Massachusetts Home Improvement Contractor License Requirements
Official classification: Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) Registration · Issued by the Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation (OCABR).
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In Massachusetts, home improvement contractors must hold the Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) Registration, issued by the Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation (OCABR), and no state surety bond is required. Full requirements — experience, exams, fees, insurance, renewal and reciprocity — are detailed below.
How to become a licensed home improvement contractor in Massachusetts
Follow these steps to earn your Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) Registration. Every figure is verified against the Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation (OCABR); full detail for each step is further down the page.
- Build the required experience. None required — HIC is a consumer-protection registration under M.G.L. c.142A, not an examined trade license. Structural or load-bearing work additionally requires a Construction Supervisor License (CSL), which is a separate credential.
- Confirm exam requirements. Massachusetts sets no state trade exam for this license, though your city or county may require one.
- Line up insurance. You'll need liability insurance (Applicants must submit evidence of "adequate contractor insurance" per 201 CMR 18.02; no statewide minimum coverage dollar amount is published for HIC registration).
- Submit your application and fees. Apply through the Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation (OCABR) — $150 registration fee (201 CMR 18.02(9)(a) sets it at the fee charged for the Construction Supervisor License), plus a one-time Guaranty Fund fee due at initial registration, tiered by number of employees under 201 CMR 18.02(9)(c): $100 (0–3 employees), $200 (4–10 employees), $300 (11–30 employees), $500 (more than 30 employees) application fee, plus a Included in application fee — HIC is a registration, not a separately issued license; the $150 application fee covers issuance license fee. Processing time: Not published.
- Keep the license active. Renew every 2 years (expires two years from the date of issuance; file the renewal within the 30 days before expiration).
Massachusetts home improvement contractor license lookup
To confirm a home improvement contractor is properly licensed in Massachusetts — or to check the status of your own license — search the issuing agency's official license database. The record shows whether the license is active and in good standing.
License types
- Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) Registration — Required of contractors and subcontractors performing home improvement work (repair, replacement, remodeling, alteration, conversion, modernization, or improvement) on existing 1-4 family, owner-occupied residential dwellings in Massachusetts. One statewide registration covers the business; it does not itself authorize load-bearing/structural work.
Requirements at a glance
| Experience required | None required — HIC is a consumer-protection registration under M.G.L. c.142A, not an examined trade license. Structural or load-bearing work additionally requires a Construction Supervisor License (CSL), which is a separate credential. |
|---|---|
| Application fee | $150 registration fee (201 CMR 18.02(9)(a) sets it at the fee charged for the Construction Supervisor License), plus a one-time Guaranty Fund fee due at initial registration, tiered by number of employees under 201 CMR 18.02(9)(c): $100 (0–3 employees), $200 (4–10 employees), $300 (11–30 employees), $500 (more than 30 employees) |
| License fee | Included in application fee — HIC is a registration, not a separately issued license; the $150 application fee covers issuance |
| Renewal fee | $100 every 2 years (201 CMR 18.02(9)(a) sets the HIC fee at the fee charged for the Construction Supervisor License, whose renewal is $100); registrants whose employee count has grown into a higher Guaranty Fund tier since last registering may owe an additional Guaranty Fund payment at renewal |
| Renewal period | Every 2 years (expires two years from the date of issuance; file the renewal within the 30 days before expiration) |
| Continuing education | None required |
| Bond required | No surety bond is required. Instead, every registrant pays a one-time fee into the state-administered Home Improvement Contractor Guaranty Fund, which compensates eligible homeowners for unpaid court judgments against a registered HIC, up to $25,000 per case. |
| Liability insurance | Applicants must submit evidence of "adequate contractor insurance" per 201 CMR 18.02; no statewide minimum coverage dollar amount is published for HIC registration |
| Property damage | — |
| Workers' comp | — |
| Background check | Not required for HIC registration itself (no CORI/background-check requirement appears in M.G.L. c.142A or 201 CMR 18.00); this differs from the separate Construction Supervisor License (CSL) process |
| Credit requirement | None published |
| Reciprocity | None |
| Processing time | Not published |
Exams
No state trade exam is required — the Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) Registration is a registration, not an examined license. Local jurisdictions may set their own exam requirements.
