Does a Handyman Need a License? Handyman License Requirements By State

The average handyman’s salary is around $20.49/hour or $42,000/year. But alicensed and experienced handyman can get up to $58,000/year or $28/hour.

The handyman industry is great for professionals who want to pursue the profession as their career. 

But does a handyman need a license?

Not all but a few high-paying handyman services demand a designated license, and the license requirements vary from state to state.

Also, if you want to rise ‌the ranks, a license can assist you in scaling your career growth and working on high-paying service requests.   

So, let’s understand the requirements 

Factors to Determine Whether You Need a License

Determining whether a handyman requires a license or not depends on the scale of the work and the area of business operations. 

Many states don’t have any criteria for handyman contractors, but multiple states have a specific limit on the project scope to trigger whether you should apply for a handyman license or not.

For example, in Arizona, if you are handling projects over $1,000, you require a professional license, but below that, you don’t need a professional handyman license. 

Once you are clear with the basic requirements and licensing laws and can fulfill the eligibility criteria set by the state’s governing body, you can acquire the required handyman license. 

How to Get a Handyman’s License?

A few handyman services require licenses you must acquire to operate as a professional handyman in a specific industry. 

Different states have different requirements for being eligible for a handyman license, but the common steps to complete the requirements are: 

• Show working experience.
• Pass a licensing examination.
• Provide proof of insurance.
• Register with the labor department.
• Operate at a set project scale and amount. 

Once you cover these basic requirements, you can avail a handyman license irrespective of the state you want to operate in.

You can work as an assistant with some handymen or apply for different entry-level jobs at a construction site that can help you gain experience.

You can also apply for vocational college, bachelor’s degree, or diploma courses that provide the required theoretical learnings and industry insights to pass the licensing exam.

Once you scale your handyman business operations, you can bypass the set limit of project amount or scale that can streamline ‌acquiring a dedicated handyman license. 

Handyman License Requirements by State

We have compiled the handyman license requirements based on different states in the country. Have a look.

Alabama

You don’t require a state license to work professionally as a handyman in Alabama. Being a handyman contractor, if you want to operate on a project valued over $50,000, you require a license that can be procured from the state’s governing authority.

Alaska

A handyman operating in Alaska must hold a license to perform work valued up to $10,000. You can contact the Alaska Division of Corporations Business and Professional Licensing to acquire your general contractor – handyman license.

You need to provide proof of property damage insurance and general liability to be eligible for getting the license from the authorities. 

Arizona

If you handle projects over $1,000, you must have an Arizona contractors license. Work that is worth less than $1,000 doesn’t require a handyman license. It’s also known as handyman exemption and is followed in different states.

The Registrar of Contractors issues the handyman licenses to professionals. You must provide proof of eligibility by passing a trade, law, and business exam and submitting proof of a bond. 

Arkansas

You must procure a home improvement license to operate professionally as a handyman and handle specialty work worth more than $2,000 in Arkansas. 

The license enables you to take on projects in different services like painting, roofing, and flooring installation. 

If you want to increase the scale of your service operations and handle more significant work, you should consider applying for the Arkansas residential remodeler license.

You don’t need an exam to get the handyman license, but you require proof of worker’s compensation insurance and your financial statement.

California

You don’t require a special handyman license in California for handling small jobs. But being a handyperson, if you are working on jobs more than $500, then you must have a general contractor’s license.

You’ll be exempt from the $500 limit if you work on a job request that doesn’t become a fixed part of the structure, like building furniture or hanging pictures.

The Contractors State License Board handles the approval for California general contractor license. You can apply for the license once you prove your eligibility with four years of work experience, a contractor’s bond of $15,000, and a certificate of insurance. 

To complete the license requirements, you must also pass the trade, business, and law exams. Contact the governing authorities to clarify the detailed handyman license requirements.

Colorado

Being a handyman in Colorado, you fall under the category of being a general contractor. The state doesn’t require a specific license requirement for general contractors, but you should check a few local requirements before starting your work professionally to escape all the troubles. 

Contact the state’s governing authority and streamline your work operations to deliver quality handyman service results.

Connecticut

Handymen don’t require a state license to work in Connecticut. But if you are a home improvement contractor that provides permanent changes to a residential property, you should register with the Department of Consumer Protection.

It can help you escape legal troubles and ensure that you can take on large-scale projects with ease.

Delaware

The state doesn’t require you to become a licensed contractor to operate as a handyman.

Being a general contractor, you require a business license to work on projects of more than $50,000.

