How to check a contractor's licence in Georgia
In Georgia, licences for building trades come from boards run through the Professional Licensing Boards Division of the Secretary of State. You check one on the License Lookup page of the Secretary of State's website, which opens the state's GOALS licensee search. Local Business America does not check licences, verify businesses or rank them. Always check with the state yourself.
Researched October 2026, from the official sources named on this page. Rules change, so confirm with the board before you rely on them.
The steps
- 1
Ask for the licence details
Ask the contractor for the name on the licence, the licence number and the kind of licence they hold. You need the name and the number if you ever file a complaint.
- 2
Open the License Lookup page
Go to Licensing: License Lookup on the Georgia Secretary of State's website: https://sos.ga.gov/licensing-division-license-lookup. Under Building & Contractors, pick the board for the trade.
- 3
Search in GOALS
The board links open the GOALS licensee search at https://goals.sos.ga.gov/GASOSOneStop/s/licensee-search. The state describes it as a way to search for a licensed individual or a licensed facility.
- 4
Match the name and the trade
Make sure the name you find matches the person or company you are dealing with. Make sure the licence is for the right trade. A plumber is under one board and a general contractor is under another.
- 5
Get it in writing
The Georgia Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division says to get written estimates from several companies and to insist on a contract with all promises in writing.
Where to look
The state's page is called Licensing: License Lookup. It is on the Georgia Secretary of State's website. It says you can search for licences by choosing your board from a list.
Under Building & Contractors the list has these boards: Conditioned Air Contractors, Electrical Contractors, Low Voltage Contractors, Plumbers, Residential and General Contractors, and Utility Contractors. Each link opens the GOALS licensee search.
The Licensing Division is at 3920 Arkwright Rd., Suite 195, Macon, Georgia 31210. Its phone number is (404) 424-9966.
Which board covers which job
Residential and general contractors are under the State Licensing Board for Residential and Commercial General Contractors. Older state rules and the lookup list call it Residential and General Contractors. It has a residential division and a general contractor division.
Plumbers, electricians, conditioned air contractors, low voltage contractors and utility contractors are under the State Construction Industry Licensing Board. The state rules name a Statewide Master and Journeyman Plumber License, a Statewide Electrical Contractor License, a Conditioned Air Contractor License and a Statewide Low-Voltage Contractor License.
The state's FAQ says a licence is not needed for work that counts as a specialty trade. It also says Georgia does not require a licence to build your own home, but local building rules still apply. If you are not sure, ask the board.
Residential and general contractor licences
The residential division has two kinds of licence: residential-basic and residential-light commercial. There is also a general contractor division with a full tier and a limited tier.
A residential licence goes to the person who qualifies it and to the business. So check that the business name matches the licence.
How to file a complaint
Complaints are filed online through GOALS. The state's page is called How To Submit A Licensing Complaint. You will need your own contact details, the name and address of the person or business, the licence number if there is one, and a clear description of what happened. Add papers such as contracts or invoices.
There is also a form for someone who has no licence. It is called Licensing Complaint for Unlicensed Individual or Unlicensed Facility/School. Pick the trade from its list.
The state says complaints are confidential, and that boards can only act on a person's licence. They cannot set fees or settle fee disputes. For money problems, the state says legal advice or civil court is an option.
What this site does and does not do
Local Business America does not check licences, verify businesses or rank them. We are not a licensing body.
Use our directory to find names. Then check each licence with the state before you hire. For more on plumbers, see our guide Hiring a plumber in Georgia.
Common questions
- Where do I check a contractor's licence in Georgia?
- Use the License Lookup page at https://sos.ga.gov/licensing-division-license-lookup. It sends you to the state's GOALS licensee search.
- Who licenses residential and general contractors?
- The State Licensing Board for Residential and Commercial General Contractors. The rules and the lookup list call it Residential and General Contractors.
- Who licenses plumbers, electricians and air conditioning contractors?
- The State Construction Industry Licensing Board, through separate divisions. The lookup has a board for Plumbers, Electrical Contractors and Conditioned Air Contractors.
- What licence types do residential contractors hold?
- Residential-basic and residential-light commercial. The state rules also set up a separate general contractor division.
- How do I report a contractor?
- File a complaint online through GOALS. Have the name, address and licence number ready if you know them, and describe what happened.
- What if the person has no licence?
- The state has a separate form for unlicensed individuals. The board may in some cases hold a hearing for a cease and desist order.
- Can the board get my money back?
- The state says boards have no authority to settle business fee disputes. It says legal advice or civil court is an option for that.