Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors
237 Coliseum Drive
Macon, Georgia 31217
(478) 207-2440 phone
(478) 314-5805 fax
www.sos.ga.gov/plb/contractors

Update from the Director of the Professional Licensing Boards:
The last quarter of the year is one of the busiest processing times for the staff at PLB.  We have twelve different license types in renewal during the period along with a number of December graduates applying for various licenses.  For existing license holders, our on-line renewal process allows us to process in excess of 92% of our renewals with very nominal staff involvement.  It also provides our customers with a process that is fast, efficient, paperless and accurate.

For the new graduates, we now have 32 on-line applications available for those applying for their first license with us.  This enables some new graduates to go on-line, register, apply for licensure and pay their fees.  This  paperless system allows the staff to process applications much quicker to the benefit of the applicant who can receive their license and go to work much faster than in the past.  We are planning more on-line applications for the near future.

As we begin the year 2010, we will continue to offer more services on-line and strive to improve our processing times.  For license holders, please keep your personal information up to date and accurate so our transactions with you can be faster and more accurate. 

Regards,
Randy Vaughn
Director of the Professional Licensing Boards

The Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors is comprised of two divisions. The Residential Contractors division has eight members and the General Contractors division has seven members. Typically, the Board meets twelve times each year. Board meetings are open to the public, with the exception of executive session, in which confidential matters such as complaints, disciplinary items, and applications are discussed.

Minutes from the Board meetings can be found on the Board’s website: www.sos.ga.gov/plb/contractors.

Number of Active Licensees:

General Contractor Company: 2,548
General Contractor Individual: 280
General Contractor Qualifying Agent: 2,553
Residential Basic Company: 4,481
Residential Basic Individual: 3,401
Residential Basic Qualifying Agent: 4,498

Residential Light Company: 2,739
Residential Light Commercial Individual: 1,431
Residential Light Qualifying Agent: 2,768
General Contractor Limited Tier IND: 12
General Contractor Limited Tier QA: 89
General Contractor Limited Tier CO: 88

Board Members:

Residential Division
Delmar Robert Barnard
James Steven Cash
Melissa A. Henderson
Mark B. Herbert, Sr.
Allen M. Richardson
Edward E. Strain, III

General Division
Timothy F. Ansley
Daniel P. Cash
David Joseph Cyr
Calvin S. Hopkins
Roger S. Huggins
C. David Moody
Morgan D. Wheeler

Board Staff:

Tanja Battle
Executive Director
Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors

January 6, 2010 at 9:00 a.m.
February 3, 2010 at 9:00 a.m. (Teleconference)
March 3, 2010 at 9:00 a.m.
April 7, 2010 at 9:00 a.m. (Teleconference)
May 5, 2010 at 9:00 a.m.
June 2, 2010 at 9:00 a.m. (Teleconference)
July 7, 2010 at 9:00 a.m.
August 4, 2010 at 9:00 a.m. (Teleconference)
September 1, 2010 at 9:00 a.m.
October 6, 2010 at 9:00 a.m. (Teleconference)
November 3, 2010 at 9:00 a.m.
December 1, 2010 at 9:00 a.m. (Teleconference)

Actions Taken by the Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors

October: The Board voted to post the following rules:                                                                       

• 553-12-.02: The purpose is to establish continuing education requirements for the residential division.
• 553-12-.03: The purpose is to identify which types of programs will qualify as acceptable continuing education for the residential division.
• 553-12-.04: The purpose is to establish guidelines on continuing education controls and attendance reports for the residential division.
• 553-04-.05: The purpose is to eliminate the requirement for a line of credit for a General Contractor Individual Limited Tier license.
• 553-04-.06: The purpose is to eliminate the requirement for a line of credit for a General Contractor Qualifying Agent Limited Tier license.

The Board voted to ratify 213 general contractor licenses, 189 residential basic licenses and 100 residential light licenses that were issued from August 5, 2009 thru October 6, 2009.
The Board also voted to deny two general contractor licenses, eight residential basic licenses and one residential light license.
The Board voted to accept the following Public Consent Order for probationary licensure:

• Walter W. Lewis, Roswell

The Board ratified the Voluntary Cease and Desist orders for the following individuals for unlicensed practice:

• Clifford Merritt, Americus                
• Richard Deloach, Claxton                 
• Fred Bush, Decatur
• Brian Holden, Ellabell
• Dale Fish, Gray
• Michael Oliver, Helena
• Clyde Sawyer, Jonesboro
• David Kehren Jr., Leesburg
• Chris Harris, Perry
• Marc Hoefert, Pine Mountain Valley
• James L. Kerby, Savannah     
• Donald James Chancey Jr., Winder
• Rodney Sessions, Young Harris

The Board voted to post the following rules:                                                                       

• 553-12-.05: License Renewal—General Contractor Limited Tier and General Contractor Unlimited: Establishes renewal guidelines for General Contractors
• 553-12-.01: License Renewal—Residential-Basic and Residential-Light Commercial: Establishes renewal guidelines for Residential Contractors

November: The Board voted to post the following proposed rules:

• 553-12-.02 Continuing Education. The main feature of this rule is to establish requirements of continuing professional education for licensed residential contractors.
• 553-12-.03 Programs Which Qualify. The main feature of this rule is to determine which subject matters are acceptable forms of continuing education.

