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MAState License Required

Massachusetts Contractor License

Board of Building Regulations and Standards / Office of Consumer Affairs

Massachusetts requires a state-level contractor license for projects above HIC registration for home improvement; CSL for structural work. Exam required. NASCLA not accepted. Administered by Board of Building Regulations and Standards / Office of Consumer Affairs.

Licensing & Bidding in Massachusetts

Massachusetts splits contractor regulation into two tracks, and you must hold the right credential before you bid, not after you win. Home improvement work on existing one-to-four-family dwellings requires Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) registration through the Office of Consumer Affairs, while any structural work on buildings requires a Construction Supervisor License (CSL) issued by the Board of Building Regulations and Standards. The HIC is registration-based; the CSL requires passing an examination. For most residential remodelers, you will carry both. Confirm which credential a given scope demands during takeoff so your bid reflects a contractor who can legally pull permits and sign off on the work.

Massachusetts does not accept the NASCLA exam, so out-of-state bidders cannot shortcut the CSL with a national credential — plan to sit the Massachusetts exam and budget the lead time before pursuing structural work here. Continuing education of roughly 10 to 12 hours every two years applies, so factor renewal compliance into your overhead. Electrical, plumbing, gas fitting, sheet metal, and fire protection are separately licensed trades; price those scopes assuming a properly licensed sub, and verify their credentials before listing them in your bid.

Bidding or performing without the proper credential carries real teeth: fines up to $5,000, possible imprisonment, voidable contracts, and loss of mechanic's lien rights. A voided contract or lost lien means you may have no enforceable path to collect, which can turn a profitable job into a total loss. The state also runs a mandatory arbitration program for homeowner disputes, so build clean documentation and written contracts into your process. Carrying current registration and CSL is the baseline cost of competing for Massachusetts work and protecting your right to get paid.

Key Facts

GC License Required
Yes
Threshold
HIC registration for home improvement; CSL for structural work
Exam Required
Yes
NASCLA Accepted
No
Official Board Website

Fees

Application Fee
$150
License Fee
$150 for Construction Supervisor License (CSL)
Renewal Fee
$150 biennially

Key Facts

  • Two main license types: Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) and Construction Supervisor License (CSL)
  • HIC is registration-based; CSL requires examination
  • CSL required for any structural work on buildings
  • Mandatory arbitration program for homeowner disputes

Insurance Requirements

General Liability
$500,000 minimum
Workers Comp
Required for all employers
Surety Bond
Not required for most contractor types

Continuing Education

10-12 hours every 2 years

Specialty Licenses Required

ElectricalPlumbingGas FittingSheet MetalFire Protection

How to Apply

  1. 1Determine whether you need HIC registration or CSL licensing
  2. 2Complete the application through the Office of Consumer Affairs (HIC) or BBRS (CSL)
  3. 3Pass the Prometric exam for CSL applicants
  4. 4Obtain general liability insurance ($500,000 minimum)
  5. 5Obtain workers compensation insurance
  6. 6Pay the $150 application/license fee

Penalties for Unlicensed Work

Fines up to $5,000; imprisonment possible; contracts may be voided; loss of lien rights

Related Templates

Pre-Qualification QuestionnaireCOI Request FormSubcontractor Agreement

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Massachusetts requires a state-level contractor license for projects above HIC registration for home improvement; CSL for structural work. The administering board is Board of Building Regulations and Standards / Office of Consumer Affairs.
Yes. Massachusetts requires a licensing exam. You must pass the state-specific exam.
General Liability: $500,000 minimum. Workers Comp: Required for all employers. Bond: Not required for most contractor types.
Fines up to $5,000; imprisonment possible; contracts may be voided; loss of lien rights
The Home Improvement Contractor registration covers remodeling on existing one-to-four-family homes and is registration-based with no exam. The Construction Supervisor License is exam-based and required for any structural work on buildings. Many residential remodelers in Massachusetts hold both credentials to cover their full scope.
No. Massachusetts does not accept the NASCLA national exam. To obtain the Construction Supervisor License, you must sit and pass the state's own examination. Out-of-state contractors should budget lead time to complete the Massachusetts CSL exam before pursuing structural building work in the state.
Yes. Unlicensed contracting can make your contract voidable and forfeit your mechanic's lien rights, alongside fines up to $5,000 and possible imprisonment. Without enforceable contract or lien rights, you may have no legal path to collect on a disputed job, so proper credentialing protects payment.

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