How to Verify a Contractor in Pennsylvania (HICPA “PA Number” Lookup, 2026)
Pennsylvania doesn’t license home improvement contractors — it registers them. Under HICPA (the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act), any contractor doing $5,000+ of home improvement business per year must register with the Attorney General and display their “PA number” on contracts, ads, and estimates. Verify it free at hicsearch.attorneygeneral.gov. Registration isn’t a competence test — but its absence means they’re ignoring the state’s baseline law.
How Does Pennsylvania’s System Work?
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Who must register | Home improvement contractors doing $5,000+/year of business |
| Who runs it | PA Office of Attorney General — Bureau of Consumer Protection |
| The “PA number” | Must appear on all contracts, estimates, and advertising (e.g., PA012345) |
| What registration proves | Identity, address, insurance attestation — not skill or exam |
| Trades | No statewide trade licenses either — plumbers/electricians are licensed by municipalities (Philadelphia and Pittsburgh run their own systems) |
| Deposit cap | On contracts over $5,000: max 1/3 of the price (plus special-order material costs) |
How Do You Verify, Step by Step?
- Ask for the PA number — it should already be on the estimate; a “registered” contractor who can’t produce it isn’t
- Search hicsearch.attorneygeneral.gov — confirm the registration is current and the business name and address match your contract exactly
- Philadelphia/Pittsburgh trades: verify plumbers and electricians through the city’s Licenses & Inspections (Philadelphia L&I) or Permits/Licenses (Pittsburgh PLI) lookups — big-city trade work must run under licensed masters
- Insurance: HICPA requires liability coverage (minimum $50,000) — get the certificate from the insurer, not a photocopy
- Old-house reality check: PA’s housing stock is among the nation’s oldest — knob-and-tube wiring, galvanized pipe, and century-old rowhome quirks reward specialists. Compare pricing in our Philadelphia plumber and Pittsburgh plumber guides
What Rights Does HICPA Give You?
HICPA is one of the more consumer-friendly contractor statutes in the country:
- Written contract required for jobs over $500 — with start/end dates, itemized scope, and total price
- Deposit cap: more than 1/3 down on a $5,000+ contract violates the act (how deposits should be structured)
- 3-day right of rescission on most home improvement contracts — broader than the federal door-to-door rule
- Home improvement fraud is a crime in PA — taking advance payment and failing to perform can be prosecuted criminally, with enhanced penalties when victims are 60+
- Violations are automatically Unfair Trade Practices Act violations → potential treble damages in court
If a contractor has already crossed the line, the sequence — demand letter, AG complaint, magisterial district court (PA’s small claims, up to $12,000) — is in scammed by a contractor: what to do.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Pennsylvania license contractors? No — it registers them under HICPA through the Attorney General. Registration verifies identity and insurance, not competence. Trades are licensed only at the municipal level (Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and some others).
How do I look up a contractor’s PA number? Search hicsearch.attorneygeneral.gov by name or PA number. Confirm current status and an exact business-name match. The number must legally appear on contracts and ads.
How much deposit can a PA contractor take? On contracts over $5,000, no more than one-third of the contract price, plus the cost of special-order materials. Demanding half down violates HICPA.
Can I cancel a home improvement contract in Pennsylvania? Yes — HICPA provides a 3-business-day right of rescission on most home improvement contracts, regardless of where you signed. Cancel in writing and keep proof.
Is contractor fraud a crime in Pennsylvania? Yes — home improvement fraud is a specific criminal offense (18 Pa.C.S. § 4117 area), with stiffer grading when the victim is 60 or older. Report to local police and the AG’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.
Last updated: June 10, 2026. Sources: PA Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act (73 P.S. § 517.1 et seq.); PA Attorney General HIC registry; Philadelphia L&I / Pittsburgh PLI trade licensing. This article is consumer information, not legal advice.