All articles
AlabamaLicensing

Alabama: When You're Legally Required to Hire a Licensed Trade

Apr 12, 2026·8 min read

Alabama splits residential work between several licensing bodies. The Home Builders Licensure Board (HBLB) regulates anything over $10,000 in residential construction. The Alabama Plumbers and Gas Fitters Examining Board licenses all plumbing. The Alabama Electrical Contractors Board licenses electrical work over a specific scope.

What a non-licensed handyman CAN legally do: cosmetic work, minor repairs, assembly, mounting, painting, flooring, drywall patching, deck staining, fence repair, and small carpentry projects under the $10K HBLB threshold.

What requires a licensed pro: any plumbing alteration past the fixture stop, any new electrical circuit, any HVAC refrigerant work, gas line modifications, structural changes, and any project over the $10K threshold.

Every plumber, electrician, and HVAC pro on HandyMandyMan in Alabama is cross-verified against the issuing board. The 'Verified Licensed' badge means we have the active credential on file.

Need a verified pro for this?

Browse top-rated handymen in your area. Pay only when the work is done.

Find a Pro