Can Homeowners Do Their Own Work? Rules by State
Short answerRules differ by state, and some leave licensing to cities and counties. This page lists the 18 places where we read the rule on an official page, each with its source. A missing state means we couldn't verify it, not that no license is needed.
| State | Rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Owners acting as their own contractor and providing all material supervision themselves may build or improve a one-family or two-family home for their own occupancy or use, as long as it is not offered for sale. The exemption cannot be transferred, and a sale or offer for sale within one year of completion is presumed evidence the work was done for sale. | Source |
| Alaska | Per a 2015 state brochure, registration is not required for a person working on their own property or residence. An owner acting as their own contractor, hiring hourly workers and subcontractors and paying for labor and materials, is limited to building one home, duplex, triplex, four-plex or commercial building every two years. | Source |
| Arkansas | A person building their own residence is exempt unless they build more than one residence in a calendar year, and the owner of a single-family home may act as their own home improvement contractor on their own property. | Source |
| California | An owner-builder needs no license when doing the work personally or through employees paid only wages, if the structures are not intended for sale. An owner who hires properly licensed subcontractors is limited to selling four or fewer single-family structures in a calendar year. | Source |
| Colorado | The state's electrical and plumbing permit rule on who may install this work excludes the homeowner, and the state offers homeowner permit purchases and inspection requests. If you hire a contractor, you should not apply for the permit yourself, and your homeowner's insurance may not cover damage caused by someone without liability insurance. | Source |
| Georgia | Georgia does not require you to hold a license to build your own home, but you should check with your local authority to make sure you meet all local building codes and regulations. | Source |
| Hawaii | An owner-occupant may get an owner-builder permit, must supervise the construction, and must make sure subcontractors are properly licensed. The exemption does not cover electrical or plumbing work, and the home cannot be sold or leased for a year after the final inspection unless the Contractors License Board grants a hardship exemption. | Source |
| Iowa | People who work only on their own real estate or property do not have to register as contractors. Local permit or inspection requirements may still apply. | Source |
| Kentucky | Homeowners can get a plumbing permit for plumbing in their own personal residence, and work under that permit does not need a licensed journeyman. | Source |
| Louisiana | Owners may build their primary residence without a license, but must live there, and structures next to it such as sheds are also exempt. Homes built to rent or sell require licensed contractors, and the owner gets permits and a homeowner exemption form from the local permit office. | Source |
| Massachusetts | Do-it-yourself homeowners doing residential contracting work in their own home do not need Home Improvement Contractor registration. If you apply for the building permit yourself instead of your contractor, you may not be eligible for compensation from the Guaranty Fund. | Source |
| Nevada | An owner-builder signs an affidavit agreeing to directly supervise the construction, not to sell or lease the property, and not to hire an unlicensed person as contractor, agent or construction manager. Selling or leasing within one year of completion may be presumed a violation, and subcontractors must be licensed by the board. | Source |
| New Mexico | A person acting on their own account may build or improve a single-family residence for personal use, including a free-standing storage building on that property, as long as they do not engage in commercial construction. The work must still meet the licensing act and adopted codes. | Source |
| South Dakota | An owner may personally install electrical wiring in a home they own and occupy with an approved homeowner permit obtained before starting any electrical work. Homeowner plumbing permits are for single-family dwellings only, and neither exemption applies to commercial or rental property. | Source |
| Texas | Electrical work on a dwelling that a person owns and resides in does not require a state electrician license, though municipal or regional rules may override this exemption. | Source |
| Vermont | Working on a property you own does not require residential contractor registration. | Source |
| Washington | A property owner may apply for an exemption from electrical licensing for an existing home if the property will not be offered for sale within 12 months after obtaining it. For a new single-family home, the owner must personally do the work and live there at least 24 months after completing it, and it cannot be intended for rent, sale or lease. | Source |
| Wyoming | Homeowners may apply for a state wiring permit, which is required before new construction or remodeling that needs a utility to connect or disconnect power. If you choose a guaranteed inspection, the permit holder is responsible for scheduling it with the electrical inspector. | Source |
Not verified yet
Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin
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General information, not professional advice. Conditions, codes and prices vary. Turn off power, gas or water before any work, and hire a licensed professional when in doubt. Cost figures are our estimates, not quotes.