Who can fix it in Pennsylvania? Handyman and contractor license rules

Sources

1. Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act (Act 132 of 2008), § 2: "Home improvement" — Pennsylvania General Assemblyfor which the total cash price of all work agreed upon between the contractor and owner is more than $500
2. Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act, § 2: "Contractor" (small-contractor exception) — Pennsylvania General AssemblyA person for whom the total cash value of all of that person's home improvements is less than $5,000 during the previous taxable year.
3. Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act, § 3(a): Registration of contractors — Pennsylvania General AssemblyNo person shall hold himself out as a contractor, nor shall a person perform any home improvement without first registering with the bureau, as provided for in this act.
4. Home Improvement Contractor Registration: Frequently Asked Questions — Pennsylvania Office of Attorney GeneralAnyone who owns or operates a home improvement business or who offers, performs, or agrees to perform home improvements in Pennsylvania must register with the Office of Attorney General unless they fall within two exceptions
5. Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act, § 6: Proof of registration — Pennsylvania General AssemblyA contractor shall include its registration number in all advertisements distributed within this Commonwealth and on all contracts, estimates and proposals with owners in this Commonwealth.
6. Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act, § 7(a): Contract requirements — Pennsylvania General AssemblyNo home improvement contract shall be valid or enforceable against an owner unless it: (1) Is in writing and legible and contains the home improvement contractor registration number of the performing contractor.
7. Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act, § 7(b): Right of rescission — Pennsylvania General Assemblyshall be permitted to rescind the contract without penalty regardless of where the contract was signed, within three business days of the date of signing.
8. Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act, § 9(9): Prohibited acts (payment before signing) — Pennsylvania General AssemblyDemand or receive any payment for a home improvement before the home improvement contract is signed.
9. Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act, § 9(10): Deposit limit — Pennsylvania General Assemblyfor a home improvement contract in which the total price is more than $5,000, receive a deposit in excess of: (A) one-third of the home improvement contract price; or (B) one-third of the home improvement contract price plus the cost of special order materials that will be ordered, as designated in the written contract.
10. Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act, § 2: "Home improvement" includes roofs — Pennsylvania General AssemblyConstruction, replacement, installation or improvement of driveways, swimming pools, pool houses, porches, garages, roofs, siding, insulation, solar energy systems
11. Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act, § 2: "Home improvement" includes central heating and air conditioning — Pennsylvania General AssemblyWithout regard to affixation, the installation of central heating, air conditioning, storm windows or awnings.
12. Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act, § 2: unpaid owner work excluded — Pennsylvania General AssemblyAny work performed without compensation by the owner of the owner's private residence or residential rental property.
13. Contractor Licensing (Uniform Construction Code) — Pennsylvania Department of Labor & IndustryThe Commonwealth of Pennsylvania currently has no licensure or certification requirements for most construction contractors (or their employees).
14. Contractor Licensing: Municipal certification and licensure — Pennsylvania Department of Labor & IndustrySome of Pennsylvania’s 2,562 municipalities have established local licensure or certification requirements for contractors or construction trades people. Typically, these requirements pertain to home improvement contractors, electrical contractors (or electricians), and plumbing contractors (or plumbers).
15. Trade licenses: Get an Electrical Contractor License — City of PhiladelphiaHow to get a license to do electrical work in Philadelphia.
16. Trade licenses: Get a Journeyman Plumber License — City of PhiladelphiaHow to get a license to do plumbing work as a journeyman.
17. 34 Pa. Code § 403.62(a): Permit requirements — Pennsylvania Code & Bulletin (Legislative Reference Bureau)An owner or authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the occupancy of a residential building or erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace an electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system regulated by the Uniform Construction Code shall first apply to the building code official and obtain the required permit
18. 34 Pa. Code § 403.62(b): Emergency repairs — Pennsylvania Code & Bulletin (Legislative Reference Bureau)An emergency repair or replacement of equipment may be made without first applying for a permit if a permit application is submitted to the building code official within 3 business days of the repair or replacement.
19. 34 Pa. Code § 403.62(c): Permit exemptions — Pennsylvania Code & Bulletin (Legislative Reference Bureau)A permit is not required for the exceptions listed in § 403.1(b) (relating to scope) and the following, if the work does not violate a law or ordinance: (1) Fences that are no more than 6 feet high.
20. Pa. Senate Bill 1324 (2025-2026 session): bill status — Pennsylvania General AssemblyLaid on the table (Pursuant to Senate Rule 9), June 25, 2026
21. Pa. Senate Bill 1324, Printer's No. 1679: bill text ("Home improvement" floor) — Pennsylvania General Assemblyfor which the total cash price of all work agreed upon between the contractor and owner is more than [$500] $1,000
22. Pa. Senate Bill 1324, Printer's No. 1679: bill text (small-contractor exception struck) — Pennsylvania General AssemblyThe term does not include [any of the following: (1) A person for whom the total cash value of all of that person's home improvements is less than $5,000 during the previous taxable year.
23. Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act, § 9(10)(ii): Deposit-limit exception for home improvement retailers — Pennsylvania General AssemblyThe provisions of subparagraph (i) shall not apply to a home improvement retailer, regardless of net worth, who does all of the following: (A) Posts an irrevocable letter of credit payable to the bureau
24. Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act, § 9(10)(ii)(B): Retailer's contractors registered and insured — Pennsylvania General AssemblyEnsures that its contractors are registered under this act and have proof of liability insurance as defined in section 4(a)(1)(ix).
25. Shafer Electric & Construction v. Mantia, No. 28 WAP 2013 (Pa. July 21, 2014) — Supreme Court of Pennsylvania (Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania)We agree with Appellee and the Superior Court that Section 517.7(g) does not preclude a non-compliant contractor from pursuing a cause of action in quantum meruit

Checked October 20, 2026. We used AI-assisted research, then separate review passes that tried to prove each claim wrong against the law and agency pages above. This is general information, not legal advice. Rules can change; confirm with the state board or your local building department before you hire or start work. See a mistake? Email [email protected].