HIC Contractor Resources

Learn about residential contracting rules and requirements, registration violations, and more.

Do I Need to Register as a Home Improvement Contractor? 

Residential contractors, subcontractors, partnerships, or corporations that solicit, bid on, or perform contracting work in Massachusetts on an existing, owner-occupied non-commercial property with one to four units, must be registered as a Home Improvement Contractor (HIC). If this sounds like you, register and pay online using the MA Contractor Hub.

For more information including registration fees, see HIC Registration and Renewal. 

Do I Also Need a Construction Supervisor's License (CSL)?

A Construction Supervisor License (CSL) is different from an HIC Registration and they are not interchangeable. Contact the Office of Public Safety and Inspections for CSL information.

• If you only have an HIC registration you can work on projects considered to be ordinary repairs to a property like exterior painting, wallpapering, repairing existing decking, and similar jobs.
• Larger projects, such as building a deck or an addition to an existing home require a CSL.  
• Some structural work like a kitchen renovation may require both a CSL and an HIC registration but not necessarily held by the same person. 
  • A registered contractor could subcontract larger projects to another individual and/or company that has both a license and registration to perform the work.
  • The contractor who signed the contract with the homeowner must have an HIC registration.

What Work Requires an HIC, CSL, or Building Permit?

Job Type	CSL License Required?	HIC Registration Required?	Building Permit Required?	Comments
Air Conditioning, central	yes	no	yes	By licensed trades, as required by law.
Window Awnings	no	no	maybe
Carpentry, structural	yes	yes	yes
Carpentry, trim	maybe	yes	no	CSL if fire resistance rating required.
Decks	yes	yes	yes
Demolition	yes	yes	yes	Demolition CSL minimum.
Door Replacement	yes	yes	maybe	Building Permit required if an exit door or for public safety concerns.
Door Installation	yes	yes	yes
Driveways	no	no	no	Check local zoning requirements.
Energy Conservation Devices	no	no	no	Thermostats, light bulbs, weather stripping.
Fencing	maybe	no	maybe	Building permit or CSL not required if fence is under seven feet high.
Flooring, finish, carpet, tile	no	no	maybe	Building permit required if fire resistance rating in 3- and 4-family.
Flooring, structural	yes	yes	yes
Gutters	maybe	yes	maybe	Building permit and CSL required if piercing the building envelope.
Heating System, central	maybe	no	yes	By licensed trades as required by law.
Insulation	yes	yes	yes	Insulation CSL minimum.
Kitchen Cabinets and Shelving	maybe	yes	no	Building permit and CSL may be required if part of a larger project.
Landscaping, routine	no	no	no
Locks	maybe	yes	maybe	If affecting egress doors.
Masonry Walls, not retaining	maybe	no	maybe	Building permit and CSL required if greater than 4 feet in height.
Masonry, related to building	yes	yes	yes	Masonry CSL minimum.
Masonry, landscaping	no	no	no	If no threat to public safety.
Painting, exterior	no	yes	no
Painting, interior	no	no	no
Patios	no	no	no
Plastering	yes	yes	yes
Plumbing	maybe	no	maybe	By licensed trades, as required by law. Building permit and CSL needed if cutting/notching building elements.
Roofing, minor repairs	yes	yes	maybe	Building permit needed unless considered an ordinary repair by the building official.
Roofing, new or replacement	yes	yes	yes	Roofing CSL minimum.
Shed Construction	yes	yes	maybe	Building permit and CSL required if floor area is more than 200 square feet for 1-2 family home lots; and 120 square feet for others.
Sheet Metal/Exhaust Venting	maybe	no	yes	By licensed trades as required by law.
Sheetrock/Wallboard	yes	yes	yes
Shutters	no	no	no
Siding	yes	yes	yes	Window/Siding CSL minimum.
Solar Panels	yes	yes	yes	By licensed trades as required by law
Solid Fuel Burning Appliance	yes	yes	yes	Appliance CSL minimum.
Stairs, exterior	yes	yes	yes
Swimming Pools, above ground	no	no	yes	ANSI/NSPI-4 Design/Construction required
Swimming Pools, below ground	no	yes	yes	ANSI/NSPI-5 Design/Construction required
Walls, exterior retaining	maybe	yes	maybe	Building permit and CSL required if greater than 4 feet in height.
Window, install/replace	yes	yes	yes	Window/Siding CSL minimum.
Wiring	maybe	no	maybe	By licensed trades, as required by law. Building permit and CSL needed if cutting/notching building elements.

What Rules and Regulations Exist for HIC Contractors?

Registered contractors must follow certain rules regarding contracts, payments, advertising, business practices, and more. 

