry adequate insurance, which means injuries on your property could create liability for you. Insurance claims for damage related to unpermitted or unqualified work may be denied. Under O.C.G.A. § 43-41-20, performing unlicensed contracting work is a misdemeanor, and the state can pursue civil penalties against the contractor. That is useful to know after a dispute, but it does not fix poor workmanship or a missing deposit.

The lookup at verify.sos.ga.gov takes 60 seconds. Run it before you hand over any money.

FAQ

What if the contractor has great reviews but I cannot find a license?

A strong portfolio does not substitute for a valid state license on work above $2,500. Ask the contractor directly for their license number and look it up. A legitimate contractor will provide it immediately. One who hesitates or deflects is worth pausing on.

Do specialty trades need separate licenses?

Yes. Electricians, plumbers, HVAC contractors, and gas fitters are licensed by separate boards under the Georgia Secretary of State. A residential contractor license does not cover these trades. You can verify all trade licenses at the same verify.sos.ga.gov portal under the relevant board.

Is a local business license the same as a state contractor license?

No. A business license or occupational tax certificate shows the contractor has registered with a county or city. It is not a state license and does not confirm any qualifications or insurance requirement. Always check verify.sos.ga.gov for the state license separately.

How does Renovexus verify Georgia contractors?

In Georgia, Renovexus adds the license badge after the business provides its state license number and the record at verify.sos.ga.gov shows an Active status and a current expiration date.

This guide is for general information only and is not legal advice. License requirements can change. Confirm requirements with the Georgia Secretary of State’s Licensing Board before starting any work.

Find a verified Georgia contractor on Renovexus.

Sources

1. Georgia Secretary of State: State Licensing Board for Residential and Commercial General Contractors sos.ga.gov
2. Georgia Secretary of State License Verification Portal verify.sos.ga.gov
3. Georgia Consumer Education: How to Verify a Contractor is Licensed and Insured consumered.georgia.gov
4. O.C.G.A. § 43-41: Georgia Residential and General Contractor Licensing Act adaptdigitalsolutions.com
5. How to Check a Contractor's License in Georgia: CheckLicensed checklicensed.com