Georgia Contractor License Lookup: GOALS Search & Verify

by
GOALS lookup + company check + permits + complaints · reviewed August 31, 2026

Georgia Contractor License Lookup: Verify More Than a License Number

Use Georgia’s official licensing system to check the contractor, then verify the company, qualifying agent, license category, separately regulated trades and project permit before signing or paying.

This is an action guide—not a list of generic licensing advice. Every major official link below includes what to click or check after it opens.

Official Georgia License Search Step-by-Step Verification Local Permit Help
Independent resource: ContractorsBoard.org is not GOALS, the Georgia Secretary of State, the State Licensing Board, a government agency or a contractor referral service. Only the live Georgia government record provides official license status.
Fast answer

Which Official Georgia Search Should You Use?

Current primary lookup

Use GOALS Licensee Search for the current Georgia professional licensing search.

Open GOALS License Search

Advanced individual search

The official verification interface lets you search by profession, license type, first/middle name, last name and license number.

Search a Person

Business / company search

Georgia’s official company verification page provides profession, business/company name, license type and license number fields.

Search a Business / Company
Useful search feature: Georgia’s official verification pages say “less is more.” If you only know part of the name, place an * after the partial text. Example: John*. This can recover records missed by an over-specific search.
Do not verify only the name. A matching contractor name does not establish that the correct company is licensed for the correct type of project. Continue through the workflow below.
Official state authority

Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and Commercial General Contractors

The Board is administered through the Georgia Secretary of State Professional Licensing Boards Division. It regulates the state’s residential and commercial general contractor licenses.

Official Contractor Board Official Board FAQ Current Chapter 553 Rules Board Meetings & Events
What to do after opening the Board page
  1. Use Licensing, Renewal & Reinstatement if you are a contractor/applicant.
  2. Use License Search if you are verifying someone.
  3. Open Cease and Desist Orders if unlicensed activity is a concern.
  4. Open the contractor FAQ for current CE, exam, reciprocity and Qualifying Agent explanations.
  5. Use Board Meetings and Minutes if an application is waiting for Board action.
Current calendar: as of August 31, 2026, Georgia lists the next General Contractors Board meeting for September 9, 2026 via teleconference. Residential Contractors Board is currently listed for October 7, 2026. Applicants should recheck the event page because meetings can be rescheduled.
Old-address trap: older official contractor PDFs still contain the former 237 Coliseum Drive address. Current Georgia Licensing Division pages use 3920 Arkwright Road, Suite 195. Verify the current destination before mailing original documents.
Micro-step verification workflow

Georgia Contractor License Lookup: Exactly What to Do After Opening GOALS

Open Official GOALS Licensee Search
  1. Have the contractor’s claimed license number, legal name and business name in front of you.
  2. Search by the license number first when available. A number is usually a cleaner identifier than a common business surname.
  3. If no usable result appears, reduce the number of filters rather than adding more.
  4. Search the licensed person’s name if the contractor says the credential is an individual license.
  5. Search the company/business route when the contract is with an LLC, corporation, LP or other business organization.
  6. Open the exact record.
  7. Record the license number, license type and current status.
  8. Identify whether the record involves an Individual or Qualifying Agent.
  9. Compare the company/legal name with your proposal and payment instructions.
  10. Determine whether the category is Residential Basic, Residential Light Commercial, General Contractor or General Contractor Limited Tier.
  11. Then use the separate business, trade and permit checks in this article.

If GOALS does not return the contractor

Open Official Individual Verification
  1. Choose the relevant Profession.
  2. Choose License Type only if you know it.
  3. Enter the license number by itself first.
  4. If searching by name, enter only the most distinctive part.
  5. If spelling is uncertain, type partial data followed by *.
  6. Example: Will* can recover variations beginning with “Will”.
  7. If the person claims to work through an LLC/corporation, switch to the Business/Company search.
Open Official Business / Company Verification
  1. Select Residential and General Contractors as the profession where appropriate.
  2. Enter the company name or license number.
  3. Use fewer terms if the exact legal suffix prevents a match.
  4. Use a wildcard if only part of the company name is known.
  5. Open the matching organization record.
  6. Then identify the Qualifying Agent relationship.
Can’t find the record? Ask the contractor for the exact license number. If the contractor claims the site is “wrong” or that the license is “under somebody else’s company,” call the Georgia Licensing Division at 404-424-9966 before proceeding.
Record interpretation

What a Georgia Contractor Record Should Answer

Check What you need to establish What to do if it does not match
License number The number in Georgia’s live record matches the number shown by the contractor. Ask for correction before treating the person/business as verified.
Status The live record shows a status compatible with legally contracting now. Do not rely on a paper license or old screenshot.
License type The category fits residential/commercial scope and project value. Use the official comparison chart below.
Individual / QA You understand whether the license is personal/sole proprietor or connected to a licensed company. Check the Qualifying Agent relationship and corporation record.
Licensed company The organization on the license matches the business on the contract. Run the Georgia Corporations Division search.
Limited Tier The total contract is within the $1,000,000 limitation. A larger project requires a different licensing analysis.
Trade work Electrical, plumbing, HVAC, low-voltage and utility work is routed to properly licensed professionals. Search the separate state trade board.
Permit The required city/county project permit exists and identifies the appropriate responsible contractor/trades. Call the building department before work begins.
Official PDF decoded

Residential Basic, RLC, General Contractor or Limited Tier?

