Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) Program

The Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation oversees the Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) Registration 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

Additional Resources

Contractors: Login to your online account

Contractors: Create a new online account

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

Did you hire Solar Wolf? Need help?

Solar Wolf is currently going through bankruptcy at the United States Bankruptcy Court, District of Massachusetts. As a result, the company cannot be sued in civil court. However, the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation (OCABR) may be able to assist you through its Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) Arbitration Program and Guaranty Fund.

Details about how to participate in the HIC Arbitration Program and subsequently submit a claim to the Guaranty Fund for payment are below.

Here’s what you need to do:

First, complete and submit the form below to obtain permission from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court to Pursue HIC Arbitration. This is a federal Bankruptcy Court requirement that OCABR cannot waive.

• File an Automatic Relief from Stay with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court. Use the template provided and contact the bankruptcy court at [phone] to learn how to file your request and pay the filing fee. This step is necessary to successfully apply to the HIC Arbitration Program, and then eventually apply to the Guaranty Fund.

Next, submit an HIC Arbitration Application while waiting for a response from U.S. Bankruptcy Court.

• There’s no reason to delay your HIC arbitration application. As soon as you submit your Automatic Relief from Stay form to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, apply for HIC Arbitration using this form. Information on how to apply is also available online.
• When you apply for Arbitration, you need to include a copy of your signed Solar Wolf contract.
• Supply the approval document from U.S. Bankruptcy Court whenever received, and then your case will be assigned to an arbitrator.
• The arbitrator will consider information submitted from you and issue a legally binding decision.

Last, if you receive an arbitration award it will include a blank Guaranty Fund application.

• Fill out the Guaranty Fund application and email it to [e-mail] or mail a copy to:
  • HIC Guaranty Fund
    Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation
    501 Boylston St, Suite 5100
    Boston, MA 02116
• You must provide a copy of the decision from arbitration along with your application.
• Your single damages amount will be listed on the arbitration decision. For damages less than $10,000 you will be paid the amount listed on your decision. For damages more than $10,000, your Guaranty Fund payment is capped by law at $10,000.

Questions about the Guaranty Fund?  
Call 617-973-8708, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Additional Resources

Solar Wolf form for U.S. Bankruptcy Court

Proposed statutory changes to the HIC Program

As part of the Healey-Driscoll Administration's Mass Leads economic development bill, the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation recommends statutory changes to the HIC program that will increase consumer access and expand enforcement capabilities to better protect the public. Read the HIC Policy Brief.

Additional Resources

Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) Program Policy Brief 2024

Massachusetts home improvement law

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