If you are a licensed general contractor, you will eventually need a general contractor renewal to keep your license and continue working. As with registering for a general contractor license, the requirements for a license renewal vary by state. In many places, the renewal period for a license is relatively short (two or three years in most states) for an active license. For an inactive license, however, you have a longer expiration period of about four years.
When Should You Renew Your License?
You can easily check your license’s expiration date by looking at the physical license or checking the status of the license online. If your license is active, your state’s licensing board will probably send a renewal application one or two months before the expiration date.
If you move after getting your general contractor license, be sure to provide the board with your new address so that they know where to send the paperwork. This avoids delays in the application process. If you don’t get a renewal application within 45 days of the license’s expiration date, call the board or visit their website to renew your license online. You’ll also want to submit your renewal application before the deadline to avoid late fees.
What is Required to Renew a License?
Although states have different requirements for renewing a license, there are many overlapping requirements for a general contractor renewal. Generally, you will need to supply the state’s board with the following:
original registration card
current insurance certificates
a valid photo identification
renewal application
Find more information about renewing your general contractor license here.
Changes in License Structure
If your company has changed structure, you’ll have different requirements for a license renewal. If there has been a change in the business entity, such as a transition from a sole owner to a partnership, a partnership to a corporation, or an individual owner to a corporation, you may not be able to apply for a license renewal.
Instead, you will have to apply for a new license. If your company’s corporate registration number has changed, you’ll need to apply for a new license instead of a renewal.
Renewing an Inactive License
Your general contractor license can expire for different reasons. Even though you still hold a license, you won’t be legally eligible to perform contracting work with an inactive license. You can, however, reinstate the license if you wish to continue working as a general contractor.
The process is similar for renewing an inactive license. You’ll still need to complete an application for renewal and pay a renewal fee.
What if a License Expires?
If your license expires, or if the state board doesn’t receive an acceptable renewal application before the license expiration date, the license renewal is considered delinquent. Keep in mind that you won’t be able to legally perform work after your license expires and before you get a new one. You can typically renew a license within a few years of its expiration.
As with getting a new contractor’s license, there are state-specific requirements for renewing a license. Be sure to check when your license expires to make sure you renew it on time. If there has been any change in your business structure or your license is inactive, contact your state board to determine how to proceed.
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