The license can be acquired by registering with the state’s governing authorities and used for revenue purposes.

Florida

You don’t require a state license while working as a handyman handling miscellaneous non-structural work like minor carpentry, door repairs, paneling, window repair, and tile installation. 

But you require a Florida general contractor license if you provide handyman services or operate a handyman service in Florida structural handling work like building, home renovations, and roofing. 

The Department of Business and Professional Regulation governs the license issuing. You require four years of experience, workers’ compensation insurance in Florida, and liability insurance to fulfill the basic requirement for getting your professional license.

You also need to pass the exam organized by the department that checks your skills and expertise in the industry.

Georgia

The state licensing requirements for a handyman in Georgia, apply if you want to handle projects worth more than $2,500. You require a residential-basic contractor license by passing the trade and business and law exam.

The Georgia Board of Residential and General Contractors needs to provide a pre-approval that allows them to appear in the exam. You also need to have an experience of at least two years, workers’ compensation insurance in Georgia, and proof of general liability insurance.

Hawaii

You need to hold a handyman license in Hawaii if you want to work on jobs where the material and labor cost is more than $1,000 or requires a building permit.

Specialty contractor licenses and general building contractor licenses are issued by the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Professional and Vocational Licensing. 

The department also requires you to pass a trade, and a business and law exam, show proof of insurance, and have at least four years of experience in the last 10 years. 

Idaho

The state doesn’t require contractor licensing to operate as a professional handyman. But you must follow a simple registration process to comply with the local regulations set by the Idaho Contractors Board.

Illinois

Running your own handyman business or operating as a general contractor; you don’t require a state license to provide your services in Illinois. But many local jurisdictions, including Chicago, have the basic requirements for contractors, and handymen have a general contractor’s license.

Indiana

The state doesn’t require licensing requirements for general contractors or handymen in Indiana. But you need to pass a few regulation checks at the local level. Contact the local governing authority for the new local operating laws before starting your professional journey as a handyman in Indiana.

Iowa

The state doesn’t apply complex license requirement criteria for normal handyman professionals. But for handyman business startup guide in the state, you must consider a few registration processes.

Check with the Iowa Division of Labor to register as a contractor and start with the professional handyman business operations.

Kansas

You don’t require a professional state license to work in Kansas. But as a contractor, you must follow a few local-level regulations to bypass the legal complications during your handyman project management.

Check with the local governing authorities in Kansas before starting your work to complete the ‌required formalities.

Kentucky

Being a general contractor or handyman in Kentucky, you don’t require a professional license. Ensure you complete the local requirements with the local governing authority before you begin work to ensure you comply. 

Louisiana

The state handyman license requirements include passing a trade and a business and law exam, proof of insurance, and other basic documentation. A special handyman license is required if you handle home improvement or residential projects worth more than $7,500.

You also need home improvement registration with the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors for handling projects valued between $7,500 and $75,000.

Maine

You don’t require a contractor or handyman license to operate in the state. But there are some local-level regulations that you must adhere to. You can contact the local governing authorities, who can provide you with more clarity and ensure that you bypass future legal complications.

Maryland

You need a home improvement license to work as a handyman in Maryland. You can apply for the license with the Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation.

Based on the department’s information, the license will cover conversions, improvement, modernization, additions or alterations, remodeling, replacement, or repair of a residential building. 

You must provide two years of experience in the home improvement industry and a certificate of insurance. The department conducts an exam related to business and law that you need to pass to get your license. 

 Massachusetts

If you are into home repair jobs and property repairs, then you don’t require a state license in Massachusetts. But you need to get a home improvement contractor registration.

The governing authorities don’t conduct a dedicated exam for the registration process. You need to pay the required registration fees to complete the required process. 

But you need a Construction Supervisor License if you want to switch towards structural work like renovation or larger building projects to existing structures.

An unlicensed handyman cannot handle large-scale projects. Also, there are different licenses provided by the state’s governing body, depending on the project’s scope. 

You should apply for “restricted” licenses to work on one-to-two-family homes or “unrestricted” licenses to work on structures up to 35,000 cubic feet.

The governing departments demand a minimum experience of three years in the industry and passing results for the special exam to be eligible for a license.

Michigan

Being a handyman in Michigan, you need a professional Maintenance and Alteration Contractor License if you handle different jobs like carpentry, laying concrete, painting and tiling. But if you are focused on small-scale and minor repair jobs, there’s no requirement for you to buy a special license. 

The eligibility criteria for the license include 60 hours of educational courses and passing an exam conducted by the governing authorities to test your theoretical knowledge. 

