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    • Artificial Turf
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    • Skatepark
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  4. State Playground Licensing Requirements

State Playground Licensing Requirements

Construction
Profile picture for user Curtis Stoddard
By Curtis Stoddard on
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Playground Laws

Why Do We Need Construction Laws? To Protect and Serve.

There remains confusion among many playground owners and others in the playground industry regarding the need for playground construction laws in America. You may feel overwhelmed by the need for licenses regarding so many things in life, ranging from driving a car and operating heavy machinery to simply talking on an amateur radio frequency. The list is extensive.

The need for a license to install playground equipment is just one more. You may be a volunteer trying to make a difference in your community by helping out with installing a much-needed playground. Are you aware of the laws in your state regarding the construction of playgrounds? 

CPSC and State Licensing

First, you must understand that Consumer Product Safety Guidelines and ASTM standards are not federal laws, even though some states such as California have adopted playground CPSC guidelines as state laws. When we refer to “playground laws,” we are generally referring to individual state requirements for building playgrounds. As with many other things, they vary from state to state. These laws could include playground requirements like CPSC, occupational licensing, or contractor laws. 

They’re not discriminating against the playground industry—these laws are generally found under occupational and professional licensing and are part of the state’s licensing that would include regulation of all trades. In fact, 28 states in America require some type of licensing or registration to legally build playgrounds in their states (see map).

Playground Law Map

For example, the Utah Contractors Reference Manual conveys it very well: “A major purpose of licensing is to protect the public health and safety by preventing unqualified people from practicing a given profession or occupation.” The manual also notes that licensing is a way of formally and legally defining a profession. “It gives a way to include in practice those who meet predetermined standards necessary for protecting the public.”

Licensing is a necessary sieve that screens contractors, filtering out those who don’t have the qualifications necessary for safe practices.

For those who dodge the law, it provides a mechanism for investigating incompetent contractors, and it sets standards of practice and codes of conduct. If you contract without a license, you may be guilty of misdemeanor charges.

Contractors Wear Many Hats

Licensed contractors have their work cut out for them because they can’t just be good at installing playground equipment. They wear many different hats for many different duties. Generally speaking, today’s contractors must be organizers and managers. They must be able to administrate their business, learn and grow with the industry, and manage numbers, money, and people.

First, they must be able to handle one of the most expensive parts of owning a business—insurance. This includes liability insurance, workers' compensation, vehicle insurance, tool insurance, and other required services and fees such as permits and bonding. Contractors must be financially capable of managing a construction project and paying for help and supplies.

Besides being good with numbers they must be recorders, thoroughly documenting the events that take place at a construction site. People skills are a must. Contractors have to work in unison with owners, general and sub-contractors, inspectors, and others involved in the construction project. They may not need to be attorneys, but they do need to understand lien, labor, tax, and disability laws as well as employment regulations. 

Safety rules and regulations are also a big part of the construction industry. There are federal safety requirements, state safety requirements, hazardous chemicals, first aid, and safety training that all must be understood and incorporated into day-to-day activities.

Contractors must understand contractual relationships because most construction projects require contractors as well as subcontractors. Understanding the contract and executing the contract are chores requiring attention to detail and intricate planning. Much like middle management at a large corporation, contractors are also project managers. They are required to bid and quote projects, schedule products and workers, supervise day-to-day operations, and produce results while working around other trades.

So what about volunteers, such as Eagle Scout candidates, who want to install playgrounds in states that require licensing? Understanding the laws of the state you’re working in is essential. It may be illegal in some states for volunteers to build playgrounds, but there may be exemptions. For example, number 58-55-305 of Utah’s code states that government employees are exempt from licensing if they install for the entity for which they work.

Licensing laws are there for a reason and need to be taken seriously. If the work is being performed by unlicensed individuals and problems arise, there may be serious consequences should litigation occur. Always check the references, insurance, and certifications of playground builders. State construction laws are there to protect the public, and it is your duty to obey them.

Licensing requirements for playground contractors vary from state to state

This contact list for each state will aid the contractor and the public in discovering these requirements.

