What Pennsylvania Contractors Need to Know About HICPA Registration

Pennsylvania does not issue a statewide general contractor license. Contractors moving into Pennsylvania often expect a statewide licensing board. Instead, they find a registration system administered by the Attorney General.

Registration alone isn’t enough. Pennsylvania’s Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act (HICPA) also governs the form and content of every home improvement contract. Get the registration right and the contract wrong, and you may not be able to collect payment for completed work.

What Pennsylvania Actually Requires

HICPA, codified at 73 P.S. §§ 517.1-517.18, requires any contractor performing more than $5,000 in residential home improvement work per year to register with the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.

Registration requires disclosure of business information, criminal history for the prior ten years, and proof of minimum insurance coverage. No exam is required. HICPA does not apply to new home construction or commercial work.

Is There a Pennsylvania Contractor License?

No statewide Pennsylvania contractor license exists for general contractors. Many contractors searching for a “Pennsylvania general contractor license” are actually looking for HICPA registration.

Registration is administered by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General and applies to contractors performing more than $5,000 in residential home improvement work each year. It is not a license: there is no exam, no required training, and no state-issued credential verifying trade skill or experience.

HICPA registration does not automatically grant permit-pulling authority. Local municipalities may impose separate licensing, registration, or permit requirements.

Some Pennsylvania municipalities, including Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, require additional local contractor licenses for certain types of work on top of HICPA registration.

Why HICPA Has More Bite Than Most Contractors Expect

Registration is necessary. It isn’t sufficient on its own.

Under 73 P.S. § 517.7, every home improvement contract above $500 must include mandatory terms: the contractor’s registration number, names and addresses of all known subcontractors at signing, a written description of the work, estimated start and completion dates, total contract price, a Notice of the Right of Rescission, and the following statement:

“The official registration number of [contractor name] can be obtained from the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection by calling toll-free within Pennsylvania 1-888-520-6680. Registration does not imply endorsement.”

The statute does not specify where in the contract this notice must appear. It must be present and legible.

A contract missing any required term may be unenforceable by the contractor. A contractor who completes work under a non-compliant contract may not be able to sue for payment if the customer refuses. Violations of HICPA are also treated as deceptive practices under Pennsylvania’s Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law, 73 P.S. § 201-1 et seq.

Using a standard construction contract on a Pennsylvania residential job is a reliable way to forfeit your right to collect.

Pennsylvania contractors must also display their HICPA registration number on all contracts, estimates, proposals, and advertisements. See our full guide to Pennsylvania HICPA registration number requirements.

Do Subcontractors Need HICPA Registration?

Yes. HICPA’s definition of contractor explicitly includes subcontractors and independent contractors performing home improvement work. A subcontractor does not become exempt because they work under a general contractor or have no direct contract with the homeowner.

If you’re a sub doing residential work in Pennsylvania and you’re not registered, you’re out of compliance.

Using Someone Else’s Registration Number

HICPA requires each contractor’s own registration number on all contracts, advertisements, estimates, and proposals. Putting another contractor’s number on your materials, or allowing someone else to use yours, is a direct HICPA violation and an unfair trade practice under Pennsylvania law. The Home Improvement Fraud Act (HIFRA), 73 P.S. §§ 517.8-517.9 creates separate criminal exposure for home improvement fraud. Both parties face civil and criminal exposure under Pennsylvania law.

There is no legitimate path to operating under someone else’s HICPA number.

Local Contractor Licenses in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh

HICPA registration covers the state. It does not cover every type of work in every city.

Philadelphia

According to the City of Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections, contractors working only on existing one- or two-family dwellings do not need a Philadelphia Contractor License. HICPA registration is sufficient for that work. A separate Philadelphia Contractor License is required for construction, demolition, or repair work on other property types. Plumbers, electricians, and fire suppression contractors require separate trade licenses regardless of work type.

If you work in Philadelphia, verify your specific credential requirements directly with L&I before starting any job.

Pittsburgh

The City of Pittsburgh Department of Permits, Licenses and Inspections requires a General Contractor License for work performed under a commercial building permit and for construction of new one- or two-family dwellings. Verify current requirements for your specific work type directly with Pittsburgh PLI before starting any job.

Pennsylvania HICPA Compliance Checklist

Registration

• Register with the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General before performing any covered home improvement work
• Renew annually
• Update your registration within 30 days of any change to your business information

Your contracts must include:

• Your PA registration number
• Names and addresses of all known subcontractors at signing
• Written description of the work
• Estimated start and completion dates
• Total contract price
• Notice of the Right of Rescission
• The required OAG consumer notice: “The official registration number of [contractor name] can be obtained from the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection by calling toll-free within Pennsylvania 1-888-520-6680. Registration does not imply endorsement.”

These terms are required in contracts. Estimates and proposals require the registration number only.

Your registration number must appear on:

• All contracts
• All estimates and proposals
• All advertisements (print, digital, radio, TV, online)
• Business cards and letterhead
• Any vehicle carrying advertising for your business

If you work in Philadelphia:

• Verify your specific licensing requirements with the Department of Licenses and Inspections before starting work
• Contractors working only on existing one- or two-family dwellings generally need HICPA registration only
• Work on other property types may require a separate Philadelphia Contractor License

If you work in Pittsburgh:

• Verify your specific licensing requirements with the Department of Permits, Licenses and Inspections before starting work
• A General Contractor License is required for commercial work and new residential construction

Getting It Right

Register under HICPA at attorneygeneral.gov before performing covered residential home improvement work in Pennsylvania. Use a HICPA-compliant contract on every job. Verify city-specific requirements in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh before starting any job in those cities.

Cinderblock helps Pennsylvania contractors stay compliant on the document side. Your PA registration number is built into your company profile and appears automatically on every estimate and invoice that goes out. You’re not adding it manually. You’re not forgetting it.

This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Licensing and registration requirements can change. Verify current requirements directly with the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General or consult a licensed attorney.