Minnesota

You need a residential remodeler license if you operate on existing structures and make more than $15,000 per year. Also, the contractors who build new structures require a Residential Building License that helps them operate legally in the state.

The Department of Labor and Industry in Minnesota handles the license issuing and ensures that the licensed contractors comply with the basic requirements. 

But suppose you only provide handyman services in one specialty skill area like excavation, masonry, carpentry, exterior finishing, interior finishing, drywall, and plaster or general installation. In that case, you don’t require a special license. 

You need to show proof of worker’s compensation and liability insurance and pass the special exam to be eligible for the license.

Mississippi

You don’t require a handyman license in Mississippi until you want to handle residential job projects worth $10,000. You can apply for a Residential Remodeling license for large-scale handling projects that is issued by the State’s Contractor Licensing Board.

The governing authorities will conduct a residential trade and the business and law exam you must clear to avail of your special license. Show the proof of worker’s compensation and general liability insurance to the Mississippi Contractor Licensing Board to finalize the license procurement. 

Missouri

You don’t need a professional state-approved license to work as a handyman or general contractor to work in Missouri. But still, you can contact the local governing authorities to clarify the local handyman license requirements to ensure that you comply with the regulations.

Montana

Handyman or other contractors aren’t required to hold a license to operate in Montana. But if you have your own business and employees, you need to register with the Department of Labor and Industry.

You can show proof of your workers’ compensation insurance to the Contractor Registration Unit of the department. But if you don’t have employees, you are not required to register with the governing authorities. 

Without a license, you can handle different service tasks, including electrical, repair, or maintenance. 

Nebraska

You can operate as a professional handyman in Nebraska without a license. But you must register with the Nebraska Department of Labor. 

The requirement is not specific to handyman contractors but applies to all subcontractors, general contractors, or people who perform alterations, construction, additions, installations, renovations, or repairs.

Nevada

As a handyman, you need a contractor’s license to work on projects worth more than $1,000 or require a building license.

The state applies handyman exemption for work less than $1,000. The Nevada Contractors Board handles the issuing of the licenses and has set minimum eligibility criteria to avail of the license. 

You must provide four years of work experience as a foreman, supervising employee, journeyman, or contractor. The department can substitute up to three years of experience if you have acquired education from an approved college. 

You also need to pass a trade, business, and law exam and provide proof of insurance that can fulfill the basic requirements for a handyman license. 

New Hampshire

You don’t require a professional state license to operate in New Hampshire. You only require licenses if you perform electrical, plumbing, or asbestos abatement work. 

The state governing authority has lenient laws that can provide you the freedom to operate as a handyman contractor and deliver a quality customer experience to your customers. 

New Jersey

Being a home improvement contractor or a handyman, you don’t require a professional license to work in New Jersey. But remember, you must register with the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs to avoid future legal issues from the governing authorities. 

New Mexico

Being a general contractor or a handyman, you need a professional state license to work.

The type of niche you want to operate in defines your category to acquire the license. 

For example, you can be classified as a GB-98 general building contractor or a GB-2 residential contractor. 

Both classifications have different eligibility criteria for residential classification. You need to provide two years of experience for the general building classification and four years of experience. Also, passing trade and business and law exams are common for both classifications. 

New York

The state doesn’t have licensing requirements for a handyman or general contractor. But there are a few local regulations and laws that you must check before starting your service operations in the state. 

You can contact the license requirements with the local government to ensure you have the fundamentals covered. 

Texas

There is no state handyman license requirement for handymen in Texas. You must check the local regulations to become a licensed handyman. 

If you run a small business, you need to register your handyman service business with the local county clerk’s office to avoid legal hiccups. 

Different major Texas cities have licensing rules and special permits for general contractors that you can check and abide by based on your work niche. 

These are the leading states with individual handyman licensing requirements. Based on your area of operations, you can fulfill the basic requirements and initiate the handyman license procurement process. 

Once done, you can deliver quality handyman service to your clients to increase your profits and revenue. 

But you also need a professional account management system to maintain a positive cash flow and deliver a professional experience to your clients or leads with your business invoices and estimates. 

Conclusion

InvoiceOwl is the leading contractor estimating and invoicing software that can help you manage your handyman service business finances and ensure that you stand out.

Your account payable team can automate ‌managing your accounting documents and ensure that you strengthen your financial ecosystem.

The handyman billing software can help you streamline your accounting and provide you with centralized control of your operations.

So, what’s making you wait? Try InvoiceOwl today and explore a range of exclusive features.