Construction Law
How to Become Eligible for Hurricane Relief Contracting Work in North Carolina Part 3
With many areas of North Carolina severely impacted by Hurricane Florence, nonresident contractors are traveling to the Tar Heel State to assist with disaster restoration and long-term building projects. In the first and second sections of this three-part article, we offered contractors tips to improve their chances of procuring contracts on urgent construction projects in North Carolina. In this final section, we will discuss general contractor licensing requirements in North Carolina. Remember, if you are involved in a license dispute, you need to consult an experienced Charlotte contractor license defense lawyer.
License Requirements in North Carolina
It’s critical that nonresident contractors understand the licensing requirements in the state they are performing work in. In North Carolina, general contractors require a license for projects that exceed a total cost of $30,000. Administered by the North Carolina Licensing Board of General Contractors, there are three types of licensing classifications a general contractor can obtain depending on the financial status of the applicant:
- Limited License: Applicants with at least $17,000 in working capital and project costs under $350,000
- Intermediate License: Applicants with at least $75,00 in working capital and project costs under $700,000
- Unlimited License: Applicants with at least $150,000 in working capital can work on projects with an “unlimited” budget
How to Obtain a License
To obtain a general contracting license in North Carolina, a prospective contractor must send a $15 payment to the NC Licensing Board of General Contractors in order to receive an application package. Upon receipt, they must do the following to obtain licensing:
- Select the License Type: Building, Residential, Highway, Public Utilities, and Speciality licensing are the five types of general contractor licenses in North Carolina. The applicant must also select the classification of licensing they want to obtain.
- Complete Packet Information: The applicant is required to register their business and provide financial statements and tax information.
- Paying Application Fee: Depending on the classification, the applicant must pay between $75 to $125 to submit their application.
- License Exam: After submitting the application and receiving a notice of eligibility, the applicant can take the general contracting license exam to become certified. It’s important to note that all licenses must be renewed annually.
Hurricane Relief Options
If you are interested in working specifically on hurricane recovery assistance projects, on the local level, you can contact the North Carolina Department of Public Safety or the North Carolina Department of Transportation. On the federal level, you can contact organizations like the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. From debris management services to bridge repair, North Carolina needs talented construction professionals to get involved with hurricane relief projects.
If you would like to speak with a Charlotte contractor license defense attorney, please contact us today.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for general educational information only. This information does not constitute legal advice, is not intended to constitute legal advice, nor should it be relied upon as legal advice for your specific factual pattern or situation.