Handyman Licenses in Kentucky – Everything you Need to Know

Before you offer professional handyman services in Kentucky, it’s smart to know what you can lawfully do. This will keep you out of legal trouble and allow you to earn money with confidence.

You also need to know what to do and where to go to get your business up and running.

I’ve pored over pages of complex legal jargon, spoken to state inspectors, and reviewed the state’s regulatory agencies. Here’s what I’ve found.

Do you need a handyman license to offer services in Kentucky?

There’s no statewide handyman license. Instead, licensing is left up to individual municipalities. If we look at three of the largest metropolitan areas–Lexington, Louisville, and Bowling Green–we see that only Bowling Green requires a handyman license.

While Bowling Green is the only city mandating a handyman license, all three cities demand contractors register their business with the district in which they’ll be working.

Because we’re reporting on only three metropolises in Kentucky, it’s essential to check with the city clerk in the region you’ll be working to understand the requirements local to you.

Limitations for Handymen

Handymen in Kentucky are unable to perform (with very few exceptions) plumbing or electrical work without a license in each respective field.

Restrictions for these specialized fields are emphasized on the state’s legislative sites here and here.

To get a sense of exemptions to the licensing rules in these fields, I reached out to inspectors on the state’s electrical and plumbing boards. One unanimous exception to the licensing mandate applies to homeowners–individuals can perform these specialties on their own principal residences.

Outside the homeowner exception, the state offers no leeway to handymen for electrical projects. The plumbing inspector I spoke with, however, says that “certain minor repairs or maintenance (i.e., replacing faucet washer, unclogging drain, adjusting a fixture) may not require a license,” and stressed the importance of consulting with the office of the plumbing inspector in the area you plan to work for clarity on local regulations.

Advertising Restrictions

To ensure compliance with state regulations, all contractors in Kentucky need to ensure the work they’re promoting doesn’t require specialty licensing they don’t have. In other words, don’t offer electrical services if you don’t have an electrician’s license. And don’t promote yourself as a General Contractor if you haven’t gone through the steps to obtain a GC license.

If you live in a city like Bowling Green that offers a handyman license, display your number on your website, advertisements, social media, and proposals. And all handymen should include their business registration identification on marketing materials. These steps will only help build credibility with potential customers.

Insurance Requirements

Kentucky requires insurance for its contractors, including handymen.

Louisville requires handymen to file a certificate of liability insurance, verifying at least $250K per occurrence ($500K aggregate). If a handyman has employees, Worker’s Compensation is needed, as well.

Liability insurance is also mandated in Lexington, at a rate of $100K per occurrence. Workers’ Comp is required for contractors with employees. If a handyman doesn’t have any employees working under them, they must file an Affidavit of Exemption, affirming their status as a sole proprietor, to alleviate the Workers’ Comp obligation.

Bowling Green’s insurance requirements echo those in Lexington: $100K in liability and a filed Affidavit of Exemption to bypass the Worker’s Compensation requirement.

Insurance is reasonably priced if you get it here.

How do I obtain a handyman license in Bowling Green?

The application form is quite simple, requiring applicants to provide their contact information, a copy of their driver’s license or government-issued ID, a certificate of liability insurance, and Worker’s Compensation coverage (or an Affidavit of Exemption).

The handyman license in Bowling Green allows for handymen to hire one subcontractor per project, which is a valuable perk I haven’t come across in other states.

You can find the application here. Be sure to tick “specialty contractor” on the application; this is what the handyman occupation falls under.

What are the steps for registering my business?

The process varies by county. Here’s the application links (and some relevant trivia!) for the three cities we’ve been talking about:

Lexington: no cap on the size of projects a handyman can take on.

Louisville: enables handymen to perform cosmetic repairs, but nothing structural (structural work requires a GC license).

Bowling Green business registration happens here.

Are there any other requirements for handymen in Kentucky?

Yes. Registering a DBA (Doing Business As) name is required if you choose to attach a moniker to your business that doesn’t include your surname.

For example, if Joe Smith names his business “Joe’s Handyman Services,” he’ll need to file a DBA. If he labels his business “Joe Smith,” however, he won’t need to file, as his legal name is his business name.

DBA filings are processed through the city clerk’s office in the jurisdiction where you conduct business. The filing fee ranges from $46-$66.

Penalties for Contracting Illegally in Kentucky

Kentucky is serious about curbing illegal contracting.

Repercussions vary by region. Bowling Green, for example, imposes a $250 fine for contracting without a license, jumping to $500 for the second offense, and $750 for the third offense.

Lexington lays out its penalties in Sec. 13-14 of its city codes, imposing a fine up to $500 and/or 12 months of imprisonment. Each day a contractor works without a license is considered a new violation, carrying a punishment that can quickly compound.

Partaking in electrical or plumbing work without a license in the respective field carries its own risks. With few exceptions, plumbing work may cost you up to $100 and/or 90 days in jail for each offense, and electrical tasks can mean up to $5,000 in fines and/or 180 days of jail time.

Be smart—leave plumbing, electrical, and other license-only work to those with the proper licensing. And, for certain, register your business before taking on handyman projects. The penalties aren’t worth it.

Conclusion

There’s a steady demand in Kentucky for the type of work handymen deliver. If you like solving problems with your hands, having variety in your day, and control over your schedule, the occupation of a handyman may be ideal for you.

Kentucky is a state that allows its local governments to craft their own business regulations. For this reason, it’s essential to check in with the city clerk in the area you plan to work to be clear on what you can and can’t legally do.

As long as handymen in Kentucky remain mindful of restrictions on licensed trade work–and go through the business registration process–income-generating projects are available to them.

Do you offer handyman services in Kentucky?

If so, I’d love to hear about your experience. Please leave a comment below to share any insights I may have missed.