Renewing a Massachusetts home improvement contractor license
The Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) Registration renews on a fixed cycle set by the Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation (OCABR). Late and lapsed renewals are handled differently by every board, so check the renewal page linked below before the deadline passes.
| Renewal period | Every 2 years (expires two years from the date of issuance; file the renewal within the 30 days before expiration) |
|---|---|
| Renewal fee | $100 every 2 years (201 CMR 18.02(9)(a) sets the HIC fee at the fee charged for the Construction Supervisor License, whose renewal is $100); registrants whose employee count has grown into a higher Guaranty Fund tier since last registering may owe an additional Guaranty Fund payment at renewal |
| Continuing education | None required |
| Where to renew | Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation (OCABR) |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Massachusetts home improvement contractor license cost?
Application: $150 registration fee (201 CMR 18.02(9)(a) sets it at the fee charged for the Construction Supervisor License), plus a one-time Guaranty Fund fee due at initial registration, tiered by number of employees under 201 CMR 18.02(9)(c): $100 (0–3 employees), $200 (4–10 employees), $300 (11–30 employees), $500 (more than 30 employees). License: Included in application fee — HIC is a registration, not a separately issued license; the $150 application fee covers issuance. Renewal: $100 every 2 years (201 CMR 18.02(9)(a) sets the HIC fee at the fee charged for the Construction Supervisor License, whose renewal is $100); registrants whose employee count has grown into a higher Guaranty Fund tier since last registering may owe an additional Guaranty Fund payment at renewal.
How do I look up a home improvement contractor license in Massachusetts?
Search the official license database at contractorhub.mass.gov. The record shows whether the license is active and in good standing.
Do home improvement contractors in Massachusetts need a surety bond?
No surety bond is required. Instead, every registrant pays a one-time fee into the state-administered Home Improvement Contractor Guaranty Fund, which compensates eligible homeowners for unpaid court judgments against a registered HIC, up to $25,000 per case.
What experience is required for a Massachusetts home improvement contractor license?
None required — HIC is a consumer-protection registration under M.G.L. c.142A, not an examined trade license. Structural or load-bearing work additionally requires a Construction Supervisor License (CSL), which is a separate credential.
Is insurance required for home improvement contractors in Massachusetts?
Liability: Applicants must submit evidence of "adequate contractor insurance" per 201 CMR 18.02; no statewide minimum coverage dollar amount is published for HIC registration Workers' compensation: —
How often must a Massachusetts home improvement contractor license be renewed?
Every 2 years (expires two years from the date of issuance; file the renewal within the 30 days before expiration).
Who has to register as a Massachusetts Home Improvement Contractor?
Any contractor or subcontractor performing home improvement work — repair, replacement, remodeling, alteration, conversion, modernization, or improvement — on an existing 1-4 family, owner-occupied residential dwelling in Massachusetts must hold a current HIC registration with OCABR.
Is HIC registration the same as a Construction Supervisor License (CSL)?
No. HIC is a business registration under M.G.L. c.142A for consumer protection (contract rules, arbitration, Guaranty Fund); structural/load-bearing work under the state building code additionally requires a separate Construction Supervisor License (CSL), which is a different credential.
What has to be in a home improvement contract over $1,000?
M.G.L. c.142A requires that any home improvement contract for $1,000 or more be in writing and signed by both parties before work begins; the law specifies required contract terms and disclosures.
What does the Guaranty Fund cover?
The Guaranty Fund is a fund of last resort: it can compensate a homeowner for actual losses, up to $25,000 per case, from an unpaid court judgment obtained against a registered HIC contractor for work covered by c.142A.
What happens if a contractor does home improvement work without registering?
Operating without a valid HIC registration exposes the contractor to administrative enforcement (fines, denial/loss of registration) and civil liability — a violation of c.142A is treated as a per se unfair or deceptive act under M.G.L. c.93A, and unregistered contractors are not covered by the OCABR arbitration program or the Guaranty Fund.
How often does an HIC registration need to be renewed?
HIC registrations expire two years from the date of issuance. Renewal applications should be filed with OCABR before the expiration date (regulations direct filing within the 30 days before expiration) along with the renewal fee.
Official sources
mass.gov/regulations/201-CMR-1800-home-improvement-contractor-registration-and-enforcement-of-home-improvement-contractor-program
law.cornell.edu/regulations/massachusetts/201-CMR-18-02
mass.gov/home-improvement-contractor-program
mass.gov/how-to/check-a-home-improvement-contractor-registration
services.oca.state.ma.us/hic/licenseelist.aspx
contractorhub.mass.gov/s/hic-contractor-search