The Board voted to accept the voluntary cease and desist order for the following unlicensed practice:

• Earnest Gore dba EG Construction, Cartersville

The Board voted to accept the voluntary surrender order from the following applicant:

• Gregory Swinks, Flowery Branch

December: The Board voted to ratify 46 residential basic licenses, 43 residential-light licenses and 68 general contractor licenses that were issued from November 4, 2009 through December 1, 2009.
The Board voted to deny one residential basic contractor license.
The Board voted to adopt the following rules:

• Rule 553-04-.05 Licensure Requirements for an Individual to Practice as a General Contractor in the Individual’s Own Name or Doing Business as an Individual in a Trade Name or as a Sole Proprietorship-General Contractor Limited Tier. The purpose of this rule is to eliminate the requirement of a line of credit for a General Contractor Individual Limited Tier license.
• Rule 553-04-.06 Licensure Requirements for an Individual Acting as a Qualifying Agent for a Business Organization Seeking to Engage in the Profession of General Contracting in the Name of the Business Organization-General Contracting Limited Tier. The purpose of this rule is to eliminate the requirement of a line of credit for a General Contractor Qualifying Agent Limited Tier license.
• Rule 553-12-.01 License Renewal-Residential Basic and Residential-Light Commercial. The purpose of this rule is to establish renewal requirements and guidelines for the Residential Division.
• Rule 553-12-.04 Controls and Reporting. The purpose of this rule is to establish guidelines on continuing education controls and attendance reporting for the Residential Division.
• Rule 553-12-.05 License Renewal-General Contractor Limited Tier and General Contractor Unlimited. The purpose of this rule is to establish renewal requirements and guidelines for General Contractors-Limited Tier and General Contractor Unlimited.

License Renewals:

The Following License Types Expire June 30 of Even Numbered Years:

Residential Basic – Individual
Residential Basic – Qualifying Agent
Residential Basic Company
Residential Light Commercial – Individual
Residential Light Commercial –Qualifying Agent
Residential Light Commercial Company       
General Contractor – Individual
General Contractor – Qualifying Agent
General Contractor Company
General Contractor Limited Tier – Individual
General Contractor Limited Tier –Qualifying Agent
General Contractor Limited Tier Company

It is illegal to work as a Residential or General Contractor with an expired license.

How do I renew my license? 

You may renew your license on the Professional Licensing Board website with a credit card. Click on the “License Renewal” icon and follow the instructions. You will be asked a series of questions including whether you have been arrested, convicted or received a board sanction since your last renewal, whether you have completed your continuing education requirements, and whether or not you are a U.S. citizen. Renewing your license via the website is the fastest way to renew your license.

The Professional Licensing Boards do not mail paper renewals unless requested. A paper renewal form may be requested by the licensee by calling the Board office at (478) 207-2440, or submitting a written request. Licensees may also call our automated system at (404) 463-1100 and request a paper renewal form using their personal identification number included in their renewal notice.

Disciplinary Issues:

The Board addresses these issues on a case-by-case basis and takes these matters very seriously applying sanctions to those who violate the Georgia State Licensing Board for General and Residential Contractors Practice Act, Board rules, and policies. It is important that licensees review all laws, rules and policies that affect their profession. These may be found on the Board’s website at www.sos.ga.gov/plb/contractors.

All public disciplinary actions will be reflected in the Board minutes which may be found on the Georgia State Licensing Board for General and Residential Contractors website.

Grounds for denial, suspension, revocation of a license, or other disciplinary actions may be found at O.C.G.A. § 43-41-10 or at O.C.G.A. § 43-1-19, which can be found on the Georgia State Licensing Board for General and Residential Contractors website.

Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors
Complaints Process Information:

The Georgia General Assembly created the Georgia State Licensing Board for General and Residential Contractors to regulate the licensing and practice of residential and general contracting. The responsibility of administering the laws in O.C.G.A. § 43-41 is given to the Board, whose members are appointed by the Governor. The Board determines if applicants meet licensure requirements, promulgates rules, and considers complaints against licensees and allegations of unlicensed practice. The process for disposing of complaints is as follows:

Complaint Form:

Complaints must be reported to and received by the Board in writing. Written complaints may be submitted to the Board office or on-line at http://sos.georgia.gov/myverification/submitcomplaint.aspx. Documents received in connection with a complaint will not be returned. The complaint must contain sufficient factual evidence indicating a clear violation of Georgia law or Board rules.

Investigations:

The Board gives serious consideration to all complaints. Further investigative action may be taken. Should you file a complaint, you may be contacted by a Board inspector or investigator for additional information. Investigative files are considered confidential for any purpose other than a hearing before the Board. However, the Board is authorized to release such records to another enforcement agency or lawful licensing authority.

Notification Process:

While the investigation is ongoing, the Board is unable to discuss the status of a complaint with anyone, including the complainant. When the Board has completed the case, the complainant will be notified in writing of the Board’s actions. All public disciplinary actions will be reflected in the Board minutes which may be found on the Board’s website.

Frequently Asked Questions:

A list of frequently asked questions may be found on the Board’s website. If you cannot find an answer to your question, you may contact the Board office at (478) 207-2440.