General Contractor Permits & Licenses in Boston, MA

Required for all LLCs formed in or doing business in MA. Annual report required thereafter ($500 fee, due by anniversary month).

Mandatory ongoing requirement for LLC good standing.

Required for any person or business supervising, managing, or controlling construction work valued at $500+. Owner-occupants exempt for own single-family dwelling. Prerequisites: 3 years experience or equivalent education; no exam required.

Mandatory for residential work; commercial general contractors may not need if no residential component.

Filed with city/town clerk where business has principal office; state tracks but local filing required.

Registers for sales/use tax, withholding, meals tax if applicable. Use MassTaxConnect portal.

General contractors may be liable for sales tax on materials they supply. Subcontractor charges are generally not subject to sales tax if properly contracted. Registration required via MassTaxConnect.

Employers must withhold state income tax from employee wages. Registration required through MassTaxConnect. Applies to all employers in MA regardless of business type.

Employers must pay quarterly unemployment insurance tax if they have paid $1,500 or more in wages in any calendar quarter or employed at least one person for some portion of a day in 20 different weeks (FUTA threshold).

Assigned automatically upon registration via MassTaxConnect. Not the same as federal EIN, but often issued concurrently.

LLCs taxed as corporations (not pass-through) are subject to corporate excise. Most LLCs are pass-through entities and not subject. However, if the LLC elects corporate taxation or has corporate features, this may apply. Sole proprietors and pass-through entities generally not liable.

All LLCs must file a biennial report and pay $500 fee to remain in good standing. Due every other year on the anniversary of formation. Not a tax, but a mandatory compliance obligation tied to business structure.

Many Massachusetts cities and towns impose a local business or occupational privilege tax (e.g., Boston, Cambridge, Worcester). Requires registration with city clerk or tax office. Examples: Boston's Business Property Tax ($2.20 per $100 of assessed value) and Occupational Excise ($15–$30 per employee). Verify with local clerk.

Federal income tax withholding, Social Security, and Medicare taxes apply. Requires federal EIN (obtained via IRS Form SS-4). Filing via Form 941 quarterly. Not state-specific but mandatory for employers.

Applies to sole proprietors and LLC members not treated as employees. General contractor owners typically subject. Paid via personal tax return (Form 1040).

Required for all general contractors performing work in Boston. Registration must be renewed annually. Cite: Boston Municipal Code Chapter 11, Section 2.

Zoning approval required for contractor office/yards. Home-based operations may need special permit. Article 7 of Boston Zoning Code.

Required for any structural changes to business premises. Boston Building Code (780 CMR).

All permanent signs require permit per Boston Zoning Code Article 8.

Required if storing > threshold quantities of hazardous materials. Boston Fire Prevention Code.

Verifies compliance with building, fire, zoning codes. Required for office/yard spaces.

All audible alarms require police permit. BPD Ordinance 511.

Contractors must control dust/nuance during projects. Applies to work sites, not office.

Suffolk County does not require separate county business licenses; city requirements govern.

Limited to <25% home use, no nuisance. Boston Zoning Code Article 8-10.

While not required for sole proprietorships with no employees, most LLCs—especially those in construction that may hire subcontractors or employees—should obtain an EIN. General contractors often need an EIN to comply with IRS backup withholding rules on subcontractor payments (Form 1099).

A single-member LLC is disregarded for federal tax purposes and reports income on Schedule C (Form 1040). Multi-member LLCs are treated as partnerships and must file Form 1065. General contractors must also pay self-employment tax (15.3%) on net earnings via Schedule SE.

Massachusetts law requires *all* employers with at least one employee to carry workers’ comp. Coverage must be obtained before the first day of work.

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 149, § 31‑2 requires HICs to maintain commercial general liability insurance with minimum limits of $1,000,000 per occurrence (or $2,000,000 aggregate).

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 149, § 31‑2 mandates a $25,000 surety bond for all HICs.

DPW Contracting Manual § 2‑3 requires a $25,000 performance bond (or higher depending on contract size).

Massachusetts minimum liability limits: $20,000 bodily injury per person, $40,000 bodily injury per accident, $5,000 property damage.

Massachusetts law does not mandate professional liability insurance for general contractors. It may be required by private owners or specific contracts, but there is no state‑wide legal requirement.

Only required if the contractor manufactures or sells tangible products; not a legal requirement for typical construction services.

Massachusetts requires liquor liability coverage only for businesses that hold a liquor license. General contractors without such activities are exempt.

General contractors must comply with 29 CFR 1926 (OSHA Construction Standards), including fall protection (1926.501), scaffolding (1926.451), and hazard communication (1926.59). The General Duty Clause (Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act) requires employers to provide a workplace free from recognized hazards.

ADA Title III applies to "places of public accommodation." A general contractor’s office open to clients must meet ADA standards for accessibility. Job sites are generally not considered public accommodations unless open for public tours or events.

Federal requirement for general contractors performing remodeling or renovation. Requires firm certification, certified renovators on staff, lead-safe work practices, and recordkeeping. Enforced by EPA or authorized states (Massachusetts is not authorized; EPA enforces directly).

General contractors must pay at least federal minimum wage ($7.25/hour) and overtime (1.5x regular rate for hours over 40/week). Independent contractors are not covered, but misclassification risks FLSA liability. Applies to all construction labor performed in interstate commerce (which includes most contracting).

Requires eligible employers to provide up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for qualifying medical and family reasons. Most small general contractors in Massachusetts do not meet the 50-employee threshold, but must monitor headcount annually.

All U.S. employers must verify identity and work authorization for every employee using Form I-9. General contractors must maintain I-9 forms for current employees and for three years after employment ends. Applies regardless of employee count.

General contractors making claims in advertising (e.g., “best-rated,” “lowest price,” or using customer testimonials) must ensure they are truthful, substantiated, and not misleading. Must disclose material connections (e.g., paying for reviews). Applies to websites, social media, and print ads.

General contractors must issue Form 1099-NEC to unincorporated subcontractors (e.g., sole proprietors, LLCs) paid $600+ annually. Does not apply to corporations (except LLCs electing corporate status). Required for tax reporting and backup withholding compliance.

Requires payment of locally prevailing wages for each labor category. Applies to most public construction projects in MA with federal funding.