Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) Program

The Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation oversees the Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) program and its associated Arbitration program and the Guaranty Fund.

The Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) programs were created to protect consumers and regulate the business practices of contractors. The HIC programs require all home improvement contractors to register with the Commonwealth, process consumer complaints, maintain an arbitration program for resolving disputes and compensate consumers up to $10,000 for unpaid judgments from the Guaranty Fund. For any questions about the HIC programs, contact our Consumer Hotline at [phone].

Contractor resources

Contractors may walk in for assistance with their HIC registrations to the HIC Registration program at 1000 Washington Street  Suite 710, Boston, MA 02118 on the following days: Monday, Wednesday and Friday ONLY from 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM.

All contractors, partnerships, and corporations that solicit, bid on, or perform residential contracting as a contractor or subcontractor on an existing one to four unit owner occupied residential property in Massachusetts must be registered as a Home Improvement Contractor (HIC). 

Registration:

• Determine if you need an HIC Registration, CSL or Both
• Check if your work requires an HIC, CSL, or Both
• Step by Step Guide to Registration and Renewal
• Contractors: HIC Guide for Registration, Renewal, and Making Changes to your Registration
• Contractors: Registration and Renewal
• Contractor Registration, Certification and Training Checklist
• Required contract terms for a home improvement contract
• Construction Supervisor Licensing Guide
• Change your registered home improvement contractor address

Working With Homeowners:

• Understanding a Home Improvement Contract Video
• Contractors: Contract Content & Payment Terms Video
• Sample Home Improvement Contract Document
• Contractors: Performance of the Contract Video
• Deleading and Lead Safety
• 201 CMR 18: Registration and enforcement of home improvement contractor program
• 201 CMR 14: Home improvement contractor arbitration and guaranty fund

Homeowner resources

Understanding the HIC Program:

• Homeowners: Guide to Hiring a Home Improvement Contractor
• Homeowners: Guide to HIC Video

Before Hiring a Home Improvement Contractor:

• Homeowners: Check a Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) Registration Status
• Understanding a Home Improvement Contract Video
• Sample Home Improvement Contract Document

If Something Goes wrong with a Contractor:

• Homeowners: File a Complaint Against a Contractor
• Determine if the HIC Arbitration Program is right for you
• Apply for the Home Improvement Guaranty Fund
• HIC Arbitration and Guaranty Fund Resources

Additional Information:

• Homebuyers Resources

Massachusetts law about home improvement

A compilation of laws, regulations, and web sources on home improvement law by the Trial Court Law Libraries: Massachusetts law about home improvement