[Skip to the Consumer Guide - Contactor Licensing law]
As an architect becoming a contractor, I found myself knee deep in GA contractor law. Maybe other licensure candidates skim... but architects are used to actually reading the law. It's a learned obsession. Eww, I know. I enjoy getting my information directly from the horses mouth.
In my deep dive I discovered: Most people don't understand contractor laws, and even worse, most contractors don't either… or even know where to find it?! (hint: It's online.)
TWO MAJOR SECTIONS APPLY:
Department 553. RULES OF STATE LICENSING BOARD FOR RESIDENTIAL AND GENERAL CONTRACTORS
O.C.G.A. §§ Title 43-Chapter 41: Residential and Commercial General Contractors
THE HIGHLIGHTS:
- Being a licensed contractor in Georgia matters, and there are a lot of non-obvious rules.
- Licensed professionals (such as Architects and Licensed Contractors) put their own licenses at risk by recommending Unlicensed contractors (if a license is required.)
When I read that I almost fell out of my chair! How can I as an architect be held to law sections outside of the ones pertaining to architects? Architects don't typically read Contractor Law. Well, it's there, in black and white... *Shiver* [O.C.G.A. § 43-41-12(b)] The law unfortunately doesn't give credit for ignorance.
- Most contractors aren't licensed, even though they’ll claim it. Check license status! Don't believe these Chucks-in-a-truck!... or worse, official looking companies that expect no one to actually check because they look and act the part.
- To protect my OWN licenses, I check everyone I work with. Sometimes even the commercial trucks out and about, for fun... for research? I don't know. My very unscientific research confirms, most people claiming to be licensed, aren't. Whomp whomp.
I wrote a Consumer Guide that explains some of the most important points (It's a bit nerdy, but feel free to skip around). I keep hearing horror stories from owners who unknowingly hired unlicensed contractors. I can't solve all of the world's problems, but I can draw peoples' attention to the safety measures that are ALREADY in place, and to encourage unlicensed pros to get legitimate!
Reach out if you have any questions or... If you'd like to get licensed? I'm here to support anyone looking to do it right! Don’t go it alone!
