Changes to Georgia Contractor License

As Georgia’s implementation of its new residential and general contractor licensing statute progresses, this year’s General Assembly made several changes – among the most significant being:

• The statute’s final implementation date was extended by six months – to July 1, 2008. Beginning that date, licenses are required to obtain building permits on virtually all Georgia building construction projects, including residential and commercial construction.


• Demolition work was removed from scope contained in the statute’s definition of “contractor.”


• The requirement that qualifying agents be engaged by their businesses on a “full-time basis” was removed; and language was added to allow a person to serve as qualifying agent for more than one business concurrently, if that person meets the statute’s other qualifying agent requirements.


• Language was added to permit “inactive status” for licensees.


• Language was added making it clear that the statute is not meant to apply to “construction or installation of manufactured homes as defined in OCGA § 8-2-131.”

Every year since passage, the General Assembly has modified this statute. The 40-day 2008 session will begin in January and end before the statute’s current July 1, 2008 implementation date, so more changes are possible (and likely). (This entry was published by David Roberts of Womble Carlyle's real estate and construction practice group.)

Sources: SB 115