Georgia’s official Licensure Comparison Chart, revised 02/2025, is the best compact government source for resolving the four main categories.

License Scope Financial requirement Liability minimum Exam
Residential Basic Detached one- and two-family residences and one-family townhouses not over three stories, plus accessory structures. $25,000 financial-responsibility level through permitted net-worth / bank-credit / surety-bond / line-of-credit methods. $300,000 per occurrence. Georgia Residential Basic + Georgia Business & Law.
Residential Light Commercial Residential Basic scope plus qualifying multifamily / multiuse light-commercial structures subject to height, floor-area, construction-type and special-hazard restrictions. $25,000 financial-responsibility level. $500,000 per occurrence. Georgia Residential Light Commercial + Georgia Business & Law.
General Contractor Commercial general contracting without the Limited Tier project cap shown in the comparison chart. Minimum net worth $150,000. $500,000 per occurrence. NASCLA Accredited Commercial General Building exam + Georgia Business & Law.
General Contractor Limited Tier Commercial general contracting with project-contract limitation. Minimum net worth $25,000. $500,000 per occurrence. NASCLA Accredited Commercial General Building exam + Georgia Business & Law.
Limited Tier maximum: the official comparison chart states a financial limit of no more than $1,000,000 on any contract.
Workers’ compensation: current Georgia Board guidance identifies workers’ compensation insurance as required under Georgia law when there are 3 or more employees in Georgia.
Official 02/2025 Comparison PDF
What to do after opening the comparison PDF
  1. Page 1: compare the statutory license definitions and the $2,500 residential threshold.
  2. Read Residential Basic versus Residential Light Commercial building limitations.
  3. Review the commercial General Contractor definition.
  4. Use the experience section to compare education/project-history routes.
  5. Use the financial/insurance page to compare net worth, financial-responsibility and liability minimums.
  6. Use the examination section for Georgia residential exams versus NASCLA commercial exam.
  7. Use the final reciprocity section before assuming an out-of-state license transfers.
  8. Read the Individual vs Qualifying Agent section before contracting through an LLC/corporation.
Common homeowner question

Georgia’s $2,500 Residential Contractor Threshold — What It Actually Means

The official comparison chart quotes Georgia’s residential contractor definition as covering residential-contractor activity where the total value of the work or compensation to be received, whichever is higher, exceeds $2,500.

This is not a universal “under $2,500 means anyone can do anything” rule. The statutory definition and exemptions still matter, local permits may apply, and separately regulated electrical, plumbing, conditioned-air, low-voltage or utility work can require licensed trade professionals regardless of how someone describes the overall job.

Residential remodel

If the work falls within residential contractor scope and exceeds the statutory threshold, check the appropriate residential contractor license.

Commercial project

Do not apply the residential $2,500 definition as the sole licensing test for a commercial building project.

Licensed trade

An electrician or plumber should be checked under the applicable Georgia trade licensing system rather than only under the residential contractor search.

High-risk mismatch check

Verify the Georgia Company and Its Qualifying Agent

Georgia distinguishes between an Individual contractor and a Qualifying Agent. This is one of the most important checks when the contract uses an LLC or corporation.

Individual license

The official comparison chart explains that an individual license is used when a person contracts in his or her own name, trade name or sole proprietorship.

The chart specifically warns that the individual license does not authorize work on behalf of a separate LLC or corporation merely because the individual owns the company.

Qualifying Agent

A Qualifying Agent is affiliated by ownership or employment with the licensed business organization and has required approval authority over construction and related business matters.

Georgia’s contractor FAQ says one company may have more than one Qualifying Agent.

Open Official Georgia Corporations Division Search
  1. Choose Starts With, Contains or Exact Match.
  2. Enter the business name from the contract.
  3. If needed, search by Control Number, Registered Agent, Officer or Designated Agent.
  4. Open the matching entity.
  5. Compare the legal name with the contractor-license record.
  6. Review the corporation/entity status.
  7. Return to the contractor record and confirm the Qualifying Agent/company relationship.
Do not confuse two “active” records. An active corporation means the business entity has a current Corporations Division record. It does not prove that the company has the correct contractor license.
Separate state licenses

Check Georgia Electrical, Plumbing, HVAC, Low Voltage & Utility Licenses Separately

Georgia’s contractor comparison chart states that a residential or general contractor can contract for a project containing Chapter 14 trade work, but regulated electrical, plumbing, conditioned-air, low-voltage or utility work must be performed by persons properly licensed for that trade.

Electrical

Official Electrical Board

After opening: choose License Search, enter the electrical contractor license number/person, and match the licensed contractor to the electrical permit.

Plumbing

Official Plumbing Division

After opening: verify the required Master/Journeyman or contractor-related plumbing credential for the person responsible for the work.

Conditioned Air / HVAC

Official Conditioned Air Board

After opening: search the conditioned-air contractor and verify the class/scope before checking the local mechanical permit.

Low Voltage

Official Low Voltage Board

Alarm, telecommunications and other regulated low-voltage work can require a separate credential.

