Do you need a general contractor license in Pennsylvania?

Licensing office Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Bureau of Consumer Protection (home improvement contractor registration) · 1-888-520-6680 [2][3]

The license pathway in Pennsylvania

1. 1

   Crew member, helper or apprentice

   No state license is needed to work on a construction crew. Carpentry apprenticeships train you over 4,000 to 8,000 hours of paid on-the-job training. [1][9]

2. 2

   Home Improvement Contractor registration (state)

   • $100 (online card payments add $2)
   • Every two years; $100

   Required for anyone who owns or runs a home improvement business, or offers or performs home improvements, once that work reaches $5,000 a year. You need liability insurance, and your PA registration number must appear on ads, contracts, estimates and proposals. It isn't a skills test. [2][3][6]

3. 3

   Contractor License (Philadelphia)

   • Supervisors: an approved OSHA 30 course taken within five years
   • $126 ($20 application fee applied toward it)
   • Yearly; $126

   Required for businesses doing construction, demolition or repair in Philadelphia that doesn't need a specialized license. Businesses working only on existing one- or two-family homes can instead file their state HIC registration with the city. [4][8]

4. 4

   General Contractor License (Pittsburgh)

   • See the PLI (Department of Permits, Licenses, and Inspections) fee schedule
   • Every 365 days

   Required for commercial building work, new one- or two-family homes, renovations of rental or investment homes, and demolition of commercial or residential primary structures in Pittsburgh. You need $1,000,000/$2,000,000 liability insurance, workers' comp, a city tax compliance letter and EPA lead-safe (RRP) certification. [5]

No state license, but state registration

The Department of Labor and Industry says Pennsylvania "currently has no licensure or certification requirements for most construction contractors (or their employees)." What the state does have is home improvement contractor (HIC) registration under the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act, which took effect July 1, 2009.

The law covers repair, remodeling, roofing, siding, porches, flooring, windows, driveways, pools, solar systems, and installing central heating and air conditioning at private residences (single-family homes, two-unit buildings, and condos or other single units). New home construction isn't covered, and neither is commercial work. You must register if you do $5,000 or more of home improvements a year. Subcontractors and out-of-state contractors must register too. [1][3]

How HIC registration works

• Fee: the Attorney General says a change in the Fiscal Code (72 P.S. § 1603-U) raised the fee to $100 every two years, for new and renewal applications. The printed statute still says $50, and one answer in the Attorney General's FAQ (frequently asked questions) also still says $50; the current fee is $100.
• Insurance: at least $50,000 personal injury and $50,000 property damage liability coverage.
• Background: the application asks about prior businesses, bankruptcies, and criminal pleas or convictions. The new online system, running since April 24, 2026, adds automated criminal docket checks.
• Your number: you get a PA number that must appear on ads, contracts, estimates and proposals. Home improvement contracts over $500 must be in writing.
• Changes: update your information within 30 days of any change, at no cost.

Register online at the Attorney General's HIC system or by mail. Unregistered contractors face civil penalties of $1,000 or more. Help line: 1-888-520-6680. [2][3][6][7]

Philadelphia Contractor License

Philadelphia requires a Contractor License for any business doing construction, demolition or repair that doesn't need a specialized license (such as electrical, plumbing, fire suppression or complete demolition). You don't need it if your business only works on existing one- or two-family homes and does no special trade work; instead you file your state HIC registration with the city to get permits.

Requirements: $500,000 general liability and $300,000 auto liability insurance; named supervisors, each with an approved OSHA 30 course taken within five years; current city taxes. The license costs $126 a year. Apply through eCLIPSE. Questions: call 311 in the city or (215) 686-8686. [4][8]

Pittsburgh General Contractor License

Pittsburgh's Department of Permits, Licenses, and Inspections (PLI) requires a General Contractor License for all work under a commercial Building Development Application, new one- or two-family homes, renovations or additions to one- or two-family rental or investment homes, and demolition of commercial or residential primary structures.

You need photo ID, general liability insurance of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate naming the city, workers' comp (or a notarized no-employee statement), a city tax compliance letter, and EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) certification. Licenses expire 365 days after issue; a late fee starts on day 31 and the license lapses on day 61. Fees follow PLI's yearly fee schedule. [5]

Other towns

Because HICPA registration "shall preclude any requirement of payment of a fee or registration or licensing of any home improvement contractor by any political subdivision," other towns can't make you get a separate home improvement license. They can still require building permits and enforce the building code, and local trade licenses for electricians and plumbers that existed when the law started stay in place. [3][7]

If you're from another state

HICPA applies to out-of-state contractors: anyone doing home improvements in Pennsylvania must register. There's no state license, so there's no reciprocity; you register like anyone else. See the license reciprocity guide. [1][3]

Steps to get licensed in Pennsylvania

1. Learn the work

   Get hired on a crew or join a carpentry apprenticeship. See our carpenter apprenticeship guide. [9][10]

2. Get liability insurance

   HIC registration needs at least $50,000 of personal injury and $50,000 of property damage coverage. Philadelphia and Pittsburgh licenses need more. [4][5][6]

3. Register as a home improvement contractor

   Once your home improvement work reaches $5,000 a year, register online through the Attorney General's HIC system ($100 every two years). You'll get a PA number to put on ads, contracts and estimates. [2][3][6]

4. Add city licenses where you work

   In Philadelphia, apply for a Contractor License through eCLIPSE (or file your HIC registration for one- and two-family homes). In Pittsburgh, apply for a General Contractor License through OneStopPGH. [4][5][8]

5. Hire licensed trades

   Electrical and plumbing work need their own local licenses, such as Philadelphia's Electrical Contractor and Master Plumber licenses. See the Pennsylvania electrician and plumber pages. [4]

Where to get the hours

Programs that train general contractors in or for Pennsylvania, from their own official pages. Listed by type, not ranked.

• Union

  Eastern Atlantic States Carpenters Technical Centers (UBC)

  The carpenters' union training centers in Pittsburgh, Duncansville, Lebanon, Philadelphia and Allentown. Start with an information session; then an application, interview and math/skills test. [9][11][12]

• Open shop

  ABC Keystone carpentry and construction apprenticeships

  ABC Keystone runs 11 Pennsylvania-registered apprenticeships, including carpentry, masonry, roofing and construction craft laborer. Online application, $125 fee, math entrance exam. [10][13]

• State program

  Pennsylvania Apprenticeship and Training Office (ATO)

  The state agency that registers apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs. Its listings are on PA CareerLink. [14]

Licensed in another state?

Questions people ask