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Pittsburgh Home Projects

Pennsylvania's Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act, in plain English

By the Pittsburgh Home Projects editorial team · Updated 2026-10-20

Pennsylvania doesn't have a general contractor license, but HICPA gives homeowners important protections.

Key points

  • Most contractors must register with the PA Attorney General and display their registration number
  • Contracts must be written and signed, with specific details
  • You can cancel within 3 business days
  • Down payments over one-third of the contract price (plus special-order materials) are generally prohibited on contracts over $1,000
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