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Pennsylvania home improvement license: home improvement contractor registration (HICPA)
Pennsylvania registers home improvement contractors; the agency pages read list no exam. Contractors who perform at least $5,000 of home improvements a year register with the Attorney General under the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act (Act 132 of 2008). The Attorney General says registration is not an endorsement and does not assess competency. The agency's documents disagree on the fee ($100 or $50); a registration lasts 2 years.
- 1Who registers $5,000+ of work a year
- 2To register $100 or $50
- 3Term 2 years
- 4Insurance $50,000
Who must register in Pennsylvania
Contractors who perform at least $5,000 of home improvements a year register with the Attorney General under the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act (Act 132 of 2008). The Attorney General says registration is not an endorsement and does not assess competency. Contractors doing less than $5,000 of home improvements in a calendar year are exempt from registering. A home improvement under the act is work whose total cash price is more than $500; building a new home is not a home improvement.
The Pennsylvania source lists these as outside the registration requirement:
- Contractors under $5,000 of home improvements a year
- Home improvement retailers with a net worth over $50 million
- New home construction
Fees
| Fee | Amount | Counted in "to register" |
|---|---|---|
| Registration, two years (registration page figure; other AG documents print $50) | $100 | yes |
"To register" adds the fees a new, smallest business pays on its first application. In Pennsylvania: $100 or $50 (agency documents disagree).
The fee is not settled. The Attorney General's own documents disagree on the fee. Its registration page (last modified June 30, 2026) says that, due to a change in the Commonwealth Fiscal Code, 72 P.S. § 1603-U, the fee has been increased to $100 every two years and applies to all new and renewal applications. Its Contractor FAQ, its online registration portal (hic.attorneygeneral.gov), the information section of its HICPA page (last modified June 25, 2026) and its application instructions (revised 4/2017) still print $50. The Fiscal Code section itself was not read. The page shows both figures and does not treat either as settled; confirm the amount with the Attorney General's office before paying.
Term and renewal
Registrations are valid for two years and are renewed every two years; renewals keep the same registration number.
Insurance, exam and other conditions
Insurance: At least $50,000 of personal injury (bodily harm) liability coverage and $50,000 of property damage coverage.
Exam: None; the Attorney General's pages describe no exam, test or competency check. A registration records who the contractor is and that it carries what the law asks for; it is not a test of building skill. Electrical, plumbing and other licensed trade work still needs the trade license where the state issues one.
Contracts: Every home improvement contract must be written, legible and signed by the consumer and the contractor, and include at least the total price, estimated start and completion dates and a description of the work (73 P.S. § 517.7 lists the rest). The registration number must appear on advertisements, contracts, estimates and proposals. Without the written notice of cancellation worded as the law requires, the contract may stay voidable after the three-day period. Down payments are limited on projects over $5,000.
After July 1, 2009, cities and counties may not separately license or register home improvement contractors.
How Pennsylvania compares
Of the 4 registration states on this page family, Pennsylvania ranks 1 of 4 from lowest to highest cost to first register (Pennsylvania $100 or $50 (agency documents disagree), New Jersey $110, Connecticut $220 and Massachusetts $250). Where agency documents disagree, the ranking uses the higher figure.
Other registration states: Connecticut · Massachusetts · New Jersey. All of them side by side: home improvement contractor license by state. The Pennsylvania general contractor page covers the state's other building credentials on this site.
Questions
Does Pennsylvania require a home improvement contractor license?
Pennsylvania requires a registration, not a skills license. Contractors who perform at least $5,000 of home improvements a year register with the Attorney General under the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act (Act 132 of 2008). The Attorney General says registration is not an endorsement and does not assess competency. Contractors doing less than $5,000 of home improvements in a calendar year are exempt from registering. A home improvement under the act is work whose total cash price is more than $500; building a new home is not a home improvement.
How much is a Pennsylvania home improvement registration?
Registration, two years (registration page figure; other AG documents print $50): $100. The Attorney General's own documents disagree on the fee. Its registration page (last modified June 30, 2026) says that, due to a change in the Commonwealth Fiscal Code, 72 P.S. § 1603-U, the fee has been increased to $100 every two years and applies to all new and renewal applications. Its Contractor FAQ, its online registration portal (hic.attorneygeneral.gov), the information section of its HICPA page (last modified June 25, 2026) and its application instructions (revised 4/2017) still print $50. The Fiscal Code section itself was not read. The page shows both figures and does not treat either as settled; confirm the amount with the Attorney General's office before paying.
How long does a Pennsylvania home improvement registration last?
Registrations are valid for two years and are renewed every two years; renewals keep the same registration number.
What insurance does a Pennsylvania home improvement contractor need?
At least $50,000 of personal injury (bodily harm) liability coverage and $50,000 of property damage coverage.
Sources and last checked
| What | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| $5,000 threshold, $100 two-year fee citing 72 P.S. § 1603-U, competency disclaimer | PA Office of Attorney General, Home Improvement Contractor Registration (last modified June 30, 2026) | 2026-10-25 |
| $50 fee, two-year term, insurance minimums, registration number on ads, $500 definition, new homes excluded, $50 million retailer exemption | PA Office of Attorney General, Contractor Frequently Asked Questions | 2026-10-25 |
| Contract terms, cancellation notice, down payments, local registration ban; prints both $100 and $50 | PA Office of Attorney General, What is the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act? (last modified June 25, 2026) | 2026-10-25 |
| $50 application fee | PA Office of Attorney General, HIC online registration portal | 2026-10-25 |
| $50 fee, insurance wording, what the application asks for | PA Office of Attorney General, HICPA application instructions (revised 4/2017) | 2026-10-25 |
This page summarises what the Pennsylvania sources said on 2026-10-25. Fees and rules change; verify with Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Bureau of Consumer Protection before registering or hiring. General information, not legal advice.