In June 2015, The South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation found 73 cases of unlicensed builders/contractors in the state during a sting operation. Their motivation for the investigation was to protect consumers from illegal construction activities, protect the health and safety of SC citizens, and highlight the steps contractors must take to become licensed.

All marble, granite and stone contractors, fabricators and installers doing commercial work over $5,000 are required to pass the state mandated examination in order to get a General and Mechanical Contractor’s License. The license issued by the South Carolina Contractor’s Licensing Board allows for both commercial and residential construction.

A residential masonry contractor is considered an independent contractor and when undertaking a job that exceeds $200, he must contract with a licensed residential builder, general contractor or individual property owner in order to do the job. If the work exceeds $5,000, a surety bond of $5,000 must be obtained.

Each city/county has its own rules, regulations and fees so be sure your contractor is current in your area.

Note: the Municipal Association of South Carolina (MASC) is not a licensing agency of the state and their trade certification program does not serve as license to perform construction.  

The Residential Builders Commission and Contractor’s Licensing Board requests that consumers looking for contractors in the state of South Carolina visit www. llronline.com and click Licensee Lookup or call 803-896-4686 to verify their prospective contractor is up-to-date on their state license. Additionally, when hiring someone to do work in your home, they ask consumers to:

• Ask contractor for references
• Check with the BBB for any activity
• Require a written contract
• Pay only a deposit.