Utility Contractors

Official Utility Division

Use the utility licensing route rather than assuming a general contractor credential covers personally performing regulated utility work.

Then verify permits

After state trade verification, check the city/county electrical, plumbing, mechanical or other trade permit for the actual project.

Georgia Local Permit Guide

Georgia Contractor Verification Helper

Complete this only after using Georgia’s official search. It organizes your checks but does not query GOALS.

Complete all six fields.
Applicant workflow

Georgia Contractor Application: What to Prepare Before Opening GOALS

Georgia’s current residential and commercial contractor how-to pages say applications are generally processed within about 20 business days. If a deficiency letter is issued, the 20-business-day count starts again when complete corrected material is received. Unresolved deficiencies can lead to administrative withdrawal after 60 days.
Applications needing Board consideration generally must be complete at least 15 days before a scheduled Board meeting to be placed on that meeting’s agenda.

Application readiness checklist

License type

Choose Residential Basic, Residential Light Commercial, General Contractor or General Contractor Limited Tier first.

Individual vs QA

Decide whether you will contract personally/sole proprietor or for a registered business as Qualifying Agent.

Experience/projects

Prepare experience, project history, references and qualifying education documentation for the application category.

Financial proof

Prepare the required net-worth affirmation or permitted financial-responsibility alternative for the category.

Insurance

Prepare general liability insurance and workers’ compensation when applicable.

Entity documents

A company applicant/QA route can require Georgia Corporations Division authority and related business documents.

Official Residential Contractor How-To
  1. Scroll to your exact application type.
  2. Choose Individual or Qualifying Agent.
  3. Choose Examination, Reciprocity, Prior Approval, Reactivation or Reinstatement as applicable.
  4. Copy the official document checklist into your own preparation list.
  5. Gather taxes, judgments, bankruptcy documentation if applicable.
  6. Prepare net-worth / bank credit / line-of-credit / surety-bond documentation required by the specific route.
  7. Prepare liability and workers’ compensation documentation.
  8. Prepare Secure & Verifiable Document and citizenship/immigration documentation.
  9. Only then open GOALS and begin the application.
Official Commercial General Contractor How-To
  1. Select GC or GC Limited Tier.
  2. Select Individual or Qualifying Agent.
  3. Identify Examination, Reciprocity, Prior Approval, Reactivation or Reinstatement.
  4. Prepare college transcript/diploma/certificate if using an education route.
  5. Prepare project/experience evidence.
  6. Prepare NASCLA transcript if already passed.
  7. Prepare net-worth/financial records.
  8. Prepare liability and workers’ compensation evidence.
  9. Prepare Corporation Letter of Authority for applicable business routes.

Current fee rule

Use the live fee schedule. Older Georgia contractor PDFs still show historical paper-application fees such as $210. Georgia’s current contractor how-to pages now direct users to the GOALS Fee Schedule. Do not budget from a legacy PDF without checking the current transaction.
Official GOALS Fee Schedule
Official GOALS PDF decoded

Applying Through an LLC or Corporation? Follow the GOALS Business Account QRG

Georgia’s official January 17, 2025 GOALS Quick Reference Guide explains that a business license application requires a Business Account first.

Open Official GOALS Business Account QRG PDF
  1. Log into the Georgia Professional Licensing Boards portal.
  2. Click Create Business Account.
  3. Select the ownership type.
  4. Enter the required company information.
  5. Enter or search the business address; manually enter it if the address search does not locate it.
  6. Enter the phone number.
  7. Accept the terms and submit the Business Account.
  8. Open My Businesses and confirm the new business appears.
  9. Go to Licenses.
  10. Click Apply for a License.
  11. Select Business License Type.
  12. Select the business from Apply as.
  13. Answer the new Facility/Location question.
  14. Select the Profession and License Type.
  15. Select the application type and continue.
  16. Read every instructions page and use Save and Next.
  17. At payment, review fee details, enter payment information, check the attestation and submit.
  18. Save the successful-submission confirmation.
GOALS account structure: Georgia’s current GOALS documentation says an individual user has one individual account and can access associated business accounts. The email address is the GOALS user ID.
Login trap: Georgia’s GOALS FAQ states the login email is case-sensitive. If an existing-account login fails, verify capitalization before creating another account.
GOALS Help, Videos & QRG Library
Experience requirements

Georgia Contractor Experience Requirements From the Official Comparison PDF

License Experience / education framework Project-history issue
Residential Basic At least two years of proven qualifying experience in Residential Basic or substantially similar experience accepted by the Division. Significant responsibility for successful completion of at least two Residential Basic projects during the two years immediately before application.
Residential Light Commercial Degree + experience, college-credit/experience combination, or qualifying four-year practical-experience route. Significant responsibility for at least two RLC projects during the four years immediately before application.
GC / Limited Tier Degree + one year experience, four-year college/experience combination, or at least four years qualifying construction-industry experience with required general-contractor experience. Commercial/general-contractor administrative, estimating, engineering, supervision or project-management experience can be material to qualification.
Application quality tip: do not write “20 years in construction” and assume that satisfies Georgia’s evidence requirements. Build the experience record around dates, employer/contractor relationship, project type, role, responsibility and reference affidavits required by the exact application.
Exam workflow

Georgia Contractor Exams: What to Do Before Registering With PSI

Residential

Residential Basic: Georgia Residential Basic Contractor Exam + Georgia Business & Law.

