Massachusetts contractor licenses: the HIC registration, the CSL and the trade boards

Massachusetts uses two credentials, and the state says they are not interchangeable

Most states that license contractors do it with one license. Massachusetts splits the job in two. The Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) registration is a consumer-protection registration run by the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation (OCABR). The Construction Supervisor License (CSL) is a building-code credential run by the Division of Occupational Licensure. The state's own pages state that the two are not interchangeable.

The HIC rule reaches any contractor, subcontractor, partnership or corporation that solicits, bids on or performs contracting work on an existing, owner-occupied property of one to four units. The contractor who signs the contract with the homeowner must hold the HIC registration. OCABR says that if you hold only an HIC registration, you can work on ordinary repairs such as exterior painting, wallpapering and repairing existing decking. Larger projects such as a new deck or an addition require a CSL. A kitchen renovation with structural work can need both, held by different people, so a registered contractor can subcontract the larger piece to someone with the license.

The CSL page adds that a licensed construction supervisor or a registered design professional must oversee construction on one- and two-family homes and on most existing owner-occupied homes of one to four units, and that you should always check with the building official in the town where you work. It also says: "Massachusetts does not recognize out of state contractor licenses." If you are crossing in from New Hampshire, Connecticut or Rhode Island, plan to register or license here. Our general guide to getting a contractor license explains the usual steps, and the Massachusetts startup page covers the LLC and tax side.

Which credential does which job need?

OCABR publishes a chart for common jobs and calls it general guidance, since the building official makes the final call. Here are selected rows, as listed in October 2026.

Notice what the chart does for a washing or painting company. Exterior painting needs the HIC registration and no CSL, while interior painting needs neither. Siding and roofing need both. Our roofing license guide shows how that compares with other states.

HIC registration: fees, renewal and what the registration number does

Registration and payment happen online through the MA Contractor Hub. OCABR no longer accepts paper applications. As listed in October 2026:

• New registration: $150, plus a mandatory Guaranty Fund payment. That payment is $100 for zero to three employees, $200 for four to ten, $300 for eleven to thirty and $500 above thirty.
• Renewal: every two years for $100. OCABR suggests starting 30 to 60 days before expiration. If it lapses, you reapply and pay the $150 plus the Guaranty Fund payment again.
• Supplemental employee cards: $10 each. The original card holder is liable for any work done.
• Updates: if your business address, mailing address, phone or email changes, you must update your account within 30 days.
• Trade names: if you register under a DBA, you must supply a copy of the business certificate filed with the city or town clerk.
• Out-of-state corporations and LLCs must first register as foreign entities with the Secretary of the Commonwealth.

The Guaranty Fund exists for your customers. The HIC program says it compensates eligible homeowners up to $25,000 for unpaid judgments against contractors. Building permits must clearly state that people who contract with unregistered contractors do not have access to the fund.

Your registration number has to show up in three places. OCABR says building permits, contracts and advertising for residential contracting must contain the active registration number. Publishing an advertisement for home construction or improvement without it is listed among the violations. That includes your website. If your business website advertises residential work, the number belongs in the footer or on service pages, and on the truck and the quote.

The written contract rules under Chapter 142A

M.G.L. c. 142A, section 2 requires a written contract for residential contracting work. The statute says "in excess of one thousand dollars," while OCABR's page says $1,000 or more, so treat $1,000 as the line. The statute requires the contract to include:

• The complete agreement, the parties' names and addresses (no P.O. boxes), the contractor registration number and any salesperson's name.
• Start and substantial completion dates, and a detailed work and materials description.
• The total price and a payment schedule stated in dollars, including finance charges.
• Signatures of all parties, with a fully signed copy delivered before work begins.
• A notice of the owner's three-day cancellation rights.
• The warning "Do not sign this contract if there are any blank spaces" in at least 10-point bold type above the signature line.

The deposit cannot exceed the greater of one-third of the contract price or the actual cost of special-order or custom materials that must be ordered in advance, and no final payment can be demanded until the work is complete to the parties' satisfaction. Violations that OCABR lists include operating without a registration, working under a name other than the registered one, abandoning a job without justification and contracting beyond the scope of your registration. Sanctions after a hearing can include a reprimand, suspension or revocation, and fines. If you quote through text or an online form, send the contract before you take a deposit. Our custom CRM work includes quote and contract tracking for jobs like these.

Electricians, refrigeration, pesticides and other separate licenses

Electricians. The Board of State Examiners of Electricians lists these routes. A journeyman needs 600 hours of Board-approved education, a 15-hour code update class and 8,000 hours of work over at least four years under a licensed Massachusetts journeyman. A master needs a Massachusetts journeyman license, at least one year of work experience and 150 hours of Board-approved education. A systems technician (low-voltage) needs 300 hours of education and 4,000 hours over two years. Fees are $31 to apply and $104 for a journeyman or systems technician license, or $66 and $155 for a master or systems contractor. The exam is $135 total, paid to PSI. Massachusetts has a reciprocity agreement with New Hampshire. See how to become a licensed electrician for the national pattern.

Plumbers and gas fitters. They are licensed by the Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters, and OCABR's chart says plumbing work needs the licensed trade. See how to become a licensed plumber.

Refrigeration. A refrigeration license is required for installing, repairing, replacing or maintaining any refrigerant-containing part of a refrigeration or air conditioning system of ten tons or greater. Apprentices must be 18 or older, pay a $40 application fee and work for a Massachusetts refrigeration contractor. The state posted a notice that new licensing requirements for journeyman pipefitters and refrigeration technicians take effect November 9, 2026.

Pesticides. The Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) runs exams and licenses. As listed in October 2026, the core applicator license costs $75 to register for the exam and $100 to hold, the commercial applicator certification costs $125 for the exam and $150 for the license, and all applicator credentials renew annually by December 31. Applicants also pay a separate $28 online exam fee. Late renewals are allowed only through June 30, after which re-examination is mandatory. See our pest control license guide.

Trades the state does not license, and what you still carry

Per the OCABR chart, routine landscaping, driveways, patios and interior painting need no CSL, HIC registration or permit. Mowing, cleaning and washing appear nowhere in the licensing sources above. Here is what still applies:

• Sales tax. The Department of Revenue says personal and professional services are among the exempt categories and that installation charges are not taxed when stated separately from the item. A contractor who installs a complete standard item and does nothing more is treated as a retailer and collects tax. Compare other states in the sales tax table.
• Workers' compensation. The Department of Industrial Accidents says all employers operating in Massachusetts must carry coverage for employees regardless of hours or headcount. See workers' comp by state.
• Local approval. The state tells you to check the building official in each city or town for added requirements and permits.

Before you bid

This is general information and not legal advice. Fees, thresholds and the CSL and HIC lists change, and the state calls its job chart general guidance. Confirm your job type with OCABR, the Division of Occupational Licensure and the local building official before you sign a contract.

Frequently asked questions