Handyman license requirements in Pennsylvania
Short answer: Pennsylvania has no handyman license, but if you do $5,000 or more of home improvement work a year you must register with the state Attorney General. Registration is $100 every two years.
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.
Home Improvement Contractor registration
Under Pennsylvania's Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act, contractors who do at least $5,000 of home improvement work a year must register with the Office of Attorney General. The fee is $100 for two years. Registered contractors must carry liability insurance, and the Act also sets rules for what your written contracts have to include.
The $5,000 counts your total for the year, not one job, so almost any full-time handyman needs to register.
Philadelphia and other cities
Philadelphia requires its own contractor license on top of state registration, and some other cities and townships have local licenses or registrations. Electrical and plumbing aren't licensed statewide in Pennsylvania, but many municipalities license them.
Official sources
Questions
Do you need a license to be a handyman in Pennsylvania?
There's no handyman license, but if you do $5,000 or more of home improvement work a year you must register with the Pennsylvania Attorney General.
How much does Pennsylvania home improvement contractor registration cost?
$100 for two years, according to the Attorney General's office.
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.