Residential Light Commercial: Georgia Residential Light Commercial Contractor Exam + Georgia Business & Law.

Commercial

General Contractor / Limited Tier: NASCLA Accredited Examination for Commercial General Building Contractors + Georgia Business & Law.

Open Official Exam FAQ
  1. Submit the Georgia application first if your route requires Board approval to test.
  2. Wait for the Exam Approval Letter.
  3. Use the PSI registration instructions in that approval letter.
  4. Do not rely on an exam-prep company’s eligibility opinion as Board approval.
  5. Track the approval expiration date; the current Board FAQ states exam approval letters are valid for one year.
  6. Use current Board/PSI instructions for retakes because older Georgia documents contain different retake wording.
Current-source priority: the February 2025 comparison chart contains an older exam-failure note, while the current Board FAQ describes three sittings during the one-year approval period. Follow the current Board FAQ and your actual Exam Approval Letter.
Out-of-state contractors

Georgia Contractor Reciprocity: Exact Current Routes

Georgia license Reciprocal states currently listed What is still required
Residential Basic Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina. Equivalent exam-based license and Georgia eligibility; Georgia process still applies.
Residential Light Commercial No reciprocity currently listed. Use Georgia’s standard eligible application route.
General Contractor Louisiana, Mississippi. Equivalent Building Construction commercial license + Georgia requirements, including Business & Law where required.
General Contractor Limited Tier No reciprocity currently listed. NASCLA history alone is not a Georgia license.
Current Georgia FAQ says reciprocity generally requires an exam-based reciprocal-state license, at least three years of active licensure, no qualifying disciplinary history, and the required residency/business connection to the reciprocal state.
Louisiana Contractor Guide Mississippi Contractor Guide South Carolina Contractor Guide
Important August 2026 renewal guidance

Georgia Contractor Renewal: Two Official Sources Use Different Late-Renewal Language

Georgia contractor licenses in these categories are due for biennial renewal by June 30 of even-numbered years.

Do not automatically assume that August 2026 means “reinstatement only.” Georgia’s current contractor how-to page and general expiration schedule label July 1-July 31 as the late-renewal period. However, Board-specific Rule 553-12-.01 and Rule 553-12-.05 state that a penalty fee applies to contractor renewals made after June 30 through December 31 of the renewal year, and Rule 553-12-.06 describes a six-month late period ending December 31.
What a contractor should do on August 31, 2026
  1. Open the public license search and record the current status.
  2. Log into GOALS.
  3. Open the existing contractor license.
  4. Check whether GOALS offers a renewal transaction for that license/status.
  5. If renewal is offered, follow the live transaction and current fee schedule.
  6. If GOALS instead requires another action, follow that status-specific route.
  7. Because the public how-to and Board-specific renewal rule use different late-period descriptions, call the Board at 404-424-9966 if the correct transaction is unclear.
  8. After processing, return to public search and confirm the live status.
Board-Specific Renewal Rules General Expiration Schedule GOALS Renewal Help

Continuing education in 2026

Residential Basic

3 hours each year of acceptable continuing education.

Residential Light Commercial

6 hours each year of acceptable continuing education.

Commercial GC

The Board FAQ says Commercial General Contractors do not have the residential CE requirement.

New 2026 process: beginning January 1, 2026, Georgia licensees subject to CE requirements must register/report required CE through CE Broker. The Board says a no-cost basic account is sufficient to begin reporting.
Board Rule 553-12 requires residential contractors to retain CE documentation for at least two years after the end of the biennium. Keep certificates even after they appear in CE Broker.
Applicant benefits

Georgia Military, Veteran & Military-Spouse Licensing Benefits

The Georgia Professional Licensing Boards Division publishes a dedicated military/veteran guide covering exam points, expedited processing and limited temporary-work provisions.

5 exam points

Qualifying veteran applicants can receive five points when the statutory veteran-status requirements are met and numerical exam scoring allows the credit.

10 exam points

Qualifying disabled veterans with a line-of-duty disability rating of at least 10% may receive ten points under the program conditions.

Expedited processing

Qualifying active-duty, transitioning service-member and military-spouse categories can receive expedited processing where the applicable licensing law allows it.

Military-spouse temporary work

The state guide describes circumstances in which a qualifying military spouse applying by expedited endorsement may temporarily work using a valid out-of-state license while a Georgia application is pending.

Open Official Georgia Military / Veteran PDF
  1. Read the four applicant categories on the first page.
  2. Do not assume veteran status alone qualifies for every benefit.
  3. If claiming veteran examination points, prepare proof of honorable service and qualifying wartime/conflict service.
  4. Upload the DD-214 required by the licensing how-to when claiming preference.
  5. If a transitioning service member or military spouse, check the military-status box in the Georgia application.
  6. For endorsement, provide official verification for every jurisdiction where the relevant professional license is/was held.
  7. If relying on temporary military-spouse work authority, confirm every statutory condition before performing services.
The military guide states that expedited endorsement applications that are complete can often be processed in roughly 7-10 business days, although cases involving criminal, disciplinary, licensing or other Board-review issues can take longer.
Official complaint workflow

How to File a Georgia Contractor Licensing Complaint

Georgia licensing complaints are submitted through GOALS. A useful complaint is a documented chronology, not only a statement that the homeowner is unhappy.

