By Oussama Chicha, EditorUpdated Checked against primary sources · not yet reviewed by a licensed professionalFact-checked
Quick answer
Georgia issues a Residential or Commercial General Contractor license through the State Licensing Board for Residential and Commercial General Contractors, part of the Georgia Secretary of State. Licensure comes from completing the application and passing the required examinations. Each category carries its own minimum net worth and general liability coverage, and renewal is due by June 30 of even-numbered years.
Georgia · Contractor licenseVerified 2026-10-04
State license
Residential or Commercial General Contractor license (residential and commercial)
The Georgia Secretary of State's FAQ says that performing, or offering to perform, residential or commercial general contractor services for compensation in Georgia calls for a license under the laws and rules for the profession, and that licenses are not required for work that qualifies as a specialty trade.
Licensure comes from completing the application and passing the required examinations; once approved by the Board, an applicant is allowed 3 exam sittings within a one-year period
Residential or Commercial General Contractor license (residential and commercial). The Georgia Secretary of State's FAQ says that performing, or offering to perform, residential or commercial general contractor services for compensation in Georgia calls for a license under the laws and rules for the profession, and that licenses are not required for work that qualifies as a specialty trade.
Yes. To perform (or offer to perform) residential or commercial general contractor services for compensation in Georgia, you must be licensed in accordance with the laws and rules that regulate this profession.
Residential Contractors must complete Continuing Education (3 hours per year for Residential Basic and 6 hours per year for Residential Light Commercial).
Licensure in Georgia as a Residential or Commercial General Contractor can be obtained by completing the necessary application and passing the required examinations.
The minimum net worth requirements for each category are as follows: Residential Basic - $25k Residential Light Commercial - $25k Commercial General Contractor - $150k Commercial General Contractor Limited Tier - $25k
Insurance is a condition of applying for and maintaining licensure. General Liability requirements for each category are as follows: Residential Basic - $300k per occurrence Residential Light Commercial - $500k per occurrence Commercial General Contractor - $500k per occurrence Commercial General Contractor Limited Tier - $500k per occurrence
Term and renewal. License renewal is conducted online and must be completed by June 30 of even-numbered years.
Continuing education. Residential Contractors complete continuing education: 3 hours per year for Residential Basic and 6 hours per year for Residential Light Commercial. Commercial General Contractors are not required to complete continuing education.
License renewal is conducted online and must be completed by June 30th of even-numbered years.
Georgia's credential is the Residential or Commercial General Contractor license, issued by the State Licensing Board for Residential and Commercial General Contractors within the Georgia Secretary of State. The Secretary of State's FAQ ties the license to performing, or offering to perform, residential or commercial general contractor services for compensation in Georgia [1]. The same FAQ draws a line around specialty trade work, stating that these licenses are not required for work that qualifies as a specialty trade [1].
Four categories, two tracks
The board's categories split into a residential track and a commercial track. Residential Basic and Residential Light Commercial are the residential contractor categories [1][2]. On the commercial side, a Commercial General Contractor may perform the same work as a Residential Contractor [1]. The fourth category, Commercial General Contractor Limited Tier, stands apart as the only one carrying a $1 Million per project limitation [1].
What an applicant brings to the board
Getting licensed rests on two steps: completing the application and passing the required examinations [1]. Once the board approves an applicant, 3 exam sittings are allowed within a one-year period [1].
Money and coverage are set category by category. The minimum net worth is $150k for a Commercial General Contractor and $25k for each of the other three categories [1]. General liability coverage follows a different split: $300k per occurrence for Residential Basic, and $500k per occurrence for Residential Light Commercial, Commercial General Contractor and Commercial General Contractor Limited Tier [1]. The FAQ treats insurance as a condition both of applying and of keeping the license afterward [1].
Workers' compensation works on a headcount rule rather than by category. Georgia requires it only for an employer with 3 or more employees [1].
Renewal and continuing education
Renewal is handled online, and the deadline is June 30 of even-numbered years [2].
Continuing education is where the two tracks diverge most. Residential Contractors complete 3 hours per year for Residential Basic and 6 hours per year for Residential Light Commercial [1]. Commercial General Contractors carry no continuing education requirement [1].
