Who must register?

Everybody's first question about the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act (PA Senate Bill 100) is: Does this apply to me and my business? While we're not going to go into a long drawn out list of all the specific trades this law applies to, we will give you the short simple rules.

Anybody who performs any material alteration to a private residence, and makes over $5000 annually, must register with the attorney general, and comply with the new law.

If this applies to you, you must use a contract that meets the requirements of this law for all jobs over $500.

That still leaves some gray area. Here's another way to look at it. Mowing the lawn is one of the only jobs that is not included. On the other hand, a landscaper who applies mulch once a year, and makes over $5000 a year in his business, must register, and must abide the law. Chemical and pesticide sprayers licensed by the Department of Agriculture are exempt due to an amendment won by the Pennsylvania Landscape & Nursery Association, working with Representative Pete Daley (D - Washington). It's the only exemption of its kind.

The following trades are also included who may have otherwise expected not to be: Painting, Interior Design, Fence Building, Geo-Thermal Installations, Solar Installations, Appliance Installation, Landscaping, Gutter Repair, Paving, Home Theater Installation, Security Alarm Installation, Carpet Installation, Swimming Pool Maintenance and Installation, and numerous other trades not here specified.