Rhode Island Handyman License Requirements
Rhode Island's small-job figure is $500. The exact wording below decides whether a job fits.
R.I. Gen. Laws 5-65-2(a)(4): exempt is 'A person working on one structure or project, under one or more contracts when the price of all of that person's contracts for labor, materials, and all other items is less than five hundred dollars ($500) and the work is of a casual, minor, or inconsequential nature.' Strictly under $500, all contracts on that structure/project combined, AND work must be casual/minor/inconsequential. Exemption does NOT apply to anyone who advertises or puts out any sign or card or other device indicating to the public that the person is a contractor. Other exemptions: own property, employees of a registered contractor, material suppliers, licensed tradespersons working within their license (still must carry insurance under 5-65-7).
What counts toward it: labor+materials
"A person working on one structure or project, under one or more contracts when the price of all of that person’s contracts for labor, materials, and all other items is less than five hundred dollars ($500) and the work is of a casual, minor, or inconsequential nature."
Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov · checked November 2, 2026
Who regulates this
Rhode Island Contractors' Registration and Licensing Board (CRLB/RICRLB), a unit within the State Building Office (Dept. of Business Regulation email domain dbr.ri.gov). LLC formation: RI Department of State (Secretary of State), Business Services.
Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov · crb.ri.gov · checked November 2, 2026
Does Rhode Island license general and residential work?
Rhode Island requires contractors (including residential/handyman work) to REGISTER with the Contractors' Registration and Licensing Board (R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 5-65): 5-hour pre-registration course, $500,000 general liability insurance, $150 fee. No exam. New: R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 5-65.4 (enacted July 2, 2025) will require a LICENSE as of Jan 1, 2028 for building new homes and for structural remodeling of existing residential structures; it does not apply to nonstructural home improvements.
Source: crb.ri.gov · checked November 2, 2026
When a permit changes the answer
Not stated in statute - the $500 exemption turns on price, casual/minor nature and no advertising; permit requirement is not a stated condition. (Advertising as a contractor voids the exemption regardless of job size.)
Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov · checked November 2, 2026
Registration
General Contractor Registration with CRLB: proof of a state-approved 5-hour pre-registration course (exempt if exclusively commercial work); Certificate of General Liability Insurance minimum $500,000 naming RICRLB as certificate holder; workers' compensation certificate if you have employees; LLC/corporation must be registered with RI Secretary of State; out-of-state applicants need a RI registered agent; fee $150.00. No reciprocity. Failure to file insurance certificate within 10 business days: $250 first offense, $500 each subsequent.
Source: crb.ri.gov · checked November 2, 2026
Trade work
Licensed trades under R.I. Gen. Laws chapters 5-6 (electricians), 5-20 (plumbers), 5-56, and title 28 chapters 26-27 (e.g., pipefitters/refrigeration/HVAC) are licensed by the state; such licensed businesses working within their license are exempt from CRLB registration except the 5-65-7 insurance requirement. No handyman carve-out from trade licensing found. CRLB itself licenses commercial roofers, home inspectors, underground utility, water filtration, well drilling and pump installers.
Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov · checked November 2, 2026
Insurance and bond
CGL minimum $500,000 (registrants, R.I. Gen. Laws 5-65-7); workers' comp if employees. No bond found for general contractor registration.
Source: crb.ri.gov · checked November 2, 2026
What a handyman should charge in Rhode Island
Statewide planning estimate: $76 to $103 an hour. It's an estimate from public data, not the market rate. City pages use local wages when we can match them.
| Step | Low end | High end |
|---|---|---|
| Your pay (employee wage for this work in Rhode Island) | $50,900 median | $62,030 top quarter starts here |
| Overhead ($33,148 national, adjusted to local prices at 102.3) | $33,904 | $33,904 |
| Profit 15% + PTO 10% + warranty 3% + business taxes 12% | +40% | +40% |
| Yearly total to cover | $118,726 | $134,308 |
| Billed hours a year (hours on the job × 52) | 30 × 52 = 1,560 | 25 × 52 = 1,300 |
| Hourly rate | $76 | $103 |
- Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, occupation 49-9071 Maintenance and Repair Workers, General, Rhode Island (statewide figure, because we could not match a metro for this place). The top-quarter figure is in the BLS data file.
- Local prices: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024, Rhode Island, all items index 102.3 (US = 100).
- Overhead, hours and percentages: median answers from members using our hourly rate calculator, the same formula that tool uses. National, not local.
Rhode Island places we cover (12)
Rules change. This page shows what official sources said on the dates above. It is not legal advice.