General contractor vs handyman: how do I choose?

The general-contractor-vs-handyman decision is determined by project scope (multi-trade vs single-task), dollar amount (above or below state unlicensed threshold), and permit requirement (permitted work requires a licensed contractor).

What requires a general contractor (or trade-specific licensed contractor):

- Any project over the state unlicensed threshold: $500 California (CSLB), $1,000 Arizona/Nevada/Oregon (ROC/NSCB/CCB), varies by state. Above the threshold, a contractor license is required. - Any multi-trade project (anything involving more than one licensed trade — electrical, plumbing, HVAC, structural, roofing combined). - Any structural work (load-bearing walls, foundations, framing, roof structure). - Any permitted work (permits require a licensed contractor in nearly every jurisdiction). - Bathroom remodels, kitchen remodels (typically over threshold by labor alone, plus multi-trade). - Additions, ADUs, garage conversions. - Whole-house remodels. - Roof replacements (usually a specialty roofer rather than a GC — see roofer-vs-general-contractor-for-roof-replacement).

State GC license boards: California CSLB B-General Building, Arizona ROC B-1/B-2, Nevada NSCB B-General Building, Florida DBPR Certified or Registered Building, North Carolina NCLBGC.

12 states have NO state GC license. In those states (Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maine, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Vermont, Wyoming), municipal GC licensing may apply (Denver, Chicago, Kansas City, Houston, Philadelphia), and trade subs are licensed at the state level.

What a handyman can legally do (under unlicensed threshold):

- Single-task cosmetic work below the threshold. - Mounting shelves, TVs, mirrors. - Patching drywall (small areas). - Caulking (no demo, no fixture install). - Furniture assembly. - Touch-up painting (single room, below threshold). - Replacing existing fixtures with same-type fixtures (some states allow, many don't). - Minor carpentry (replacing trim, replacing baseboards). - Yard work and basic landscaping (within gardener scope — see landscaper-vs-gardener). - Filter changes, light bulb replacements, gutter cleaning.

What a handyman CANNOT legally do, regardless of project dollar amount:

- Electrical (hard-wired, not plug-in) - Plumbing (inside walls, water heaters, gas lines, drain reroute) - HVAC (refrigerant work, ductwork, system replacement) - Structural (load-bearing walls, foundations, framing) - Roofing (full replacements, structural patches) - Anything requiring a permit

What goes wrong with hiring a handyman for licensed-trade work:

1. Permit fail and resale disclosure. Unpermitted work surfaces at sale, and the buyer's inspector or appraiser flags it. The homeowner pays to redo it through a licensed contractor.

2. Insurance claim denial. Damage from unlicensed work (fire from electrical, water from plumbing, structural failure) may not be covered by the homeowner's insurance.

3. Personal liability. If injury occurs due to unlicensed work, the homeowner may be personally liable.

4. No warranty backing. Manufacturer warranties on fixtures and equipment often require licensed installation.

5. Quality. A handyman doing electrical work doesn't have the trade training; the work may pass initial inspection but fail later.

What goes wrong with hiring a GC for handyman-scale work:

1. Cost overhead. A GC has 10-20% management overhead on projects. For a $300 trim install, the GC overhead doubles the cost.

2. Sub coordination overhead. A GC's value is in coordinating multiple trades. For a single-task job, there's nothing to coordinate.

3. Minimum project sizes. Many GCs have $5,000-$10,000 minimum project sizes; they won't take small jobs.

The right decision framework:

- Multi-trade work (kitchen, bathroom, addition, remodel): general contractor. - Single-trade licensed work (electrical, plumbing, HVAC, roofing) standalone: trade-specific licensed contractor (electrician, plumber, HVAC contractor, roofer) — not a GC, not a handyman. - Single-task cosmetic work below threshold, no licensed trades involved: handyman. - Anything requiring a permit: licensed contractor (GC or trade-specific). - Anything structural: GC or structural engineer + framing contractor.

For ambiguous cases (e.g., "I want to upgrade my kitchen — new floor, new paint, new backsplash, keep existing appliances"):

- If you're not touching electrical, plumbing, or HVAC, and the total cost is below threshold, a handyman with documented experience can handle it. - If you're touching any of those trades, or the total cost is over threshold, hire a GC who'll sub the trade work. - If the scope is just one of those trades (e.g., new backsplash with no electrical or plumbing), a tile-specialty contractor may be the right choice.

Groundcheck (earthmove.io/trust) verifies state GC license, surfaces phoenix-company patterns, court records, OSHA citations, and BBB complaints. For state-specific licensing thresholds and rules, see earthmove.io/trust/license/general-contractor/[state] and earthmove.io/trust/license/handyman/[state].