Renew My License
2024-2026 General Contractors Renewals Extension
Due to the impacts of Hurricane Helene throughout many parts of South Carolina, the Contractor's Licensing Board authorized a one-time extension of the renewal deadline for general contractor licenses on October 17, 2024. The 2024-2026 renewal deadline for general contractors has been extended through December 31, 2024. All general contractor licenses will remain active during this time and no late renewal penalties will be assessed. Beginning January 1, 2025, licenses that have not been renewed will be lapsed and subject to a renewal late fee schedule.
Prior to accessing the online renewal system, all licensees are required to submit an appropriate financial statement, valid surety bond, or surety bond continuation form. There will not be a grace period to submit this information at a later date. Licensees are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the group limit changes (see below) prior to submitting their financial documents, as their licensing groups may have changed. Please submit financial documentation via the Document Submission portal. Groups 1-4 may utilize the Owner-Prepared Financial Statement, Doc #172. Once your financial documentation has been accepted, you will receive an email and you may complete the online renewal process. You may also log in periodically to check the status of your submitted documentation.
All licensees are required to submit only one of the following financial documents prior to accessing the online renewal software:
- Financial Statement: Financial statements must have a balance sheet date no more than twelve months prior to the date of renewal (ie. after August 1, 2023) showing a minimum net worth or working capital for the appropriate license group (see additional financial statement information in the section below). Licensees may utilize the Owner-Prepared Financial Statement, Doc #172, for Groups 1-4; or
- Surety Bond: If this is your first time submitting a surety bond, you must provide the Surety Bond Form to your bonding company. The original surety bond must be submitted with the Surety's signature, Principal's signature, a visible surety company seal, and the Power of Attorney document attached to the form. Docusign is not an acceptable form of signature.
If you already have a surety bond on file that has not yet expired, you are not required to submit anything at this time. If your surety bond has expired or is about to expire, you may submit your Surety Bond Continuation form via Document Submission. If you would like to change the amount of your surety bond to reflect the 2023 law changes, you may submit a continuation certificate and bond rider change form to reflect the new amounts.
NOTE: Surety Bonds payable to the South Carolina Residential Builders Commission are not accepted by the South Carolina Contractor's Licensing Board for license renewal.
General Contractors Surety Bond Amounts:
| Group 1 ($20,000) |
| Group 2 ($60,000) |
| Group 3 ($150,000) |
| Group 4 ($250,000) |
| Group 5 ($350,000) |
You may submit your financial documentation via the Document Submission portal using your User ID and Password.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT OR SURETY BOND REQUIREMENTS FOR RENEWALS:
Groups 1 and 2 (submit one):
- Doc #172, Owner-Prepared Financial Statement (Note: please download and save this document to your computer prior to inputting data); or
- Surety Bond Form for General Contractors
Groups 3 and 4 (submit one):
- Doc #172, Owner-Prepared Financial Statement (Note: please download and save this document to your computer prior to inputting data); or
- Compiled financial statement from a licensed CPA, prepared in accordance with GAAP, including all disclosures required by GAAP, or
- Surety Bond Form for General Contractors
Group 5 (submit one):
- Reviewed financial statement from a licensed CPA, prepared in accordance with GAAP, including all disclosures required by GAAP (cannot be on an "income-tax basis"); or
- Surety Bond Form for General Contractors
| General Contractors | ||||
| Group | Bid and Job $ Limitation | Working Capital[1] | Net Worth[2]/ Total Equity | Surety Bond Requirement |
| Group #1 | $100,000 | $10,000 | $20,000 | $20,000 |
| Group #2 | $400,000 | $40,000 | $60,000 | $60,000 |
| Group #3 | $1,000,000 | $100,000 | $150,000 | $150,000 |
| Group #4 | $3,000,000 | $175,000 | $250,000 | $250,000 |
| Group #5 | $Unlimited | $250,000 | $350,000 | $350,000 |
1 Current assets minus current liabilities. S.C. Code Ann. §40-11-20(28). 2 The total wealth of a company taking account of all financial assets and liabilities. S.C. Code Ann. §40- 11-20(18).
* Verify your CPA is licensed at https://cpaverify.org/.
Bill H4115, ratified and signed by the Governor on May 19, 2023, resulted in modifications to Chapter 11 of Title 40 of the South Carolina Code related to licensing groups, financial statements and net worth requirements for licensed contractors.
Section 40 11 260. Financial statements; net worth requirements. - The net worth requirements applicable to each license group for General Contractors were adjusted, as provided in the table below. In addition, applicants now have the option of qualifying for license groups by meeting either the net worth or working capital requirements with the provided financial documentation. In order to remain in your current licensing group, you must meet the increased net worth or working capital requirements at the time of renewal. Licensees are not required to meet both the working capital and net worth requirements, but must meet one option to qualify for the requested group limit.
You are required to have a primary qualifying party on file for each licensed classification. The primary qualifying party(s) must serve in a management capacity for the applicant and be involved in management, supervision, and operations for the work undertaken by the applicant.
If you need to make a change, you must update this information with the Board before renewing your license. To add a new PQP/QP to your license who is not actively certified or has been inactive for more than four years, complete the PQP/QP Initial Application (Doc 168). To add a PQP/QP who is actively certified with another company or has been inactive for less than four years, complete the PQP/QP Revision Application (Doc 181). To delete a qualifying party, email Contact.CLB@llr.sc.gov and include the individual's name and the date of disassociation from the company. You will receive email confirmation from Board staff once updates are complete.
You must submit either the appropriate Financial Statement, Surety Bond or Surety Bond Continuation Certificate with your renewal application. Failure to submit the required financial documentation or bond will result in your license not being renewed.
Doc #176 - 2024-2026 General Contractor Renewal Application
Doc #172 - Owner-prepared Financial Statement
Surety Bond Form for General Contractors
Additional Applications and Forms:
Doc #142- Explanatory Statement of "Yes" Answers
Doc #165 - General and Mechanical Contractor Application for Licensure
Doc #168 - PQP/QP Certification Initial Application
Doc #180 - Revision Application for General and Mechanical Contractor License
Doc #181 - Revision Application for PQP/QP Certification
General Contractor's licenses renewed on or before December 31, 2024: Fee is $135
Renewals processed after December 31, 2024, will have late fees applied as follows:
- January 1 - 31, 2025: Late Fee $200 + Renewal Fee $135 = $335
- After January 31, 2025, you must reapply as a new applicant.