STATE LICENSE
RequiredState Licensing Board for Residential and…
Georgia licenses general contracting in four classes through the State Licensing Board for Residential and Commercial General Contractors (renamed by SB 503 in 2024 — the old 'General Contractor' license is now 'Commercial General Contractor'). The $2,500 threshold everyone quotes is real but residential-only: it sits inside the residential-contractor definition, and the commercial definition has no dollar floor.
Licensure is more than an exam: each class carries a minimum net worth ($25,000, or $150,000 for unlimited Commercial) and general liability insurance as conditions of the license itself. Contracts signed by unlicensed contractors are unenforceable in Georgia courts, with no lien or bond rights.
The state sets the license floor; the county or city permit office controls filing, inspections, and local rules wherever the job site sits.
The license is valid statewide, and under O.C.G.A. § 43-41-17(c) cities and counties may not impose an additional license on state-licensed contractors. Permits are pulled locally under the licensee or qualifying agent; local occupation tax registration still applies.
The local offices section below names the exact permit desk for every Georgia county on file.
Each row names the issuing authority, cost, timeline, citation, and status behind the requirement — verified against the official source.
Published fees from the issuing authorities, as of September 2026. Local permit fees vary by project and jurisdiction — the basis is stated where a flat number does not exist.
The $2,500 floor lives in the residential-contractor definition. Commercial general contracting has no dollar floor at all.
SB 503 renamed 'General Contractor' to 'Commercial General Contractor' and renamed the board. Old guides use the old names.
Residential Basic: 3 hrs/yr. Residential-Light Commercial: 6 hrs/yr. Commercial GCs: none. All CE logged in CE Broker from Jan 1, 2026.
A practical sequence for a new general contracting contractor in Georgia. Actual agency processing times are noted in the ledger above.
Each item names the issuing authority, cycle, and citation.
Statutory consequences with their citations — not estimates, not “commonly cited” guesses.
Contracts entered by unlicensed contractors for licensed work are unenforceable in law or in equity — no lien or bond rights.
Unlicensed contracting is a misdemeanor, per offense.
Intentionally manipulating work values to stay under the licensing thresholds is separately criminal.
Inside city limits, the city office listed here issues the permit; the county office serves unincorporated areas. Every office links to its official page.
Every fact in this file was checked against these official sources on September 2026.
Pending verification: PSI exam vendor fee (paid to PSI; not published on sos.ga.gov) · Fee schedule PDF is marked Revised 06/22 — the currently linked schedule, but a newer table may exist in GOALS
General information, not legal advice. Always confirm requirements, deadlines, and forms with the issuing authority before filing or contracting.
Store licenses, permits, policies, and renewal dates in one place.