Handyman License Requirements by State

A handyman has the skills and knowledge to perform home repair jobs and general maintenance that are considered small or odd jobs. These don't generally require a permit, and states don't typically have a specific handyman license.

However, in some cases, a handyman is considered a contractor if the project is part of a larger job or if the project exceeds a specific cost. When those factors come into play, the handyman may be required to have a handyman license or contractor license. Below are the handyman license requirements listed by state.

Alabama

Does a handyman need a license in Alabama? Only if the project is worth over $50,000.

Alaska

Does a handyman need a license in Alaska? Yes, a handyman needs a license to perform work worth up to $10,000.

Do they need insurance in Alaska? Yes, they must show proof of general liability and property damage insurance.

Where can they obtain a license? Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing.

Arizona

Does a handyman in Arizona need a license? They don't if the work is worth less than $1,000. If the work is worth more than $1,000 or needs a building permit, then they do.

Do they need insurance? They must submit proof of a bond as well as pass an exam.

Where can they obtain a license? They must contact the Registrar of Contractors.

Arkansas

Does a handyman need a license in Arkansas? Yes, if the project is worth more than $2,000, or if they're doing painting, flooring, or roofing work.

What kind of license do they need? A Home Improvement License. For remodeling or rebuilding, they'll need a contractor's license. California

Does a handyman need a license in California? Yes, if they have a project worth more than $500 unless it doesn't become a fixed part of a structure.

Do they need insurance in California? Yes, they need a contractor's bond of $15,000 and a certificate of insurance. They also need to show proof of four years of experience and pass an exam.

Where can they obtain a license? Through the Contractors State License Board.

What can an unlicensed handyman in California do? Handymen can do a number of tasks without a license, including:

• Repair fences and doors

• Work with drywall

• Mount TVs

• Fix appliances

• Install ceiling fans

• Fix toilets

Colorado

Does a handyman need a license in Colorado? No, all they have to do is check with local requirements.

Do they need insurance? No.

Connecticut

Does a handyman in Connecticut need a license? Not unless the handyman creates permanent changes to a property. Then they need to register.

Where do they register? With the Department of Consumer Protection.

Delaware

Does a handyman need a license in Delaware? There are no specific handyman licenses, but they must register to work if the project is worth more than $50,000.

Do they need anything else? They must also have a business license if they have to register.

Florida

Does a handyman in Florida need a license? Yes, and no. They don't need one for non-structural work like door or window repairs. They do need one for structural work.

Do they need insurance? Yes, they need general liability insurance and workers' compensation insurance. They also need to show four years of experience and pass an exam.

Where do they obtain a license? Through the Department of Business and Professional Regulation.

Georgia

Does a handyman in Georgia need a license? Only if the project is worth more than $2,000. Then they need a Residential Basic Contractor License.

Do they need insurance? Yes, they need general liability and workers' compensation insurance. They also need to take an exam and show two years of experience.

Where do they obtain a license? Through the Georgia Board of Residential and General Contractors.

Hawaii

Does a handyman need a license in Hawaii? Yes, if the project is worth more than $1,000 or needs a building permit.

Do they need insurance in Hawaii? Yes, they must show proof of insurance. They must also show proof of experience and pass an exam.

Where can they obtain a license? Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Professional, and Vocational Licensing.

Idaho

Does a handyman in Idaho need a license? No, but they can't work without registering as a contractor.

Where does a handyman register before working? They register with the Idaho Contractors Board.

Illinois

Does a handyman in Illinois need a license? It's not required by the state, but there are several cities that require a handyman to have a general contractor license.

Indiana

Does a handyman need a license in Indiana? Not at the state level, but check with local regulations.

Iowa

Does a handyman need a license in Iowa? Not unless they make more than $2,000 in a year through their work.

Do they need to register? Yes, they must register with the Iowa Division of Labor

Kansas

Does a handyman in Kansas need a state license? No, but they should check with local regulations.

Kentucky

Does a handyman in Kentucky need a license? No, but check with local regulations.

Louisiana

Does a handyman in Louisiana need a license? Yes, if the project is worth more than $7,500.

Do they need insurance? Yes, they must show proof of insurance and pass an exam.

Where do they obtain a license? They can obtain a license through the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors.

Maine

Does Maine require a handyman to have a license? There are no state license requirements for handymen, but there might be local requirements.

Maryland

Does a handyman in Maryland need a license? Yes, they must have a home improvement license.

Do they need insurance? Yes, they need a certificate of insurance. They also need to show two years of home improvement experience and pass an exam.

Where do they obtain a license? Through the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation.

Massachusetts

Does a handyman in Massachusetts need a state license? No, but they must register as a home improvement contractor. They do need a Construction Supervisor License if they do structural work.

Michigan

Does a handyman in Michigan need a license? They don't need a specific license unless they're doing painting or carpentry.

What kind of license do they need? For painting, carpentry and other jobs, they need a Maintenance and Alteration Contractor License.

What do they need? They need to complete 60 hours of educational courses and pass an exam.

Minnesota

Does a handyman need a license in Minnesota? Only if they make more than $15,000 per year.

