general contractor license question

[jb3]

in planning my garage, it was suggested to me by a friend that I should look into just getting a contractors license for myself so I can pull my own permits.

Ive started to look into this, and since I have absolutely no ****ing idea what im doing, I sort of assumed I needed to take a class and a test or something, BUT, it looks like all I need to do is pay 200 bucks to the state, prove I have business insurance and am registered as a business (already done for my core business) and im done.

Im kinda shocked that basically I can go down there tomorrow and get a contractors license and I just learned today what the hell a ridge vent is.

Im curious if this is typical, do contractors need certifications in general? or is it kind of like automotive, where all you need is a business license to be repairing peoples cars?

 

[The Cobbler]

In my area a homeowner can pull their own permits. A plumber and electrician, etc need to have a masters license to pull permits.
your questions would have different answers , depending on your location

 

[jb3]

In my area a homeowner can pull their own permits. A plumber and electrician, etc need to have a masters license to pull permits.
your questions would have different answers , depending on your location

definitely, im curious what the different situations are in different locations.

There is that limitation locally that I cannot pull my own permits as a homeowner, I need a contractor to pull permits, but I can become a contractor apparently with 200 bucks and the wave of a wand. I don't have to in any way prove that I am in fact competent, which I guess is pretty convenient

 

[Tim The Tool Man]

OMG as a homeowner in Rhode Island, you cannot pull your own permits! That is ridiculous! It can only lead to people doing unpermitted and uninspected work.

In many States, anybody can become a contractor without any special training. In other States, like California, there is some training required. I didn't need to do any training in my home state to become a licensed contractor. Although there are very few people who would hire me if I didn't know what I was doing and my insurance company would soon drop me because of all the claims I created!

 

[kd3pc]

In VA, you get a choice of three contractor license, A, B, C based on the dollar volume you expect to do. A mandatory class that you can do online, and do need to pass about the "business" side of the job, taxes being paid and the like. Pay some money, I think it was $225 and you can be a small business contractor. I think the higher dollar volume license required some experience, but not the low end one.

Specific trades - electrician, plumber, etc have experience requirements and yearly continuing ed requirements.

Each state is different. Even localities are separate from the state in some areas. TN is another way altogether, and unless you are a "master" tradesman, no license test?

best of luck

 

[BFBOB]

It's a local jurisdiction question. I have to have a license in the county I live in, not in two neighboring counties. And, the contractor's license may not be good for actually doing any work, just organizing the job. Check with your local Public Works or Building Department. They'll tell you.

Locale-specific advice/experience (like the first two sentences of my post!) aren't very helpful except to point out that you really have to ask the people who know: your local authorities.

 

[Norcal]

In CA," Licensed contractors must demonstrate at least four years of experience/education in the trade for which they are licensed, be fingerprinted, have an FBI background check, and be bonded."

The contractors lic. exam is two part, trade & law. There is a "A" lic which is a general engineering contractor, a "B" lic which is a general contractor, & specialty contractors C10 is electrical, C20 is Warm-Air Heating, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning Contractor, C36 is plumbing, here is a list of classifications: http://www.cslb.ca.gov/GeneralInformation/Library/LicensingClassifications/

The quoted section was taken from the CA CSLB website.

 

[WQ59B]

NJ is like RI : biz license, insurance & $75 to the state for your license. No testing or certification.

 

[Angelfire]

getting a contractors license for myself so I can pull my own permits.....

since I have absolutely no ****ing idea what im doing

This seems to be a recipe for disaster to me!

When I did an addition and garage, I was able to avail of what NM offers in terms of licensing. I took on the role of General Contractor and the only permit I pulled was the building permit. I hired subs for some things and they pulled their needed permits. I've been around construction of some sort for a number of years although have never acted as a contractor per se. With that in mind it was an eye opening experience for me and I'm not sure I've ever worked as hard as I did at getting that place done on time. Although being a bit of a perfectionist didn't help matters. As for licensing, in NM you can't get a license without having passed a test and been recommended by a licensed contractor. Technically you should have X number of years experience and then the contractor recommends you for a license but it doesn't really work that way.

