Handyman license requirements in Georgia
Short answer: Georgia has no handyman license, but you need a residential or general contractor license for jobs over $2,500 in labor and materials. Electrical, plumbing, HVAC and low-voltage work need state licenses at any size.
General information, not legal advice. Checked October 13, 2026 against the sources below. Rules change, so confirm with the agency before you take a job.
The $2,500 rule
Georgia's State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors requires a license for contracting work over $2,500 in labor, materials or both. Under that, general repair work doesn't need a contractor license. Splitting a job into smaller contracts doesn't get around it.
Trade work
Electrical, plumbing, conditioned air (HVAC) and low-voltage work are licensed by their own state boards, and those licenses apply regardless of the job's size.
Local rules
Many Georgia cities and counties also require a business license. Check with each one you work in.
Official sources
- Georgia Secretary of State: Residential and General Contractors board
- City of Fayetteville, GA: contractor licensing ($2,500 threshold)
Questions
Do you need a license to be a handyman in Georgia?
Not for jobs of $2,500 or less in labor and materials. Above that you need a residential or general contractor license, and electrical, plumbing and HVAC work always need a state license.
More guides
- Do you need a license to be a handyman? Rules by stateDollar limits, trade work and local rules, state by state.
- How to start a handyman business: a checklistLicensing, insurance, pricing and your first customers.
- How to price handyman jobs: hourly, flat rate, or bothHourly, flat rate or both, and how to set each one.
- How to write a handyman estimate that gets a yesWhat to include, what to leave out, and when to follow up.