First and foremost, many types of renovation and new construction requires a state licensed contractor, especially when the job costs $2,500 or more.

Certain specialty contractors such as painters and pool contractors may not require licensing; however, if they also take on the role of another specialty, they are also required to be licensed. So for example, a painter who also works on your roof and carpet will still need to be licensed by the state. Some specialty contractors are required to be state licensed. For example, electrical, HVAC (heating & air), and plumbing are all specialties, but these specialty contractors are still required to be state licensed when performing work in the state of Georgia.