How to Check a Contractor's License in Georgia

Georgia is one of the states that actually requires statewide licensing for contractors. The Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors oversees this, and the Georgia Secretary of State's office maintains a searchable online database. The system works, but it has some quirks — license tiers based on project value, separate licensing for specialty trades, and local requirements that stack on top of the state license.

This guide covers exactly how to verify a contractor's license in Georgia, what the different license types mean, and what to do if you can't find someone in the system.

Does Georgia require a contractor license?

Yes. Georgia requires a state license for any residential or general contractor working on projects above $2,500 in combined labor and materials. The Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors, under the Secretary of State's Professional Licensing Boards Division, manages this system. Contractors must hold the correct license class for the project value, or their bond and insurance may not cover work that exceeds their authorized tier.

Georgia requires a state license for any residential or general contractor working on projects above a certain dollar threshold. The system is managed by the Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors, which falls under the Secretary of State's Professional Licensing Boards Division.

The key thing to understand is that Georgia uses a tiered system based on the total value of the project (including labor and materials). The tiers determine what class of license a contractor needs:

• Residential-Basic (RB)— Projects up to $50,000. This is the entry-level residential license.
• Residential-Light Commercial (RLC)— Projects up to $150,000. Covers residential work and light commercial projects.
• General Contractor (GC)— No project value limit. Required for commercial construction and larger residential projects exceeding the RLC threshold.

A contractor with an RB license doing a $75,000 kitchen remodel is operating outside their license class. This is something homeowners almost never check, but it matters — if something goes wrong, their bond and insurance may not cover work that exceeded their license tier.

What do I need before searching the Georgia contractor license database?

Before you search, gather at least one of the following: the contractor's license number (the fastest way to get an exact match), their full name or business name, or the city or county where they operate. Georgia law requires contractors to display their license number on contracts, proposals, and advertisements. If a contractor won't provide a license number when asked, treat that as a red flag.

To look up a contractor, you'll want at least one of these:

• The contractor's license number (fastest way to get an exact match)
• The contractor's full name or business name
• The city or county where they operate

Georgia contractors are required to display their license number on contracts, proposals, and advertisements. If a contractor can't or won't provide a license number when asked, treat that as a red flag.

How do I search for a contractor license in Georgia?

Go to the Georgia Secretary of State's license verification portal at verify.sos.ga.gov. Select "Residential and General Contractors" or the specific license class (RB, RLC, or GC) from the dropdown, then search by contractor name, license number, or business name. This is the official lookup tool for all professional licenses issued by Georgia, and it is free to use.

Navigate to the Georgia Secretary of State's license verification portal at verify.sos.ga.gov. This is the official lookup tool for all professional licenses issued by the state, including contractor licenses.

On the search page, you'll need to select the correct license type from the dropdown. Look for options that include "Residential and General Contractors" or the specific license class (RB, RLC, or GC). You can search by the contractor's name, license number, or business name.

What should I look for in the Georgia license search results?

Focus on five fields: license status (must show "Active" or "Current"), license class (RB, RLC, or GC must cover your project's value), expiration date (Georgia licenses renew every two years), disciplinary actions (the board publishes enforcement history), and business information (confirm it matches the company you're dealing with). A mismatched license class is a legally meaningful problem, not just a technicality.

Once you submit your search, the results page will show you several important pieces of information:

• License status— This is the most critical field. You want to see "Active" or "Current." Any other status (expired, revoked, suspended, surrendered) means the contractor is not authorized to work.
• License class— RB, RLC, or GC. Make sure the license class covers the size of your project.
• Expiration date— Georgia contractor licenses are renewed biennially (every two years). Check that the license hasn't expired.
• Disciplinary actions— The board publishes enforcement actions. If a contractor has been disciplined, you'll see records of complaints, fines, or restrictions.
• Business information— The name and address of the business entity associated with the license. Verify this matches the company you're dealing with.

What license class does my Georgia project require?

Match the license class to your project's total cost. An RB license covers residential jobs under $50,000 — bathroom remodels, deck builds, minor repairs. An RLC license covers residential and light commercial work up to $150,000. A GC license has no cap and is required for new home construction above $150,000, large commercial projects, and public works. Projects under $2,500 may not require a state license at all.

This is where Georgia gets a bit more specific than most states. Matching the license class to your project isn't optional — it's a legal requirement:

• Residential-Basic (RB)— If your project is a smaller residential job under $50,000, an RB license is sufficient. Think bathroom remodels, deck builds, or minor repairs.
• Residential-Light Commercial (RLC)— For mid-range residential work or small commercial projects up to $150,000. This covers most full kitchen renovations, room additions, and small commercial build-outs.
• General Contractor (GC)— No cap on project value. Required for new home construction above $150,000, large commercial projects, and public works.

If your project is under $2,500 (labor and materials combined), the contractor may not need a state license at all. But that threshold is low enough that most meaningful projects will require one.