Open Official Licensing Complaint Instructions
  1. Verify the contractor’s exact license record first.
  2. Record the legal name, business name, address and license number.
  3. Write a date-by-date description of the alleged licensing violation.
  4. Prepare the signed contract.
  5. Add every change order.
  6. Add proposals and invoices.
  7. Add cancelled checks, card receipts or bank-payment evidence.
  8. Add correspondence, emails and text-message screenshots.
  9. Add photographs and videos when relevant.
  10. Add building/trade permit and inspection records.
  11. Open GOALS from the complaint page.
  12. Complete your contact information and respondent information.
  13. Upload clearly named files.
  14. Save the complaint submission confirmation.

Include

  • Your name/address/phone/email.
  • Contractor/person/company identity.
  • License number where applicable.
  • Detailed alleged violation.
  • Supporting contracts and payment records.
  • Other pertinent evidence.

Do not expect

  • A complaint to automatically create a refund.
  • Every ordinary payment dispute to become Board discipline.
  • A complaint filing to replace a court deadline.
  • The licensing Board to act as your private attorney.
Georgia licensing investigations are generally confidential under the state’s professional-licensing framework. A referral for investigation does not itself establish that the contractor violated the law.
GOALS Licensing Complaint Directory Cease & Desist Resources
Consumer route

Georgia Attorney General Consumer Protection: When the Issue Is Bigger Than License Status

The contractor licensing Board handles professional-license jurisdiction. Deceptive business practices and home-repair scams can also be reported to the Georgia Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division when appropriate.

Georgia home-repair scam warnings

Georgia Consumer Protection cautions homeowners about high-pressure solicitation, demands for full advance payment, suspicious promises, unverified contractors and contractors asking the homeowner to pull permits to avoid requirements.

Official Home Repair Guidance
Georgia localization

Local Contractor & Permit Help: Atlanta, Savannah, Augusta and Macon-Bibb

A Georgia state contractor license does not replace a local building permit. Use the city/county serving the property address.

Atlanta

City of Atlanta Office of Buildings

Office of Buildings
55 Trinity Avenue SW
3rd Floor, Suite 3900
Atlanta, GA 30303

Main: 404-330-6150
Residential: 404-330-6906
Light Commercial: 404-330-6920
Commercial: 404-546-1704
Trade permits: 404-865-8550

Office: Monday-Friday, 8:15 AM-5:00 PM
Express Permit change: Atlanta states that beginning February 1, 2025, Express Permit applications must be submitted in person at the Office of Buildings, generally 8:15 AM-3:30 PM on business days. Online Express submissions are no longer accepted under that process.
Open Atlanta Accela Citizen Access
  1. Register/login when a portal transaction requires an account.
  2. Select the correct building or technical permit service.
  3. Do not use the online portal for a process Atlanta specifically requires in person, such as current Express Permit intake.
  4. Use the contractor’s license details when required.
  5. Upload project plans/forms.
  6. Monitor status and corrections.
  7. Verify issued permit and inspections before final payment.
Official Atlanta Office of Buildings Google Maps
Savannah

City of Savannah Development Services

Development Services
20 Interchange Drive
Savannah, GA 31415

Main Development Services: 912-651-6530
Department: 912-651-6510
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:15 AM-5:00 PM
Useful free pre-submittal benefit: Savannah encourages owners, architects, designers, consultants and contractors to bring building projects to an informal Building Plan Review meeting Thursdays at 10:00 AM via Microsoft Teams.
Site-development projects can use Savannah’s Site Plan Review meeting Thursdays at 1:30 PM via Microsoft Teams. The City asks users to contact staff to be placed on the agenda.
Request a Savannah BPR Meeting
  1. Prepare your name and contact information.
  2. Provide the company name.
  3. Provide the project address.
  4. Provide a detailed project scope.
  5. List specific questions for the plan reviewers.
  6. Contact Mike Rose at Development Services or the Building Official using the contact information on the current page.
  7. Ask to be placed on the Thursday Teams agenda.
Commercial renovation trap: Savannah states that commercial renovation applications require a completed Water and Sewer Approval Form before the Building Permit can be issued. Water and Sewer Planning & Engineering: 912-651-6573.
Savannah Building Permits Permit Guidance Google Maps
Augusta-Richmond County

Construction, Permitting & Licensing

Construction, Permitting & Licensing
1803 Marvin Griffin Road
Augusta, GA 30906

Phone: 706-312-5050
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM-5:00 PM
Augusta states that commercial/other construction permits must be under a contractor’s license and regulated electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits require the appropriate Georgia state competency/license.
New 2026 development-review protection: under Augusta’s implementation of Georgia SB 447, effective July 1, 2026, new development applications receive an initial five-business-day completeness review. If incomplete, written notice is to identify deficiencies and applicable legal/code authority.
Augusta’s current SB 447 notice says specified new development applications are accepted Mondays and Wednesdays, 9:00 AM-4:00 PM. Check the live notice before visiting.

