Hiring a contractor in Pennsylvania takes more than finding someone with a ladder and a truck. The state runs a mandatory registration program for home improvement contractors, and every registered contractor carries a Pennsylvania Home Improvement Contractor number, usually called a PA HIC number. Malick Brothers Exteriors is registered as PA174918, and we put that number on our contracts, our trucks and our website because the law requires it and because homeowners deserve a way to check who they are letting onto the roof. This guide explains what the HIC number is, what the law behind it does for you, how to look a contractor up in under a minute, and what else to check before you sign. If you are comparing companies right now, our guide to the best roofers in Pittsburgh walks through the same checks in more detail.
What Is a Pennsylvania HIC Number?
A PA HIC number is the registration number the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General assigns to a home improvement contractor. It comes from the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act, known as HICPA, which was passed as Act 132 of 2008 and took effect in 2009. Any business that performs or offers home improvement work in Pennsylvania above a small annual threshold must register with the Attorney General, keep that registration current, and print the number on every advertisement, estimate and contract. Roofing, siding, gutters and most other exterior work fall under the act.
The number is not a trade license in the sense of a plumbing or electrical license. Pennsylvania does not test roofers on their skill before registering them. What the number does prove is that the contractor has identified the business and its owners to the state, carries the insurance the act requires, and has agreed to the consumer protections written into the law.
What HICPA Does for Pittsburgh Homeowners
The act is written for the homeowner, not the contractor. These are the parts that matter most when you are hiring for a roof or siding job.
1. Mandatory registration
Contractors who do more than a small amount of home improvement work in a calendar year must register, and the registration must be renewed every two years.
2. Minimum insurance requirements
To register, a contractor must carry liability insurance for personal injury and property damage at the levels the act sets. A roofing crew works at height, on your property, often above a living room full of furniture. Insurance protects you if someone is hurt or something is damaged.
3. The number must appear on contracts and ads
HICPA requires the registration number on all advertising, estimates and contracts. If a company website, yard sign or quote does not show a PA number, that is a sign the contractor is either not registered or is not following the law. Ours is PA174918 and you will find it on every quote we hand a homeowner.
4. Written contract rules
For any home improvement job above a modest value, the act requires a written contract signed by both parties. That contract must include the contractor's registration number, the business address, the approximate start and completion dates, a description of the work and materials, the total price, and a notice of your three day right to cancel. Contracts that demand more than one third of the price up front, when the job does not involve special order materials, are also restricted under the act. We put everything in writing before a shingle comes off.
5. Prohibited practices and criminal penalties
The act lists business practices that are off limits, including abandoning a job without cause, misrepresenting the work that is needed, and taking a deposit without a written contract. Home improvement fraud is a criminal offense in Pennsylvania under the act, with heavier penalties when the victim is over 60.
How to Verify a Contractor's HIC Number
The Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General runs a free public search at https://hicsearch.attorneygeneral.gov/. You can search by registration number, business name or owner name. The result shows the registered business name, the address on file, the owners, the registration status and the expiration date.
When you look a contractor up, check four things:
- The name matches. The registered business name should match the name on the quote. A company quoting under one name and registered under another deserves a question.
- The status is active. An expired or suspended registration means the contractor is operating outside the law right now.
- The address is real. Our registration lists our shop at 500 Perry Highway in West View. A contractor with only a P.O. box or an out of state address can be harder to find later if there is a warranty issue.
- The number on the paperwork is the same number in the search. Some unregistered contractors borrow a number from another company. The search closes that loophole.
Not every business has to register. Very small contractors who do only a token amount of home improvement work in a year and very large retailers are exempt under the act.
Why This Matters More in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh has one of the oldest housing stocks in the country. Brick foursquares in Brookline and Dormont, frame houses on the steep streets of the North Side, and the postwar ranches and split levels of Ross and McCandless all put a lot of weight on their roofs. Freeze and thaw cycles, lake effect snow that drifts down from the north, and spring thunderstorms that drop hail across Allegheny County mean roofs here are repaired and replaced more often than in milder climates.
That volume of work attracts storm chasers. After a hail event, out of state crews knock on doors across the North Hills and the South Hills, offer a fast roof, collect a deposit and move on. Many are never registered in Pennsylvania at all. The HIC search is the fastest way to separate a local company you can find next year from a truck that will be in another state next week.
Our company was founded in 2022 by Ryan Malick, who grew up in West View and still lives there. We are family owned, BBB A+ accredited, an AtlasPro+ Platinum Select contractor, which lets us offer the Atlas 50 year warranty on complete Atlas roof systems, and MuleHide certified for low slope EPDM and silicone roofing. A 50 year warranty only matters if the company that sold it is still around and still registered, which is one more reason to look us up before you call.
What Else to Check Before You Hire
The HIC number is the first check, not the only one. Before you sign a roofing or siding contract in Pittsburgh, we suggest you also:
- Ask for the certificate of insurance and confirm it names the business you are hiring.
- Read recent Google reviews and look for the same names showing up over time. A stable crew is a good sign.
- Check manufacturer certifications. Atlas, MuleHide and James Hardie each credential contractors who meet their installation standards, and those credentials unlock longer warranties.
- Get a written estimate that lists materials by brand and product, not just "architectural shingles." We provide free written estimates on every job.
- Confirm who pulls the permit. Many Allegheny County municipalities require a permit for a full roof replacement, and the contractor should handle it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a PA HIC number the same as a contractor license?
No. Pennsylvania does not license general or roofing contractors at the state level. The HIC number is a registration with the Office of Attorney General that confirms identity and insurance.
How long does an HIC registration last?
Two years. The search result shows the expiration date, so check that it has not lapsed.
What if a contractor says the job is too small to need a number?
The exemption applies only to businesses that do a very small total amount of home improvement work in a year. A company that advertises roofing or siding as its main business almost certainly exceeds it. Ask for the number anyway.
Can I cancel a home improvement contract in Pennsylvania?
Yes. HICPA gives you three business days after signing to cancel a home improvement contract without penalty, and the contract must tell you so in writing.
Where do I report a contractor who is not registered?
The Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General Bureau of Consumer Protection takes complaints about unregistered contractors and contract violations. Keep copies of every estimate, contract and payment.
Look Us Up, Then Call Us
Search PA174918 at the Attorney General's site and you will find Malick Brothers Exteriors, registered and active, at our shop on Perry Highway. When you are ready for a roof, siding, gutter or soffit and fascia estimate anywhere in the Pittsburgh area, contact us and we will come out, inspect the job and put a free written estimate in your hands.
