Massachusetts requires a Construction Supervisor License (CSL) for anyone supervising construction, alteration, or demolition of buildings under the State Building Code. Separately, contractors doing $500+ of residential remodeling must hold a Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) registration with the Office of Consumer Affairs.
Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 152 requires WC for ALL employers from the first employee. Construction-industry sole-proprietors and corporate officers may exclude themselves but must file with DIA. Independent-contractor classification is governed by the strict M.G.L. c. 149 §148B 'ABC test'.
These are limits commonly required on MA public-works prequalification. They are NOT a state-mandated minimum — verify against your specific procurement spec or contract.
M.G.L. c. 149 §148B treats failure of any of the three prongs as employee status — and triggers WC + wage-and-hour liability. A 1099 acknowledgment is not protective.
A 'CSL Restricted 1A' sub cannot supervise outside their class. Pull the actual CSL class + restrictions from the BBRS lookup.
A licensed CSL doing residential remodel ALSO needs HIC registration with the OCA — different system, different renewal. Capture both.
VendorShield checks every COI for Massachusetts compliance — license currency against MA Board of Building Regulations and Standards (BBRS) — CSL; Office of Consumer Affairs — HIC, WC posture, public-bid limit minimums, and 3 state-specific pitfalls flagged at intake. No more manual statute lookups.
Start free 14-day trialCSL is a Construction Supervisor License from BBRS — required for anyone supervising state-building-code construction. HIC is a Home Improvement Contractor registration from OCA — required for residential remodel/repair over $500. Many subs need both.
M.G.L. c. 149 §148B requires (A) the worker is free from control, (B) performs services outside the employer's usual course of business, AND (C) is independently established in that trade. Failure of any prong = employee, not contractor.
Yes. M.G.L. c. 152 applies WC to ALL employers from first hire. Construction sole-prop and corporate-officer exclusions exist but must be filed with DIA.
Use the MA eLicensing portal at elicensing21.mass.gov/CitizenAccess for both CSL and HIC. Confirm class, status, restrictions, and any disciplinary history.
A consumer-protection pool funded by HIC fees that pays homeowners up to $10,000 per claim for unfinished or defective residential work by HIC-registered contractors.
Reference data current as of 2026-06-04. This page is informational and is not legal advice. Always verify with the linked state authority before relying on a number for procurement, prequalification, or legal use.