What is a contractor with a builders license permited to do?

This page is dedicated to informing you about what trades an individual with a builders license can work in. More importantly it tells you what trades he can not work in. This list will also serve as a basic guide to inform you which type of contractor will be needed for a given task. If you are not sure, you can always contact your local building department. You can also contact me and I will get you the information you need.

Licensed builder

A licensed builder is allowed to work in the trades listed below:

Carpentry
Concrete
Excavation
Insulation work
Masonry
Painting and decorating
Siding Roofing
Screens and storm sash(windows)
Gutters
Tile & marble
House wrecking
Swimming pools
Basement waterproofing

NOTE: It is possible to have a license in only one or a combination of the above trades. For example, an individual can be licensed in roofing only, or licensed in roofing and carpentry as long as he has passed the exams for both of those trades. A builders license is equivalent to having a licenses in all the categories listed above.

A Residential Builder is NOT licensed to work in the following trades:

Plumbing

It takes approximately 5 years to become a Master Plumber. A plumber is required for the installations/repairs listed below. An individual with a builders license is not permitted to perform any of the installations/repairs listed below.

Sinks
Faucets
Toilets
Water heaters(a mechanical contractor can do this as well)
Water supply lines
Drains

Electrical

It takes approximately 6-7 years to become a Master Electrician. Only an electrician is allowed to perform any of the installations/repairs listed below. A licensed builder is not permitted to do any of the installations/repairs listed below.

Receptacles
Switches
Circuit breakers
Service panels
Lighting fixtures
Wiring

Mechanical

It takes at least 3 years to earn a Mechanical license. You will need an individual with a mechanical license to perform any of the installations/repairs listed below. A licensed builder can not perform any of the installations/repairs listed below.

Furnace
Duct work
Central air
Furnace humidifier
Water heater (a plumber can perform this installation as well)
Furnace air cleaner

The above lists are by no means all encompassing. But they are the most common requests made to builders, and they are the most common tasks builders perform without telling you that they are not licensed to perform them.

Hope this helps!

Let us know if you would like more information concerning this topic.

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