What Can a Handyman Do Without a License in Burlington in Burlington County, New Jersey?
In New Jersey, most paid home-repair/handyman work performed for homeowners is regulated under the state’s Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) registration program rather than a single “general contractor license.” There is no broad statewide dollar-amount handyman exemption from HIC registration; if you offer/perform “home improvements” for compensation, you generally must register as an HIC and comply with NJ’s home-improvement contract rules. Separate state trade licenses are required for electrical, plumbing, and HVACR work regardless of HIC registration.
✅ What You Can Do Without a License
- Furniture assembly; shelf hanging and picture/mirror mounting (no new electrical wiring).
- Interior/exterior painting and staining (subject to lead-safe rules for pre-1978 housing; see EPA RRP).
- Minor drywall patching and repair; caulking and grouting repairs.
- Basic carpentry like replacing interior trim, baseboards, and non-structural doors (no structural reframing).
- Replacing faucets/showerheads/toilets ONLY if it is a straightforward like-for-like fixture swap and local permit rules do not require a licensed plumber (many municipalities still require a licensed plumber for certain plumbing work).
- Replacing light fixtures/switches ONLY where allowed by code and local enforcement and without altering circuits/panels (many jurisdictions require a licensed electrician—verify before offering this).
- Gutter cleaning and minor gutter repairs (not involving structural roof work).
- General property maintenance/cleanup and small repairs that do not require construction permits or trade licensing.
Common Jobs Handymen Take in Burlington
Based on the NJ threshold, handymen in Burlington commonly take on:
- Furniture assembly; shelf hanging and picture/mirror mounting (no new electrical wiring).
- Interior/exterior painting and staining (subject to lead-safe rules for pre-1978 housing; see EPA RRP).
- Minor drywall patching and repair; caulking and grouting repairs.
- Basic carpentry like replacing interior trim, baseboards, and non-structural doors (no structural reframing).
- Replacing faucets/showerheads/toilets ONLY if it is a straightforward like-for-like fixture swap and local permit rules do not require a licensed plumber (many municipalities still require a licensed plumber for certain plumbing work).
- Replacing light fixtures/switches ONLY where allowed by code and local enforcement and without altering circuits/panels (many jurisdictions require a licensed electrician—verify before offering this).
- Gutter cleaning and minor gutter repairs (not involving structural roof work).
- General property maintenance/cleanup and small repairs that do not require construction permits or trade licensing.
⚠️ What Requires a License
- Advertising/contracting for most paid residential repair/remodeling as a business in NJ generally requires Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) registration.
- Electrical contracting: installing new circuits, altering wiring, panel work, service upgrades, generators, EV chargers—requires a NJ licensed electrical contractor and permits/inspections.
- Plumbing contracting: water heaters (often), new supply/drain lines, moving fixtures, gas piping, sewer work—requires a NJ licensed master plumber and permits/inspections.
- HVACR contracting: installing or replacing furnaces/AC/heat pumps, refrigerant line work—requires NJ HVACR contractor license; EPA 608 certification for refrigerants; permits/inspections.
- Structural work (load-bearing walls/headers/beam work), additions, decks, significant framing—typically requires permits and may implicate engineered plans; HIC registration generally still applies for residential work.
- Roofing replacement, window/door replacements that change openings or affect egress, siding replacement—often requires permits and may trigger historic review in designated districts.
- Lead paint disturbance in pre-1978 homes: federal EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) rule may require an EPA-certified firm and certified renovator on covered work.
Business License — Burlington
Required. City Mercantile/Business License (Certificate of Occupancy/Zoning approval may also apply)
Setting Up Your Business in NJ
To get paid professionally and protect yourself, register your business. LLC filing fee in NJ: $125 (one-time). You'll also need a free EIN from the IRS and a business checking account.
Your Next Steps to Operating Legally in Burlington
- Step 1: Form/register your business (LLC optional) and complete NJ tax/business registration with NJ DORES.
- Step 2: Register as a New Jersey Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) if you will perform/advertise home improvement work for compensation.
- Step 3: Obtain general liability insurance (commonly $1,000,000 per occurrence) and workers’ comp if you will have employees (or if required by clients).
- Step 4: If you will do electrical/plumbing/HVACR work, pursue the appropriate NJ trade license (or subcontract those scopes to licensed contractors).
- Step 5: Contact Burlington City for mercantile/business licensing and confirm zoning/home-occupation requirements if operating from home.
- Step 6: For each job, confirm permit requirements with the local Construction Office before starting work.
Licensing rules and fees change over time, so this information may be out of date. Verify all requirements with your local licensing authority before making business decisions.