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Handyman License Requirements in Goose Creek, SC

By , Founder of Bulletproof Handyman · South Carolina rules checked November 2, 2026 · Goose Creek local rules checked November 2, 2026

City of Goose Creek business license required for any contractor performing work inside city limits, wherever located (annual outside-city contractor license or per-job contractor license); apply only through goosecreeksc.portal.opengov.com; licensing questions to Licensing@CityofGooseCreek.com. Fee (construction): inside $75 + $2.40/$1,000 over $2,000; outside $150 + $4.80/$1,000 over $2,000.

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Goose Creek requirements

City of Goose Creek business license required for any contractor performing work inside city limits, wherever located (annual outside-city contractor license or per-job contractor license); apply only through goosecreeksc.portal.opengov.com; licensing questions to Licensing@CityofGooseCreek.com. Fee (construction): inside $75 + $2.40/$1,000 over $2,000; outside $150 + $4.80/$1,000 over $2,000.

Source link: goosecreeksc.portal.opengov.com · goosecreeksc.gov · goosecreeksc.gov · checked November 2, 2026

Local business license

Required

  • Name: City of Goose Creek Business License (annual; contractor classes incl. outside-city contractors working in city; per-job contractor option)
  • Office: City of Goose Creek Business Licensing (Administration dept page), applications only via OpenGov portal
  • Fee: NAICS 23 Construction: place of business inside city $75 for first $2,000 of income + $2.40 per $1,000 over (to $1M); outside city $150 for first $2,000 + $4.80 per $1,000 over; declining scale above $1M; per-job contractors pay fee on full contract before work
"Choose this if your office is located outside the City of Goose Creek, but you are performing work (in whole or in part) inside the City of Goose Creek."

Source: goosecreeksc.portal.opengov.com · checked November 2, 2026

Local contractor or handyman license

None found on official sources

  • Name: No separate city contractor license found; contractors get the business license, which requires state qualifications first
"No contractor shall be issued a business license until all state and city qualification[s are met]"

Source: goosecreeksc.gov · checked November 2, 2026

County: Berkeley County

The South Carolina rule

Regulator: South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR): South Carolina Residential Builders Commission (residential builders and residential specialty contractors); South Carolina Contractor's Licensing Board (general and mechanical contractors, Title 40 Ch. 11)

$500
South Carolina job-size figure

Tiered. Residential specialty contractor (trades incl. carpenters, drywall, painters/wallpaperers, floor covering, roofers, masons, insulation, siding, stucco, plumbers, electricians, HVAC) is required 'when the undertakings exceed five hundred dollars' (i.e., $500 or less is exempt; over $500 requires registration, or an exam-based license for plumbing/electrical/HVAC). Residential builder license required 'when the cost of the undertaking exceeds five thousand dollars'. Registration limited to 3 trade classifications; more than 3 requires a residential builder license. Chapter 11 (Contractor's Licensing Board): license required where 'the total cost of construction is greater than ten thousand dollars' for general or mechanical contracting (raised from $5,000 by 2023 Act No. 69, eff May 19, 2023).

What counts toward it: labor+materials (40-59-240(D) bond rule says 'total cost of materials and labor'; the definitions in 40-59-20 say 'undertakings exceed' / 'cost of the undertaking exceeds' without itemizing - treat as total job cost)

"when the cost of the undertaking exceeds five thousand dollars. Anyone who engages or offers to engage in such undertaking in this State is considered to have engaged in the business of residential building."

Source: scstatehouse.gov · scstatehouse.gov · checked November 2, 2026

State registration

Residential Specialty Contractor Registration (RBS) with the Residential Builders Commission for non-exam trades over $500; no exam required for registered trades; application fee $100, renewal $100. Max 3 trade classifications. Plumbers, electricians, HVAC installers/repairers must pass an exam for a specialty contractor license. Business entities: residential business certificate of authorization (40-59-400/410; details not reviewed).

Source: llr.sc.gov · checked November 2, 2026

Insurance and bond

Residential specialty contractor: when total cost of materials and labor for an individual property owner exceeds $5,000, must obtain a surety bond in an amount approved by the commission (LLR application package: bond 'in the amount of $5,000'). No state general-liability insurance amount found.

Source: scstatehouse.gov · llr.sc.gov · checked November 2, 2026

Forming an LLC in South Carolina

State filing fee: $110.

Source: scstatehouse.gov · checked November 2, 2026

What to do, in order

  1. Read the South Carolina rule and confirm with South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR): South Carolina Residential Builders Commission (residential builders and residential specialty contractors); South Carolina Contractor's Licensing Board (general and mechanical contractors, Title 40 Ch. 11).
  2. Line up the Goose Creek items listed on this page.
  3. Get your insurance and rate in place before the first paid job.

Nearby places

Rules change. This page shows what official sources said on the dates above. It is not legal advice.