- HICPA basics
- Verify registration
- Insurance
- Estimates & references
- Contract checklist
- Deposits & cancelling
- Red flags
- Questions to ask
- FAQ
Whether it's a kitchen in Blue Bell or a rowhome bathroom in Philadelphia, the contractor you pick matters more than the tile. Pennsylvania law gives you real protections, and this guide walks through the checks in the order you'd actually do them.
The Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act in plain terms
Pennsylvania's Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act (HICPA, 73 P.S. § 517.1 and following) took effect July 1, 2009. The parts that matter most to you:
- Registration. Contractors who do $5,000 or more of home improvement work a year must register with the Office of Attorney General. Registration runs two years and has to be renewed.
- A number on everything. The registration number, written as "PA" followed by digits, must appear on every ad, estimate, proposal and contract a contractor uses in Pennsylvania.
- Written contracts. The Act covers home improvement work where the total price is more than $500. Those jobs need a written contract that meets the Act's requirements, or it isn't enforceable against you.
- A three-day right to cancel. You can cancel within three business days of signing, without penalty.
- Limits on deposits and a ban on taking any payment before the contract is signed.
One thing registration is not: an endorsement. The Attorney General says plainly that registration isn't a recommendation or approval of a contractor's skill. It's the floor, not the ceiling.
How to verify a contractor's HIC registration
- Find the number. Look on the business card, website, truck or estimate. If it's missing from an estimate or contract, ask why.
- Search it. Go to hicsearch.attorneygeneral.gov. You can search by registration number, business name, applicant name, city, county, ZIP or phone number.
- Match the details. The search only shows active registrations. Confirm the business name and address match the company you're talking to.
- Call if you're unsure. The Attorney General's toll-free line is 1-888-520-6680.
You're welcome to start with us: our number is PA HIC #186102, and you can check it on the state's HIC search.
Ask for proof of insurance
HICPA requires registered contractors to carry liability insurance of at least $50,000 for personal injury and $50,000 for property damage, and the contract must state the coverage the contractor has at signing. That's a legal minimum, so ask to see the certificate. Ideally the contractor's insurance agent sends it to you directly. Check that the business name matches the contract and the policy dates cover your project. If the contractor has employees on your job, it's also fair to ask how they're covered for injuries.
Get itemized estimates and check references
HomeAdvisor's hiring advice is to get quotes from at least three contractors, and the Federal Trade Commission recommends getting several written estimates and not automatically choosing the lowest. Ask each contractor to explain big differences. Estimates are only comparable when they're itemized, so look for separate lines for:
- Demolition and disposal
- Framing, drywall and trim
- Cabinets, fixtures and finishes, with allowances spelled out
- Tile and flooring by square foot
- Plumbing and electrical work, and who performs it
- Permits and inspections
- Paint, cleanup and protection of the rest of the house
For references, ask for recent customers with projects like yours and photos of finished work. Ask each one: did the job finish when promised, how were surprises handled, and would you hire them again?
What a Pennsylvania home improvement contract must include
Section 7 of HICPA lists what a contract needs to be valid and enforceable against the homeowner. Use this as a checklist before you sign:
| The contract must | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Be in writing and legible | Includes the contractor's HIC registration number |
| Be signed and dated | Signatures from you and the contractor, plus the date of the transaction |
| Name the contractor | Name, street address and phone. A P.O. box alone doesn't count |
| Give approximate dates | A starting date and a completion date |
| Describe the work | Work, materials and specifications that change only by written change order signed by both of you |
| State the price | A total price, or a time-and-materials provision capped at 10 percent over a written initial estimate |
| Show the deposit | The down payment and any special-order materials listed separately |
| List subcontractors | Names, addresses and phone numbers of those known at signing |
| Show insurance | Current personal injury and property damage coverage amounts |
| Include required notices | The Attorney General's toll-free number and a notice of your right to cancel |
The contractor also has to give you a completed copy of the contract when you sign, at no charge. An arbitration clause has to sit on its own page, in capital letters and bold type, with separate signature lines.
Deposits, payments and your right to cancel
A contractor can't demand or accept any payment before the contract is signed. On contracts over $5,000, the deposit can't exceed one-third of the contract price, or one-third plus the cost of special-order materials that are designated in the written contract. Special-order materials are items that aren't stock and are ordered for your job, like custom cabinets. Misrepresenting something as special order is itself a violation.
After signing, you have three business days to cancel without penalty, regardless of where you signed. In May 2026 the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, in a case brought by the Attorney General, held that you can cancel by any means, whether by phone, in writing or in person, as long as the contractor actually gets notice. It's still smart to follow up in writing so you have a record.
The FTC also advises never paying everything up front and holding the final payment until the work is done to your satisfaction.
Red flags to walk away from
- No HIC registration number, or one that doesn't match the business in the state search
- Pressure to sign today, or a door-to-door pitch about leftover materials from a job nearby
- Cash only, or a request for all or most of the money up front
- A lump-sum price with no breakdown, or blank spaces in the contract
- A push to skip permits, or to have you pull them in your own name
- Offers to arrange a loan through a lender they know
- Changes to price or scope without a written, signed change order
Questions to ask before you hire
- What's your HIC registration number, and can your agent send me a certificate of insurance?
- Who will be on site each day, and who is my main contact?
- Which parts of the job are done by subcontractors or licensed trades?
- Who pulls the permits, and which inspections will the job need?
- What's the payment schedule, and what triggers each payment?
- How do you handle change orders and surprises behind the walls?
- What allowances are in the estimate, and what's excluded?
We put our registration number, PA HIC #186102, on every estimate and contract. Every project starts with a free walkthrough and a written, itemized estimate, so you can compare us line by line. Like-for-like fixture replacement is part of our work, and new plumbing or electrical rough-in is done by licensed trade partners we coordinate. Request your estimate.
See also our guide to remodeling permits in Philadelphia vs. Montgomery County townships and our small home repairs checklist.
Projects we've completed
These are our own job sites. See more in the gallery.
Choosing a contractor: common questions
How do I check if a contractor is registered in Pennsylvania?
Search the contractor's registration number or business name at hicsearch.attorneygeneral.gov, which shows active registrations, or call the Attorney General at 1-888-520-6680. The number should also appear on the contractor's ads, estimates and contracts.
How much can a contractor ask for as a deposit in PA?
On home improvement contracts over $5,000, HICPA caps the deposit at one-third of the contract price, or one-third plus the cost of special-order materials designated in the contract. No payment can be taken before the contract is signed.
Can I cancel a home improvement contract in Pennsylvania?
Yes. You can cancel without penalty within three business days of signing, regardless of where you signed. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court held in 2026 that notice by phone, in writing or in person all count, as long as the contractor receives it.
Does a small job need a written contract?
HICPA applies to home improvement work with a total price over $500, and those contracts must be in writing to be enforceable against the homeowner. For smaller jobs, a written estimate is still a good idea.
Sources
- Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act, 73 P.S. § 517.1 et seq. (Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General)
- Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General: HIC registration FAQ and HIC registration overview
- Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General: Home improvement consumer brochure
- PA Supreme Court upholds right to cancel within three days by any medium, Office of Attorney General, May 2026
- Home Improvement Contractor Search
- FTC: How to avoid a home improvement scam and HomeAdvisor hiring tips, updated June 2026