What kind of license do they need? They need a residential remodeler license for existing structures and a residential building license for new structures.

Do they need insurance? Yes, they need general liability and workers' compensation insurance.

Where do they obtain a license? Through the Department of Labor and Industry.

Mississippi

Does Mississippi require a handyman to have a license? Only if the project costs more than $10,000.

Do they need insurance? Yes, they need general liability and workers' compensation insurance. They must also pass an exam.

Where do they obtain a license? Through the Mississippi Contractor Licensing Board.

Missouri

Does a handyman in Missouri need a license? No, but they should check with local regulations.

Montana

Does a handyman need a license in Montana? No, not if they don't have employees working for them. If they do, then they must register. They must also register if they work with electricity.

Do they need insurance? If they have to register, they must show proof of workers' compensation insurance.

Where do they register? With the Department of Labor and Industry.

Nebraska

Does a handyman need a state license in Nebraska? No, but they must register with the Nebraska Department of Labor.

Nevada

Does a handyman in Nevada need a license? Only if the project is worth more than $1,000 or needs a building license.

Do they need insurance? Yes, they need proof of insurance as well as proof of work experience. They also need to pass an exam.

Where do they obtain a license? Through the Nevada Contractors Board.

New Hampshire

Does a handyman need a license in New Hampshire? Only if they work with asbestos, plumbing, or electricity.

New Jersey

Does New Jersey require a handyman to get a license? No, a state license isn't required to work, but they do need to register as a handyman.

Where do they register? With the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs.

New Mexico

Does a handyman need a license in New Mexico? Yes, they need a state license to work. Handymen can either obtain a GB-2 Residential or GB-98 General Building classification.

Do handymen require experience to obtain a license? Yes. The residential classification requires two years of experience, while the general building classification requires four. They also need to pass an exam.

New York

Does a handyman in New York need a license? No, the state doesn't require a license to work, but they should check local regulations.

North Carolina

Does a handyman need a license in North Carolina? They don't need a state license unless the project is worth more than $30,000 or if they are a subcontractor working under a general contractor.

Where do they obtain a handyman license? Through the North Carolina Licensing Board.

North Dakota

Does a handyman in North Dakota need a license? Only on projects worth more than $4,000.

Ohio

Does Ohio require a handyman to get a license? Ohio doesn't require a handyman to get a license, but they should check with local requirements.

Oklahoma

Does a handyman need a license in Oklahoma? They don't need a state license, but they should check with local regulations.

Oregon

Does a handyman need a license In Oregon? Yes, if the project is worth more than $1,000. If they do construction work, then they need a contractor license.

Do they need insurance in Oregon? Yes, they must show proof of general liability and workers' compensation insurance.

Pennsylvania

Does a handyman need a license in Pennsylvania? No, the state doesn't require a license unless the handyman does more than $5,000 worth of home improvement work each year.

Rhode Island

Does a handyman in Rhode Island need a license? No, but they do need to register if they do alteration, remodeling, or repair work on residential properties.

Where do they register? With the State of Rhode Island Contractors’ Registration and Licensing Board.

South Carolina

Does a handyman in South Carolina need a license? No, but they must register with the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation.

South Dakota

Does a handyman need a license in South Dakota? No, but they should check with local requirements.

Tennessee

Does a handyman in Tennessee need a license? Only if the job is worth more than $25,000. If the job is worth between $3,000 and $24,999, then they need a home improvement license.

Do they need insurance? Yes, they need proof of general liability and workers' compensation insurance. They also need to pass an exam.

Texas

Does a handyman in Texas need a license? No state requirement, but there are several cities that do require permits or licenses.

Utah

Does a handyman in Utah need a license? Only if the work is worth more than $3,000. If the work is more than $1,000, then they need to file an affirmation of exemption. If it's worth more than $3,000, then they need a contractor license.

Do they need insurance? Yes, a handyman needs to show proof of insurance.

Vermont

Does a handyman in Vermont need a license? No, the state of Vermont doesn't require a handyman to have a license to work, but there might be local regulations.

Virginia

Does a handyman in Virginia require a license? Only for projects more than $1,000.

Do they need anything else? They must complete an education course and show two years of experience.

Washington

Does a handyman need a license in Washington? Only if the project is worth more than $2,000 or needs a building permit.

Where can they obtain a license? A handyman must register their business with the Washington Secretary of State.

West Virginia

Does a handyman in West Virginia require a license? No, not unless the project is worth more than $2,500 but less than $10,000. Then they would need a contractor's license.

Do they need insurance? If they need a contractor's license, they need to show proof of insurance and pass an exam.

Where do they obtain a contractor's license? Through the West Virginia Division of Labor.

Wisconsin

Does a handyman in Wisconsin need a license? Yes, a handyman must have a Wisconsin Dwelling Contractor Qualifier license.

Do they need anything else? They must pass a 12-hour course.

Where do they obtain a license? Through the Department of Safety and Professional Services.

Wyoming

Does Wyoming require a handyman to have a license? No, but they should check with local regulations.