What license database does Georgia use for specialty trades like electrical and plumbing?

Georgia licenses specialty trades through a separate board — the Georgia Construction Industry Licensing Board — not through the Residential and General Contractors board. You verify electricians, plumbers, HVAC contractors, and low-voltage specialists using the same Secretary of State portal at verify.sos.ga.gov, but you must select the correct Construction Industry Licensing Board division from the dropdown, not the general contractor board.

Georgia licenses certain specialty trades through different boards, not through the Residential and General Contractors board. The most common ones homeowners encounter:

• Electrical— Licensed through the Georgia Construction Industry Licensing Board (Electrical Division). Verify at the same Secretary of State portal.
• Plumbing— Also under the Construction Industry Licensing Board (Plumbing Division). Separate license required.
• HVAC / Conditioned Air— Licensed through the Construction Industry Licensing Board (Conditioned Air Division).
• Low Voltage— Separate licensing for alarm systems, telecommunications wiring, and similar low-voltage work.

A general contractor with a GC license cannot legally do plumbing or electrical work themselves unless they also hold the appropriate specialty license. They can (and typically do) subcontract to licensed specialists. When your GC hires a plumber or electrician, you can verify those subcontractors' licenses separately using the same Secretary of State portal.

Does a Georgia state license mean my contractor can work anywhere in the state?

Not always. Many Georgia municipalities require additional local registration on top of the state license. Atlanta requires contractors to register with the city and hold a local business license. Savannah has its own registration and permitting requirements. Counties like Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb, and Gwinnett may require separate business licenses. A contractor with a valid state license but no local registration can still face problems pulling permits for your project.

Having a state license doesn't mean a contractor is cleared to work in every city and county. Many Georgia municipalities have their own additional requirements:

• Atlanta— Requires contractors to register with the city and obtain a business license. The city also has its own permitting process for construction projects.
• Savannah— Has local contractor registration requirements and separate building permit requirements.
• County-level requirements— Many counties (Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb, Gwinnett) require separate business licenses or registrations for contractors operating within their jurisdiction.

The state license is the baseline, but always ask your contractor whether they've met the local requirements for the specific city or county where your project is located. A contractor with a valid state license but no local business registration may still face issues pulling permits.

What should I check beyond the Georgia contractor license?

A valid license is the starting point, not the finish line. Here are the other things worth verifying:

• Insurance— Georgia does not require contractors to carry liability insurance as a condition of licensure, but you should absolutely require it. Ask for a certificate of insurance and verify it directly with the insurer.
• Bonding— Licensed contractors in Georgia must carry a surety bond. The bond amount varies by license class. This protects you if the contractor fails to complete the work or doesn't pay subcontractors.
• Workers' compensation— Georgia requires workers' comp insurance for employers with three or more employees. If your contractor has workers on the job and no workers' comp, you could be liable for injuries on your property.
• Complaints and disciplinary history— Check the Secretary of State's site for any enforcement actions. You can also search the Better Business Bureau and online review platforms, though keep in mind that reviews alone are not a substitute for license verification.

What if I can't find my contractor in the Georgia database?

If your search returns nothing, start with the most common explanations before assuming the worst. The license might be under a different business name or the owner's legal name rather than their trade name — try searching by license number if you have it. Specialty trade contractors won't appear under the Residential and General Contractors board. If the project is under $2,500, a license may not be required. If none of these apply and the project clearly requires a license, walk away — hiring an unlicensed contractor in Georgia leaves you with little recourse.

If your search turns up nothing, don't assume the worst immediately. Here are common reasons and what to do:

• Name mismatch— The license might be under a different business name or under the individual's legal name rather than the name they do business as. Try searching by license number instead if you have it.
• Specialty trade— If they're an electrician, plumber, or HVAC tech, they won't appear under the Residential and General Contractors board. Search under the appropriate Construction Industry Licensing Board division instead.
• Small job exemption— Projects under $2,500 don't require a state license. The contractor may be legitimate but simply not required to hold a license for the type of work they do.
• They're actually unlicensed— If the project requires a license and the contractor doesn't have one, walk away. Hiring an unlicensed contractor in Georgia means you have little recourse if things go wrong, and any permits pulled may be invalid.

If you're unsure, call the Georgia State Licensing Board directly. They can confirm whether a contractor is licensed and what class of license they hold.

The bottom line

Georgia's contractor licensing system is straightforward once you understand the tiers. Use the Secretary of State's license verification portal to confirm the license is active, check the license class matches your project value, and verify the expiration date. Then go a step further: confirm insurance, bonding, and local registration.

The five-minute lookup is worth it. A contractor who is properly licensed, bonded, and insured in Georgia is one who has met a real bar — passing exams, maintaining a bond, and staying in good standing with the state board. Skip that check, and you're gambling on a handshake.