Pennsylvania Construction Licensing

A Contractor License is required for any business doing work that:

• Involves construction, demolition, or repair.
• Does not require a specialized company license.

Some work requires a specialized license, including:

• Complete demolition.
• Electrical.
• Fire suppression.
• Plumbing.

You don’t need this license if your business only does work on existing one-or-two-family dwellings and does not do work that requires a special trade license. In that case, the company must instead register as a Home Improvement Contractor with the State.

Online
Use the eCLIPSE system.

In person
Permit and License Center
1401 John F. Kennedy Blvd.
MSB, Public Service Concourse
Philadelphia, PA 19102

Office hours: 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday

Office closes at noon on the last Wednesday of each month.

• Business Income and Receipts Tax ID (BIRT)
• Commercial Activity License
• Insurance
• You must provide a Certificate of Insurance that includes these minimum amounts:
  • General liability: $500,000 per occurrence
  • Automobile liability insurance: $300,000
  • Worker’s compensation:
    • $100,000 per accident
    • $100,000 per employee
    • $500,000 policy limit
• Safety training
  • You must identify the supervisors responsible for construction projects. A supervisor can only be employed by one company. They must also show proof of completion of an approved OSHA 30 safety training course taken within five years of application date
• Tax compliance
  • The contractor must be current on all City of Philadelphia taxes.
• Operating requirements
  • The contractor must follow the contractor requirements laid out in the Contractor Operational Requirements.

Online
1 Upload all required documents. Applications are reviewed within five business days.
2 If the application is approved, you will receive a notice to pay the balance. If the application isn’t approved, you will receive an email stating what is missing or required.

In-person
1 Visit the Permit and License Center. L&I can review most applications while you wait.
2 L&I will either issue your license or request more information.

Online
Use the eCLIPSE system.

In person
Permit and License Center
1401 John F. Kennedy Blvd.
MSB, Public Service Concourse
Philadelphia, PA 19102

Office hours: 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday

Office closes at noon on the last Wednesday of each month.

Renewals are due annually

To renew your license, you must:

• Be current on all City of Philadelphia taxes.
• Have proof of an active insurance policy.
• Have eligible supervisor information on file with L&I.

Electrical Contractor License

Mail or online.

$60 application fee + $160 license fee which is due upon application approval.

Electrical Contractor License (renewal)

Mail or online.

$160

Annually

Electrical Contractor Registration Application

Mail

$371

Electrical Contractor Registration Application (Renewal)

Mail

$278

Annually

https://apps.pittsburghpa.gov/redtail/images/5190_Contractor_License__Application_3.11.2018.pdf

• Online
• Mail

A 60 day grace period begins when your license expires. A late fee will be charged the day after your license expires. If your license is not renewed within 60 days of expiration, it is considered lapsed and closed. All contractor and trade licenses expire a year from the date of issuance.

• Valid government-issued ID
• City of Pittsburgh Tax Compliance Letter
• Certificate of General Liability Insurance with blanket coverage+
  • A Certificate of Insurance showing general liability coverage for the applicant at the location where licensed activity will take place, and listing the City of Pittsburgh as the certificate holder and additionally insured. The insurance expiration date must be at least 30-days after the date of licensed activity start date. If not, please provide a documentation from your insurer showing intent to extend coverage and list the expiration date as thirty-one (31)days after the licensed activity start date. 
• Certificate of Worker’s Compensation Insurance or Affidavit of Exemption
  • A Certificate of Insurance showing Worker's Compensation coverage for the applicant business and listing the City of Pittsburgh as the certificate holder. If the business does not have any employees, then upload a notarized statement attesting that there are no employees.  
    Department of Permits, Licenses and Inspections Workers' Compensation Exemption Affidavit.

https://apps.pittsburghpa.gov/redtail/images/5190_Contractor_License__Application_3.11.2018.pdf

• Online
• Mail

Due annually

A 60 day grace period begins when your license expires. A late fee will be charged the day after your license expires. If your license is not renewed within 60 days of expiration, it is considered lapsed and closed. All contractor and trade licenses expire a year from the date of issuance.

• Valid government-issued ID
• City of Pittsburgh Tax Compliance Letter
• Certificate of General Liability Insurance with blanket coverage
  • A Certificate of Insurance showing general liability coverage for the applicant at the location where licensed activity will take place, and listing the City of Pittsburgh as the certificate holder and additionally insured. The insurance expiration date must be at least 30-days after the date of licensed activity start date. If not, please provide a documentation from your insurer showing intent to extend coverage and list the expiration date as thirty-one (31)days after the licensed activity start date. 
• Certificate of Worker’s Compensation Insurance or Affidavit of Exemption
  • A Certificate of Insurance showing Worker's Compensation coverage for the applicant business and listing the City of Pittsburgh as the certificate holder. If the business does not have any employees, then upload a notarized statement attesting that there are no employees.  
    Department of Permits, Licenses and Inspections Workers' Compensation Exemption Affidavit.

HVAC Contractor Registration Application

Mail

$371

HVAC Contractor Registration Application (Renewal)

Mail

$278

Annually