Handyman license requirements in South Carolina
Short answer: South Carolina requires a Residential Specialty Contractor registration for home repair jobs over $500, and a Residential Builder license over $5,000. Electrical, plumbing and HVAC need their own credentials.
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.
Residential Builders Commission
The South Carolina Residential Builders Commission handles home repair work. Jobs over $500 (labor and materials together) need a Residential Specialty Contractor registration for the kind of work you do. Jobs over $5,000 need a Residential Builder license. Don't split one job into smaller contracts to stay under a limit.
Trade work
Electrical, plumbing and HVAC work need separate credentials, and some cities and counties add business licenses on top.
Official sources
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Questions
Do you need a license to be a handyman in South Carolina?
For jobs over $500 you need a Residential Specialty Contractor registration, and over $5,000 a Residential Builder license.
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