The 10 Best Pittsburgh, PA General Contractors

You must use a general contractor who is licensed and registered with the city of Pittsburgh for new residential construction, renovations and/or additions to a one or two family dwellings and all demolitions. For projects that require a residential building permit, you may use a contractor who is registered with the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General as a Home Improvement Contractor rather than one who is licensed and registered with the City.

There is no examination or proof of relevant experience required to be licensed as a contractor with the city of Pittsburg. Applicants must be 18 years or older, show a proof of general liability insurance and workers’ compensation and registration for all city taxes and pay a licensing fee of $93. Licensed must be renewed yearly.

Pittsburgh licensed contractors are required to hold general liability insurance with limits no less than $300,000 per occurrence, and an active workers’ compensation insurance. Pennsylvania registered home improvement contractors must hold general liability insurance with minimum coverage of $50,00. It is highly recommended that you get copies of all insurance certificates for your records before any work begins on your property.

A building permit is required in Pittsburgh unless explicitly exempted. Generally, permits are required for any demolition work, all construction of new buildings, and additions to existing buildings. Finally, to conduct most renovation and repair work on existing buildings and structures, and to change the occupancy status of an existing building, you must acquire a permit. If you are unsure whether or not your project needs a permit, contact the Department of Permits, Licenses and Inspections at 412.255.2175.

The Department of Permits, Licenses and Inspections is responsible for issuing permits and ensuring project compliance with all building codes and city ordinances. At the start of project planning, you and your contractor should determine who will acquire the necessary permits. The Department does not offer any pre-application review consultation, nor is there an optional expedited permit review process. Permits for some minor projects can be applied for and received over the counter without plans on the same day. Most projects require the submission of construction plans for review. More details are available on the Pittsburgh Department of Permits, Licenses and Inspections’ website.

General contractors in Pittsburg are not required to hold a surety bond. There is no state recovery fund for homeowners who have suffered financial loss due to the dishonest or incompetent conduct of a contractor.

The BuildZoom score is based on a number of factors including the contractor's license information, which is gathered from the Pittsburgh Department of Permits, Licenses and Inspections and the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General; building permit data, gathered from the Department of Permits, Licenses and Inspections; and feedback and behavior we have observed in the BuildZoom marketplace and in other, third-party review sites.

We have analyzed every licensed contractor who has worked in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Using this information, we’re able to save you time, money and lessen your risk by providing you with a simple and straight-forward way to gather and receive multiple bids from vetted general contractors in Pittsburgh. Click here to get started by providing us with a few details about your project.