If you’ve been thinking about starting a handyman or general contractor business in North Carolina, there’s a lot you should know before picking up your tools. That’s because the legal system in this state has some unique requirements, especially if you intend to work on larger projects.
This post will help you understand the various types of general contractor (GC) licences you can consider depending on your needs.
First Things First: When Do You Need a Licence?
You will need a general contractor licence from the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors if your project is valued at over $40,000. This applies whether you are bidding, building, or managing the job. You will even have to renew your licence and take an NC general contractor continuing education course to complete your renewal application.
If you’re working on smaller projects under $40,000, you may not need a licence. Still, you will need a licence for certain specialities, even without considering the value of your project.
Types of Licences for a GC in North Carolina
There are five main types of general contractor licenses you can apply for in North Carolina:
1. Building Contractor
If you take on projects that involving construction or demolition, you will need a building contractor licence. For this type, you can choose to engage in commercial, residential, industrial, and institutional building construction. Some of the common projects you can work on with this licence include parking decks, grading and paving parking lots, sidewalks, gutters, site work, and more.
Getting a building contractor’s licence also covers you for the following speciality licences:
- Insulation
- Concrete
- Marine construction
- Masonry
- Metal structures
- Roofing
- Swimming pools
- Interior construction
- Wind turbine construction
- Asbestos
2. Residential Contractor
A Residential Contractor license in North Carolina covers all construction and demolition work for residential units built according to the state’s Building Code Council building codes.
Earning this type of licence also covers different specialities. These are:
- Masonry
- Interior construction
- Roofing
- Insulation
- Swimming pools
- Asbestos
3. Highway Contractor
If you’re more interested in projects that involve highway construction activity, such as paving of all types, grading, relocation of utility lines, installation of artificial athletic surfaces, and more, this is what you need. This licence also gives you the ability to construct fencing, guard rails, and signage.
The highway contractor licence also allows for some airport work, such as grading and paving runways/taxiways, installing signage, marking, runway lighting, and more. Like the other two licences, this one also covers different specialities:
- Railroad construction
- Concrete construction
- Grading and excavating
- Marine construction
- Boring and tunnelling
4. Public Utilities Contractor
This licence allows you to take on projects involving public water and wastewater systems. It also includes specialties like:
- Water and sewer lines
- Boring and tunnelling
- Fuel distribution
- Swimming pools
- Electrical (Ahead of the point of delivery)
- Communications
- Water purification and sewage disposal
5. Speciality Contractor
In most cases, you will encounter the four licences we’ve mentioned above, but technically, the speciality contractor licence is also a form of a general contractor’s licence. In truth, the State of North Carolina includes it under the general contractor licensing subsection.
The different types of specialities you can get a licence for are the ones we’ve mentioned under the first four types of general contractor licences. Each one allows you to handle different types of work. For instance, the roofing speciality licence permits you to install, demolish, and repair roofs and decks on structures in the commercial, residential, industrial, and institutional categories.
It’s also important to note that some of the speciality licences come with caveats. The asbestos licence, for instance, becomes necessary only when your contracts exceed $30,000.
Make Your Licensing Journey Easier
Getting your NC GC licence is a great investment for your career and your company’s future. With the right licence, you can unlock a limitless ability to aim for bigger projects while assuring clients you are qualified. All this goes a long way in positioning you as a highly sought-after professional in a very competitive industry.
Ready to spread your wings and fly? Here’s where RocketCert comes in! With expertly written and fully narrated courses that are easy to understand, you have no excuse not to reach your dreams.