Current residential permit fee examples

Augusta’s official permit-fee page currently lists examples including:

  • Residential building: $0.06 per square foot under roof.
  • Electrical per house: $50.
  • Mechanical per house: $50.
  • Plumbing per house: $50.
  • One- and two-family dwellings are exempt from the listed plan-review fee.
Potential development incentive: Augusta’s Enterprise Zone program says qualifying businesses and residential development/rehabilitation projects may be eligible for property-tax abatements and case-by-case waivers that can include building-permit, sign-permit, business-license administrative, rezoning and engineering fees. Eligibility is not automatic.
Open Augusta Incentives
  1. Check whether the project type is listed as eligible.
  2. Confirm whether it is within an applicable Enterprise Zone.
  3. Review investment/job-creation conditions.
  4. For residential construction/rehabilitation, review the improvement-value test.
  5. Call the Program Coordinator at 706-821-1797 before including an incentive in a project budget.
Augusta Permit Information Augusta Permit Fees 2026 SB 447 Process Google Maps
Macon-Bibb County

Building & Fire Safety

Macon-Bibb Building & Fire Safety
3661 Eisenhower Parkway
Suite MB105
Macon, GA 31206

Phone: 478-803-0466
Email: buildingpermits@maconbibb.us
Community Connect benefit: a contractor account can be used to submit electronic plans, receive approved plans, receive permits, schedule inspections, check project status and receive inspection comments online/email.
Macon-Bibb says the contractor account must be set up by the license holder to protect the contractor’s license from misuse; the license holder can then authorize staff access.
2026 code update: Macon-Bibb adopted the new Georgia construction-code set for 2026 projects and provides transition guidance. For new applications after the local transition period, use the newly adopted codes rather than a 2018-code checklist.
Macon-Bibb’s business-process guidance states that construction exceeding $2,500 requires a Building Permit. This local permit trigger is separate from the Georgia state contractor-license analysis.

Macon-Bibb permit PDF details

The current residential building-permit form asks for:

  • Job-site address.
  • New/existing dwelling and project type.
  • Septic or sewer.
  • Heated/unheated square footage.
  • Number of stories.
  • Estimated total project cost including labor and materials.
  • Electrical, low-voltage, mechanical and plumbing subcontractor trades.
  • General contractor business/contact information.
  • Property owner information.
The form expressly states that submitting the application does not authorize construction. Starting before permit issuance can result in a Stop Work Order and/or citation, penalties and fees.
Macon-Bibb Building & Fire Safety Permit Applications Residential Permit PDF Permit Fee Schedule PDF Google Maps
Local owner-builder warning

Macon-Bibb Owner-Occupant Affidavit: Do Not Sign It for a Contractor

Macon-Bibb publishes a Homeowner-Occupant Affidavit for an owner of a single-family residence who will actually act as the contractor.

Open Official Homeowner-Occupant Affidavit PDF
  1. Use it only if you are the qualifying owner/occupant described by the form.
  2. Identify which trades you personally take responsibility for.
  3. Read the code-compliance responsibility statement.
  4. Read the occupancy/use representation.
  5. The current affidavit includes a representation that the property will not be rented, leased or sold within 24 months.
  6. It also asks the homeowner to affirm that the homeowner has not sold/transferred another structure constructed while acting as contractor during the prior 24 months.
  7. The affidavit is notarized.
  8. Do not sign merely because an unlicensed contractor tells you it is “how permits are done.”
If you do not actually qualify for an owner-builder exception, using an owner affidavit to disguise another person’s contracting activity can create serious permit, liability and enforcement problems.
Local fee example

Macon-Bibb Permit Fee Schedule: What the Posted PDF Shows

The fee schedule currently posted by Macon-Bibb Building & Fire Safety includes the following figures. Confirm them before submitting because local fee schedules can be amended.

Item Posted amount / method
Residential minimum permit $35 minimum; valuation-based calculation applies above the listed threshold.
Trade added to residential permit $35 per indicated trade under the posted calculation.
Residential / commercial plan review submittal $150 per building under the currently posted fee PDF.
Single-trade minimum $35 for the valuation range stated in the posted fee schedule.
Residential demolition $35 per one- or two-family dwelling.
Other-building demolition $50 per building.
Reinspection $35.
Commercial Certificate of Occupancy $100.
The PDF itself carries an older original schedule date even though it is currently posted by the County. Treat it as the current posted reference, not a guarantee that no later fee amendment exists; confirm with 478-803-0466 before calculating final project costs.
Local development incentives

Georgia Local Project Incentives Contractors and Developers Should Know About

Savannah Enterprise Zone / job-creation incentives

Savannah offers incentives to qualifying businesses/projects meeting investment, location and job-creation criteria. Programs include Enterprise Zone Property Tax Abatement and other economic-development incentives.

The City’s Enterprise Zone program is designed to encourage reinvestment in targeted areas and can include property-tax abatement and certain fee waivers for qualifying projects.

Open Savannah Job Creation Incentives
  1. Identify the project address.
  2. Check whether it falls in a targeted incentive geography.
  3. Review minimum investment/job-creation criteria.
  4. Contact Savannah’s business/economic development staff before committing projected savings to the construction budget.
  5. Keep incentive approval separate from the building permit process.