ALABAMA

Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors
334-272-5030
genconbd.alabama.gov

ALASKA

Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development
907-465-2536
commerce.alaska.gov

ARIZONA

Arizona Registrar of Contractors
602-542-1525
roc.az.gov

ARKANSAS

Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board
501-372-4661
aclb.arkansas.gov

CALIFORNIA

California Contractors State License Board
916-255-3900
cslb.ca.gov

COLORADO

Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies
303-894-7855
dora.colorado.gov

CONNECTICUT

State of Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection
860-713-6100 
ct.gov/dcp

DELAWARE

State of Delaware Division of Professional Regulation
302-744-4500
dpr.delaware.gov

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs
202-442-4400
dcratransition.dc.gov

FLORIDA

Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board
850-487-1395
myfloridalicense.com/dbpr

GEORGIA

Georgia Construction Industry Licensing Board
478-207-1416
sos.ga.gov

HAWAII

Hawaii Professional and Vocational Licensing
808-586-3000
cca.hawaii.gov/pvl

IDAHO

Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses
208-334-3950
dopl.idaho.gov

ILLINOIS

Illinois Department of Transportation – Construction Department
217-782-7820
idot.illinois.gov

INDIANA

Indiana Professional Licensing Agency
317-232-2980
in.gov/pla

IOWA

Iowa Division of Labor Services
515-242-5871
workforce.iowa.org

KANSAS

Kansas Department of Revenue
877-526-7738
ksrevenue.gov

KENTUCKY

Kentucky Department of Housing, Building and Construction
502-573-0365
dhbc.ky.gov

LOUISIANA

Louisiana Licensing Board for Contractors
225-765-2301
lslbc.louisiana.gov

MAINE

Department of Professional and Financial Regulations and Licensing
207-624-8500
maine.gov

MARYLAND

Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation
401-230-6220
dllr.state.md.us

MASSACHUSETTS

Division of Professional Licensure
617-727-3074
mass.gov

MICHIGAN

Licensing and Regulatory Affairs
517-373-1820
michigan.gov

MINNESOTA

Minnesota Department of Commerce
651-539-1500
mn.gov/commerce

MISSISSIPPI

Mississippi State Board of Contractors
601-354-6161
msboc.us

MISSOURI

Department of Labor and Industrial Relations
573-751-3403
labor.mo.gov

MONTANA

Montana Department of Labor and Industry
406-841-2300
dli.mt.gov

NEBRASKA

Nebraska Department of Labor
402-471-9000
dol.nebraska.gov

NEVADA

Nevada State Contractors Board
704-486-1100
nvcontractorsboard.com

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Office of Professional Licensure and Certification
603-271-3402
oplc.nh.gov/professional-licensing

NEW JERSEY

Department of Law & Public Safety
973-504-6200
nj.gov

NEW MEXICO

New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department
505-476-4500
rld.nm.gov/construction-industries

NEW YORK

New York Department of Labor
518-457-9000
dol.ny.gov

NORTH CAROLINA

North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors
919-571-4183
nclbgc.org

NORTH DAKOTA

Secretary of State of North Dakota
701-328-2900
sos.nd.gov

OHIO

Ohio Department of Transportation – Division of Construction Administration
614-466-3598
transportation.ohio.gov

OKLAHOMA

Oklahoma Construction Industries Board
405-521-6550
cib.ok.gov

OREGON

Oregon Construction Contractors Board
503-378-4621
oregon.gov/CCB

PENNSYLVANIA

Bureau of Professional and Occupational Licensing
717-787-8503
dos.pa.gov

RHODE ISLAND

Rhode Island Contractors Registration and Licensing Board
401-222-1268
crb.ri.gov

SOUTH CAROLINA

South Carolina Contractors Licensing Board
803-896-4686
llr.sc.gov

SOUTH DAKOTA

South Dakota Department of Revenue
605-773-3311
dor.sd.gov

TENNESSEE

Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors
615-741-8307
tn.gov

TEXAS

Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation
512-463-6599
tdlr.texas.gov

UTAH

Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing
801-530-6628
dopl.utah.gov

VERMONT

Vermont Department of Labor
802-828-2106
labor.vermont.gov

VIRGINIA

Virginia Board for Contractors
804-367-8511
dpor.virginia.gov

WASHINGTON

Washington State Department of Labor & Industries
360-902-5800
lni.wa.gov

WEST VIRGINIA

West Virginia Division of Labor Contractor Licensing
304-558-7890
labor.wv.gov

WISCONSIN

Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services
608-266-2112
dsps.wi.gov

WYOMING

Wyoming Business Council
307-777-2800
wyomingbusiness.org

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Profile picture for user Curtis Stoddard
Curtis Stoddard
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