 

[Kevin54]

OMG as a homeowner in Rhode Island, you cannot pull your own permits! That is ridiculous! It can only lead to people doing unpermitted and uninspected work.

In many States, anybody can become a contractor without any special training. In other States, like California, there is some training required. I didn't need to do any training in my home state to become a licensed contractor. Although there are very few people who would hire me if I didn't know what I was doing and my insurance company would soon drop me because of all the claims I created!

When I built my family room onto the house, I pulled all my own permits. The only thing that you need to do is get the permit, then when ready, call the inspector, get the work inspected, then the permit signed off.

You can't sign off on your own work, but you can get your own permits. From when the hole was dug to the last nail being driven and the lid was put on the paint can, I breezed through everything by myself. The inspector asked my wife if I worked for any of the local contractors. She told them no. He then told her that he wondered because my work was better than the local contractors work that he has seen.

I did get busted on two electrical issues though. I had the wrong box for the ceiling fan, and I didn't use the newer wire nuts on the grounds, which I was not familiar with. All I had to do was change things out, call him back the next day, he checked things out and signed off on the electrical. The framing was passed the day before.

Anyone can do anything they want to their house as long as you have the proper paperwork, and your plans. When I built my family room, I had already drawn up my own plans, and that's what everyone went by. And I am not by any means an architect. But I was so sure of myself, that before the walls were laid up, one rainy weekend, I built all of the walls for the family room in my garage. This is a 24' x 24' room. I had the walls stacked on my car trailer in the garage. When the walls were finally up and had set for a week, I took a day off work, set the sill plate, got it bolted down, got the main bean run front to back and had premade a large bracket for both ends for support, set all of my joist.

A buddy stopped over after work, I pulled the trailer around and we set the walls. We were done in one hour, and he was on his way home.

 

[Kevin54]

One other thing....when doing your own work, don't act like a know it all smartass. A lot of contractors around here have problems because although they may know more than the inspector, they don't have to try and prove it. One thing about the inspectors.....if you call him a ******* today, he WILL remember you the next time he deals with you. And when he does, he will pick apart every minute little detail, and make you redo it. It's not as bad on residential, but on commercial, he will nail your *** to the wall.

And on a commercial building, if you have a dimension that says something is 10'-0" from such and such wall, and you call for an inspection, and you called him a ******* before, that 10'-0" better be right smack on. Another co-worker was helping his son start up a business and had to remodel a downtown building. They were going by the books on everything all except my co-worker who was a little older than me, and although being just a super guy was what I call a ****** intellectual....(a ******* know it all) and he and the inspector(s) had butted heads before. So to say, that simple remodel cost the son a shitload more money, and quite a few more months of headaches before they ever opened up for business. It was so bad that the son would have to find a reason for dad to go out of town for supplies on inspection days.

Treat the inspector with respect, don't act like a ****** intellectual, have all of your ducks in a row, and if you don't know something or are not sure, ask the inspector. They will actually help you out.

 

[Fishplate]

dI can become a contractor apparently with 200 bucks and the wave of a wand. I don't have to in any way prove that I am in fact competent, which I guess is pretty convenient

I assume the requirement for business insurance means that the insurance company takes on the job of assuring competence.

Have you priced the required insurance? Might be more than a couple hundred bucks...

 

[jb3]

One other thing....when doing your own work, don't act like a know it all smartass. A lot of contractors around here have problems because although they may know more than the inspector, they don't have to try and prove it. One thing about the inspectors.....if you call him a ******* today, he WILL remember you the next time he deals with you. And when he does, he will pick apart every minute little detail, and make you redo it. It's not as bad on residential, but on commercial, he will nail your *** to the wall.

And on a commercial building, if you have a dimension that says something is 10'-0" from such and such wall, and you call for an inspection, and you called him a ******* before, that 10'-0" better be right smack on. Another co-worker was helping his son start up a business and had to remodel a downtown building. They were going by the books on everything all except my co-worker who was a little older than me, and although being just a super guy was what I call a ****** intellectual....(a ******* know it all) and he and the inspector(s) had butted heads before. So to say, that simple remodel cost the son a shitload more money, and quite a few more months of headaches before they ever opened up for business. It was so bad that the son would have to find a reason for dad to go out of town for supplies on inspection days.