Augusta Enterprise Zone incentives

Augusta’s published incentive program includes qualifying new residential construction, residential rehabilitation and several commercial/business categories.

Potential benefits can include graduated ad valorem tax abatement and negotiated waivers of selected local fees.

Check Augusta Eligibility
  1. Check whether the project category qualifies.
  2. For applicable business projects, review job-creation requirements.
  3. For qualifying housing Enterprise Zone projects, check the improvement-value-to-land-value test.
  4. Then open the Augusta incentives page for available benefits.
  5. Get written confirmation before treating a fee waiver or tax abatement as approved.
Incentives are not homeowner rebates by default. These are location/project/business-specific development programs. A normal home remodel does not automatically qualify.
Official PDF / forms desk

Official Georgia PDFs Worth Reading — and What to Extract From Each

Licensure Comparison Chart

Best for: deciding which contractor license actually covers the work.

  • Residential $2,500 definition.
  • Residential Basic scope.
  • Residential Light Commercial building limits.
  • GC / Limited Tier distinction.
  • Experience requirements.
  • Financial responsibility.
  • Liability minimums.
  • Workers’ compensation context.
  • Exams.
  • Reciprocity.
  • Individual vs Qualifying Agent.
Open Comparison PDF

GOALS Business Account QRG

Best for: LLC/corporation applicants.

  • Create Business Account.
  • Ownership type.
  • FEIN/business details.
  • Business address.
  • Licenses → Apply for a License.
  • Business License Type.
  • Apply-as selection.
  • Profession/license type.
  • Payment/attestation.
Open GOALS QRG PDF

Georgia Military / Veteran Licensing Guide

Best for: veteran preference, military-spouse and expedited processing questions.

  • Four military/veteran categories.
  • 5-point veteran credit.
  • 10-point qualifying disabled-veteran credit.
  • Expedited endorsement.
  • Military-spouse temporary-practice conditions.
  • Active-duty renewal relief.
Open Military Guide PDF

Macon-Bibb Residential Permit Application

Best for: understanding what the local permit office needs from owner and contractor.

  • Project address/type.
  • Square footage.
  • Estimated total valuation.
  • Subcontractor trades.
  • General contractor identity.
  • Owner contact.
  • Licensed-cardholder signature.
Open Residential Permit PDF
Edge-case answers

Georgia Contractor Lookup Troubleshooting

Contract says LLC; lookup only shows a person’s name

Do not assume the person’s individual license automatically covers the LLC. Search the company and verify a proper Qualifying Agent relationship.

Company appears in eCorp but no contractor license appears

An active Georgia company registration is not a contractor license. Ask for the exact contractor license number and verify through the licensing system.

GC license is active but project is $1.5 million

If the credential is General Contractor Limited Tier, the official chart’s $1 million limit is a major issue. Confirm the contractor holds the appropriate unrestricted GC authority.

General contractor says electrician works “under my license”

Georgia specifically separates regulated Chapter 14 trade work. Verify the electrical license separately.

License says “Active-Renewal Pending”

Georgia has published guidance explaining that a properly submitted timely renewal in an Active-Renewal Pending status is not the same as a lapsed/inactive license. Check the live record and current Board guidance rather than interpreting the phrase yourself.

Contractor says permit is unnecessary

Call the city/county building office with the exact project address and work description. State contractor licensing and project permitting are separate legal questions.

Permit is in homeowner’s name

Ask why. If the homeowner is not actually acting as owner-builder, do not sign an owner-builder affidavit merely to help someone avoid contractor requirements.

Search shows no result and contractor wants a deposit today

Do not let urgency replace verification. Ask for the exact license number and call 404-424-9966.

Frequently asked questions

Georgia Contractor License Lookup FAQs

What is the official Georgia contractor license lookup?

The current primary route is the Georgia Secretary of State GOALS Licensee Search. Georgia also maintains official individual and business/company verification interfaces that are useful for narrower person-versus-company searches and wildcard searching.

Can I search a Georgia contractor by license number?

Yes. License number is generally the best first identifier. Enter the contractor’s claimed number in the official GOALS or Georgia verification search, open the complete matching record and compare the license type and legal identity with the contract.

Can I search a Georgia contractor with only part of the name?

Yes. Georgia’s official verification interface supports wildcard searching by placing an asterisk after partial text, and its instructions recommend using fewer search criteria when an exact search fails.

Is a Georgia LLC registration the same as a contractor license?

No. Georgia Corporations Division records establish the business entity record. Contractor licensing is a separate Professional Licensing Boards record.

What is a Georgia contractor Qualifying Agent?

A Qualifying Agent is a licensed individual affiliated by ownership or employment with a business organization and authorized to act for that organization in contracting matters under Georgia’s licensing framework.

Can an Individual Georgia contractor license be used by the person’s LLC?

The Board’s official comparison chart states that an individual license does not authorize the licensee to perform work on behalf of a separate business organization such as an LLC or corporation. The appropriate Qualifying Agent and company licensing structure should be verified.

What are Georgia’s four main contractor license categories?

Residential Basic, Residential Light Commercial, General Contractor and General Contractor Limited Tier.

What is the Georgia General Contractor Limited Tier project limit?

