What Insurance Do Contractors Need to Get a License in Philadelphia? You need general liability insurance with coverage of at least $500,000. If you employ people, you must show proof of workers' compensation insurance too. The insurance certificates must name the city as the certificate holder.
State-level licenses are not required to work as a general contractor in Pennsylvania. However, you may need to register with the Attorney General and check with your local jurisdiction for any additional registration or licensing requirements.
All contractors, including self-employed contractors and sole proprietorships, subcontractors and independent contractors, and corporations, partnerships and all other types of business entities must be registered, unless they fall into the two exemptions above.
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania currently has no licensure or certification requirements for most construction contractors (or their employees).
Service overview. You can get an EZ permit for some construction and renovation projects. EZ permits do not require you to submit plans. To find out if your project qualifies, check if the planned work complies with an EZ Standard. If you get an EZ Permit and don't follow the standard, the permit will be revoked.
Bring your completed application, application materials, and payment to the Permit and License Center. The time it takes to process an application varies by type: Alterations / Additions to a one-or-two-family dwelling: 15 business days. New construction of a one-or-two-family dwelling: 15 business days.
THE FOLLOWING WORK DOES NOT REQUIRE A BUILDING PERMIT: Fully detached accessory buildings to single-family dwellings less than 1,000 square feet. Agricultural Buildings. Manufactured and industrialized housing (mobile homes and modular homes).
How to become a contractor in Pennsylvania Determine your specialization. The path to becoming a contractor in Pennsylvania can change depending on the specialization you work in. Meet licensing requirements. Obtain a municipal contractor's license. Form a company. Acquire business insurance and start working.