Treat the inspector with respect, don't act like a ****** intellectual, have all of your ducks in a row, and if you don't know something or are not sure, ask the inspector. They will actually help you out.

Not to worry, im a good natured friendly dude. If I have no idea, ill tell the inspector first off. Getting into a fight with a building inspector strikes me as similar to a calf biting off the teat it intends to suckle from. I can't think of a faster way to shut down a project.

Step one for me is go to the city hall and shmooze for a bit, maybe try and charm a few bureaucratic secretarial types

Im betting there is some kind of loophole or provision that I don't know exists that could be useful.

 

[jb3]

I assume the requirement for business insurance means that the insurance company takes on the job of assuring competence.

Have you priced the required insurance? Might be more than a couple hundred bucks...

I have a rental property management business, and already have a business insurance policy for that company which (I think) has the required liability level the state wants. Need to make sure, but they require 500k liability insurance and articles or organization for a business.

The 200 goes to the state for processing the application evidently. All this is just stuff I got off the web though, I need to do in person research and see what all is really needed.

 

[Falcon67]

NJ is like RI : biz license, insurance & $75 to the state for your license. No testing or certification.

Sound like the basis for all those "ambush a contractor" shows.

 

[AP514]

in alot of state it does not take much to be a contractor...pay your money and BAM your official...others have a written and oral test to make sure you have the know how...

Like a lot of state getting a contractor Licence is as simple as paperwork and a few hundred bucks. It is about as simple as getting a business licence. That is why a lot of States have such problems as ABC business/contractor takes your money and screws up the job..walks away or goes upside down on the bid and just walk away.
They get to many complaints they just go down and get another Licence under ABCD company and start again...Rinse and repeat..

 

[denis4x4]

In Colorado, all you need to have is a golden retreiver with a bandana and a 48" level in the pickup gun rack to be a contractor! By the same token, workman's comp is extremely high and a lot of individual counties are using the CA contactor's licensing specs for locals. Electricians and plumbers are required to have a state license. I've pulled permits as an individuals for several remodels on our home without any problems.

 

[WQ59B]

Sound like the basis for all those "ambush a contractor" shows.

Not going to argue that, but the flip side is; if you are good & fair, you can get swamped w/ work from (repeat) customers burned in the past.

Jersey is a pseudo Nazi state; no doubt they will get around to all sorts of testing & certification (and FEES), just have to give them time to get to it.

 

[jb3]

im not yet absolutely certain that i cant pull a permit as an individual. it certainly seems that way that i cant in RI, but things are always different in person.

im also not certain my business license in one town will work for this in the next over. getting that business license in the first place was a real pain in keister, with 25 different steps and stamps required and other malarky. basically every department needed 75 bucks, but once everyone was paid, i was good to go.

either way, before i start work on garage, the dog and pony show of permitting/license has to be completed

 

[jb3]

so it turns out i CAN pull my own permits provided i live at the residence and can prove it with a bill or something with my name on it connected to the place. very nice lady at city hall was super helpful

 

[jb3]

well, my construction competence level has not increased too much despite some quality time spent on youtube, but im getting there. Great videos on shooting cans with a nail gun.

I did make the slight alteration to my insurance policy to cover me as a contractor and meet the bar required by the state. One step closer.

Next step is to file federal and state forms moving my business address to the home for simplification purposes, then I can run down and get a contractors license.

Interesting process.

 

[A**holes Garage]

I have a commercial concrete and steel erection license for my business. I'd have to add, electrical, plumbing, etc. to obtain a General Contractor license, plus prove 5 years experience, list the jobs, value, as proof. Then there's the insurance and bonding cost.

I had to take the business management test first before the trades test. I signed and paid for a testing facility that specializes in studying for these tests.

Passed all the tests but I wouldn't have any confidence in building a high rise right now, but I do hold the license, lolol.