Georgia’s official licensure comparison chart states that a General Contractor Limited Tier license has a financial limit of no more than $1,000,000 on a contract.

What is the Georgia Residential Basic liability insurance minimum?

The current Board comparison chart and FAQ list a minimum of $300,000 per occurrence for Residential Basic contractors.

What is the liability insurance minimum for Georgia Residential Light Commercial and General Contractors?

The current Board comparison chart lists $500,000 per occurrence for Residential Light Commercial, General Contractor and General Contractor Limited Tier.

When is Georgia workers’ compensation insurance required?

The Georgia contractor Board’s current FAQ and comparison chart state that workers’ compensation insurance is required under Georgia law when the contractor has three or more employees in Georgia.

Does a Georgia general contractor license let someone personally perform electrical or plumbing work?

No. Georgia’s contractor definition allows those trades to be within the contracted project scope, but work requiring separate Chapter 14 licensing must be performed by persons properly licensed for that trade.

Is a Georgia residential contractor license required for work over $2,500?

Georgia’s official comparison chart defines residential contracting using a threshold where the total value of the work or compensation, whichever is higher, exceeds $2,500. Statutory exemptions, project scope, separately licensed trades and local permits must still be evaluated.

When do Georgia contractor licenses renew?

The licenses covered by the contractor Board are due by June 30 of even-numbered years. Current Georgia sources use different descriptions of the post-June-30 late-renewal process: the general expiration schedule/how-to identifies July 1-31 as late renewal, while Board-specific Rule 553-12 states that penalty renewal can apply through December 31. After July 31, check GOALS and contact the Board rather than guessing the proper transaction.

How much continuing education does a Georgia Residential Basic contractor need?

Three hours of acceptable continuing education each year. Required CE is now reported through CE Broker under Georgia’s 2026 reporting process.

How much continuing education does a Georgia Residential Light Commercial contractor need?

Six hours of acceptable continuing education each year.

Does a Georgia Commercial General Contractor need the residential CE hours?

The current contractor Board FAQ states that Commercial General Contractors are not required to complete the residential continuing-education requirement.

Which states currently have contractor reciprocity with Georgia?

Georgia currently lists Residential Basic reciprocity with Louisiana, Mississippi and South Carolina, and General Contractor reciprocity with Louisiana and Mississippi. Residential Light Commercial and General Contractor Limited Tier do not currently have reciprocity listed.

Can veterans receive Georgia contractor exam points?

Qualifying veterans may receive five examination points, and qualifying disabled veterans rated at least 10% for a line-of-duty disability may receive ten points, subject to the state’s eligibility and exam-scoring conditions.

How long does Georgia contractor application processing take?

The current Georgia residential and commercial contractor how-to pages say applications are generally processed within about 20 business days, although deficiencies, application volume and required Board review can extend the process.

What happens if my Georgia contractor application is deficient?

The current contractor how-to pages state that the 20-business-day processing count restarts when correct and complete deficiency material is received and that incomplete applications can be withdrawn if deficiencies are not resolved within 60 days.

Can I file a Georgia contractor complaint online?

Yes. Professional licensing complaints are submitted through GOALS. Prepare the contractor identity, license number, detailed allegations and supporting contracts, invoices, payment proof and other evidence before beginning.

Does a Georgia contractor license replace a local building permit?

No. State contractor licensing and city or county building/trade permits are separate. Verify the permit with the local jurisdiction serving the project address.

Is ContractorsBoard.org an official Georgia government website?

No. ContractorsBoard.org is an independent informational and navigation resource. Georgia Secretary of State, licensing Board and local government records control.

Source verification

Primary Government Sources Used for This 2026 Guide

  • Georgia Secretary of State State Licensing Board for Residential and Commercial General Contractors.
  • Georgia GOALS.
  • Georgia Professional License Verification — Individual Search.
  • Georgia Professional License Verification — Business/Company Search.
  • Georgia contractor Board FAQ.
  • Georgia Rules Chapter 553.
  • Georgia Rules Chapter 295-2.
  • Official contractor Licensure Comparison Chart revised 02/2025.
  • Official GOALS Business Account QRG dated January 17, 2025.
  • Georgia Military/Veteran Professional Licensing guidance.
  • Georgia Corporations Division eCorp.
  • Georgia licensing complaint instructions.
  • Georgia Attorney General Consumer Protection Division.
  • City of Atlanta Office of Buildings.
  • City of Savannah Development Services.
  • Augusta-Richmond Planning, Construction, Permitting & Licensing.
  • Macon-Bibb Building & Fire Safety.
Reviewed August 31, 2026. This guide deliberately does not cache the status of any individual contractor. Always rerun the official license and permit searches before making a hiring or payment decision.

A Georgia Contractor Check Is a Five-Record Process

1. Search the contractor in GOALS. 2. Match the Individual or Qualifying Agent to the licensed company. 3. Check the Georgia Corporations Division. 4. Verify separately licensed trades. 5. Confirm the city/county permit.

That combination gives a homeowner or project manager much more useful information than a screenshot saying only “license found.”

Official Georgia License Search Use Verification Helper Check Local Permits
ContractorsBoard.org does not issue, renew, suspend, revoke or officially verify Georgia licenses. Government licensing and permit records control.