These rules provide industry standards and protection for homeowners: 

• For work estimated at $1,000 or more, the contractor and homeowner must have a written contract containing certain required provisions as specified in the law. See Home Improvement Contract Requirements, Details, and Sample Language.
• Building permits, contracts, and advertising for residential contracting must contain the active registration number of the contractor.
• A contractor or subcontractor is responsible for the conduct of employees, salespersons, and subcontractors within the scope of their contract with the owner.
• All building permits shall clearly state that persons contracting with unregistered contractors do not have access to the Guaranty Fund.
• Provisions can be made in the contract for contractors to use alternative dispute resolution through a private arbitration services program approved by the OCABR.
• Action to enforce provisions of this law or to seek damages can be brought in superior court, the district court or in a small claims court.
• Contractors/subcontractors cannot act as mortgage brokers or represent lenders.

What are Violations of the Law?

Violations of M.G.L. c. 142A, Section 17 and 201 CMR 18.00 include:

• Operating without a certificate of registration issued by the administrator;
• Abandoning or failing to perform, without justification, any contract or project engaged in or undertaken by a registered contractor or subcontractor, or deviating from or disregarding plans or specifications in any material respect without the consent of the owner; 
• Failing to credit the owner for any payment they have made to the contractor or his salesperson in connection with a residential contracting transaction;
• Making any material misrepresentation in the procurement of a contract by making any false promise of a characteristic likely to influence, persuade or induce the procurement of a contract;
• Knowingly contracting beyond the scope of the registration as a contractor or subcontractor;
• Acting directly, regardless of the receipt or the expectation of receipt of compensation or gain from the mortgage lender, in connection with a residential contracting transaction by preparing, offering, or negotiating or attempting to or agreeing to prepare, arrange, offer or negotiate a mortgage loan on behalf of a mortgage lender;
• Acting as a mortgage broker or agent for any mortgage lender;
• Publishing, directly or indirectly, any advertisement relating to home construction or home improvements which does not contain the contractor's or subcontractor's certificate of registration number, or which does contain an assertion, representation, or statement of fact which is false, deceptive, or misleading;
• Advertising in any manner that a registrant is registered under this chapter unless the advertisement includes an accurate reference to the contractor's or subcontractor's certificate of registration;
• Violations of the building laws of the Commonwealth or of any political subdivision thereof;
• Misrepresenting a material fact by an applicant in obtaining a certificate of registration; 
• Failing to notify the administrator of any change of trade name or address as required by Section 13;
• Conducting a residential contracting business in any name other than the one in which a contractor or subcontractor is registered; 
• Failing to pay for materials or services rendered in connection with his operating as a contractor or subcontractor where he has received sufficient funds as payment for the particular construction work, project or operation for which the services or materials were rendered or purchased;
• Failing to comply with any order, demand or requirement lawfully made by the administrator or fund administrator under and within the authority of this chapter;
• Demanding or receiving payment in violation of clause (6) of paragraph (a) of section two which states: "a time schedule of payments to be made under said contract and the amount of each payment stated in dollars, including all finance charges. Any deposit required under the contract to be paid in advance of the commencement of work under said contract shall not exceed the greater of one-third of the total contract price or the actual cost of any materials or equipment of a special order or custom made nature, which must be ordered in advance of the commencement of work, in order to assure that the project will proceed on schedule. No final payment shall be demanded until the contract is completed to the satisfaction of the parties thereto;"
• Violating any other provision of M.G.L. Chapter 142A.

What Happens if a Complaint is Filed Against my HIC Registration?

OCABR notifies HIC registrants whenever a complaint is filed against them by a homeowner. 

Enclosed with the notification, you will receive: 

• A copy of the HIC Complaint Application Form completed and signed by the homeowner.
• Any documentation provided by the homeowner which claims to support the complaint.

You have 30 days in which you must respond to the complaint; failure to respond to the complaint will result in a revocation of your registration. All responses should be in writing to OCABR. 

Contractors will be notified when and if the complaint matter will proceed to hearing. Due to the volume of complaints received by OCABR, the hearing officer will only reschedule a hearing in extenuating circumstances and only after a written request is submitted and received at least 10 days before the scheduled hearing date. From this point forward, any and all communication must be directed to [e-mail]. 

A hearing generally last for one and one-half hours and are held remotely via Microsoft Teams. During the hearing, both the homeowner/witness making the complaint and the contractor/respondent will be given an opportunity to present their evidence and testimony. The contractor may, but is not required, to obtain an attorney for representation during the hearing.

Following the hearing, the Hearing Officer will make a determination of what, if any, violations occurred and what sanctions are appropriate. Possible sanctions may include:

• A reprimand;
• Suspension or revocation of the contractor's registration; and/or 
• Fines.

Contractors aggrieved by the decision may appeal the Hearing Officer's decision to a court of competent jurisdiction.

What happens if my HIC registration is suspended following a hearing decision?

If a registration is suspended by a Hearing Officer, it shall remain suspended for the term of suspension and until such time as the registrant formally requests in writing that it be reinstated. The registrant must also demonstrate that they have complied with all conditions imposed on them during the term of their suspension and that all fines assessed to the contractor have been paid in full. OCABR reserves the right to deny any application for registration where the applicant has failed to meet or has violated any of the requirements for residential contractors under M.G.L. c. 142A.