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What are the requirements to meet handyman exemption as well to file a lein without business license or contractor licen

ArizonaLicenses

Hi my name is Jesse I am new to doing handyman work. I am unlicensed and not contracted. I did a job for a lady that was for an amount of $740. I have been getting threats that I can be criminally charged because I don't have any license. I did some reading up but as you know legal terms look like jargain to most of us. do I meet the exemption in both ARS 32-1121 and ARS 33-993 as an unlicensed handyman performing a retiling job in a shower for $740? (there was no electrical work done) If you have any advice on what I should do next please let me know like I said I've been getting threats after this job I did, I have not been paid yet and it's pretty scary in all. Thanks in advanced for your time -Jesse

1 reply

Sep 27, 2019

Arizona has strict licensing requirements, and long and confusing exceptions to those strict licensing requirements. The exceptions set forth in ARS 32-1121 are plentiful and difficult to parse, but there may be some applicability to a small re-tiling job, provided other requirements are met. 32-1121(A)(14) notes that the licensing requirements do not apply to a person working on a project pursuant to a contract or contracts where the aggregate price of the work is less than $1000 as long as: a) the work is minor in nature and doesn't require a building permit; b) the work is not part of a larger or major project of which the handyman's work is only a part; and c) the handyman does not use any form of advertising to the public in which the handyman's unlicensed status is not disclosed by including the words "not a licensed contractor" in the advertisement. Re-tiling a shower for less than $1,000 fits the monetary requirements, and likely doesn't require a building permit. So, if the handyman makes no advertisement that fails to disclose his/her status as an unlicensed contractor, it is likely that the exception would apply.

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