Skip to main content

Register as a home improvement contractor

Are you a contractor making home improvements to an existing home? You need to register with our Office.
Once you've submitted all documents and fees, you should receive your registration in the mail within 1-2 weeks.
Register online 

Contacts

Home Improvement Contractor Program

Phone

Consumer hotline Call Home Improvement Contractor Program, Consumer hotline at 617-973-8787
Toll-free consumer hotline Call Home Improvement Contractor Program, Toll-free consumer hotline at 888-283-3757

The Details   of Register as a home improvement contractor

What you need   for Register as a home improvement contractor

Who must register?

Contractors and subcontractors who perform home improvement work on an existing, 1- to 4-unit residential property in Massachusetts must register.

You can register as:

  • An Individual

  • A proprietorship

  • A partnership

  • A corporation

What documentation is required?

If you are a corporation, you must submit documentation showing that your business is registered with the Secretary of State's Office. If filing as a Doing Business As (DBA), you must provide a current copy of the business certificate filed with the city or town clerk where your business is located. Failure to submit this documentation will result in the denial or delay of your registration.

Fees   for Register as a home improvement contractor

To apply, there is a registration fee of $150, and a mandatory contribution to the Guaranty Fund based on size of your company: 

  • 0 to 3 employees: $100
  • 4 to 10 employees: $200
  • 11 to 30 employees: $300
  • More than 30 employees: $500

The Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation does not accept payment over the phone. If you are registering or renewing a registration online using our registration portal, you may pay by credit card. Otherwise, we only accept payment by certified bank check or money order. Any other form of payment, including cash, or personal or business checks, is not accepted.

How to register   Register as a home improvement contractor

Log in or create an account on our registration portal.

Payment by credit card is accepted when registering online.

Download and fill out our registration form. Be sure to include money order or bank check made payable to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Mail application and payment to: 

Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation
Home Improvement Contractor Program
1000 Washington Street
Suite 710
Boston, MA 02118

Walk-in service for HIC registrations is available. Bring your completed registration form to:

1000 Washington Street
Suite 710
Boston, MA 02118

Be sure to bring a money order or bank check made payable to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

More info   for Register as a home improvement contractor

Be sure the information you are providing is current. It is the contractor's obligation to notify OCABR whenever there are changes to the information provided.

Your application will be processed in the order it is received. Incomplete applications will be returned. Registration must be renewed every 2 years and applicants must pay a $100 renewal fee. 

For questions on the status of your application, please call our hotline at (617) 973-8787.

 

 

Downloads   for Register as a home improvement contractor

Open PDF file, 258.5 KB,  Check if your work requires an HIC or CSL (English, PDF 258.5 KB)
Open PDF file, 434.34 KB,  HIC Registration Application (English, PDF 434.34 KB)

Contact   for Register as a home improvement contractor

Address
1000 Washington Street, Suite 710, Boston, MA 02118
Directions 
Phone
Consumer hotline Call Home Improvement Contractor Program, Consumer hotline at 617-973-8787
Toll-free consumer hotline Call Home Improvement Contractor Program, Toll-free consumer hotline at 888-283-3757

Related

Help Us Improve Mass.gov  with your feedback

Please do not include personal or contact information.
Feedback