Electrical Contractor Permit Requirements in Manchester, NH

1. EIN (Employer Identification Number)

   Required if you have employees or operate as an LLC or corporation. Free from the IRS.

   Official government source

   Free·Immediate (online application)

   Free

   Immediate (online application)

1. New Hampshire — No Sales Tax

   New Hampshire has no state sales tax and no local sales taxes, so businesses need no sales tax permit or resale registration for sales tax purposes. Businesses may instead owe the Business Enterprise Tax and the Business Profits Tax, both administered by the NH Department of Revenue Administration; BET paid can be credited against BPT. Restaurants, caterers and lodging operators separately collect the Meals and Rooms (Rentals) Tax and must hold a DRA license for it. Filing and payment are handled through DRA's Granite Tax Connect portal.

   Official government source

   No fee to register for business taxes with DRA. For taxable periods beginning on or after January 1, 2025, a BET return is due from any enterprise with more than $298,000 in gross receipts or an enterprise value tax base above $298,000; the BET rate is 0.55%·Immediate — registration and filing are done online through Granite Tax Connect

   No fee to register for business taxes with DRA. For taxable periods beginning on or after January 1, 2025, a BET return is due from any enterprise with more than $298,000 in gross receipts or an enterprise value tax base above $298,000; the BET rate is 0.55%

   Immediate — registration and filing are done online through Granite Tax Connect

1. New Hampshire Electricians' Board — Master Electrician License

   Electrical contractors in New Hampshire must hold a Master Electrician license issued by the Electricians' Board (RSA 319-C), administered by the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification. Requires passing a state examination and documenting qualifying experience.

   Official government source

   $198 Master Electrician application fee; $110 Journeyman; $33 Apprentice; $137 Electrical Corporation·Confirm current processing time with OPLC (603-271-2152)

   $198 Master Electrician application fee; $110 Journeyman; $33 Apprentice; $137 Electrical Corporation

   Confirm current processing time with OPLC (603-271-2152)

2. Manchester City Clerk — Business License (activity-specific, not general)

   Manchester does NOT require a general business license for all businesses. The City Clerk's Business Licensing and Enforcement Division licenses only specific activities: food-service establishments, high-impact retail selling tobacco/vape/lottery products, peddlers, hawkers, dealers of junk/secondhand goods, pawnbrokers, hotels/motels/B&Bs, tattoo and body-piercing establishments, farmers markets, taxicab companies/drivers, non-consensual towing companies, employment offices, and circuses/carnivals/fairs/festivals/entertainment venues. Businesses outside these categories are not required to hold this license; call (603) 624-6348 to confirm applicability to your specific business.

   Official government source

   Varies by license type; call (603) 624-6348·1-3 weeks (if applicable)

   Varies by license type; call (603) 624-6348

   1-3 weeks (if applicable)

3. City of Manchester Electrical Permit (per project)

   An electrical permit must be obtained from the City of Manchester Planning and Community Development Department's Building Division for each electrical project; Hillsborough County has no permitting role. Multi-family, non-owner-occupied single-family and commercial projects must be performed by a licensed NH Master Electrician. A final inspection is required upon completion.

   Official government source

   No flat fee is published: the application asks for a description and estimated cost of the work, and the Building Division calculates the fee on review (the City's Building Fees schedule sets a $25 application fee plus 0.6% of estimated cost for 1- and 2-family work and 1% for all other work)·Not published; applications must be printed, signed and mailed to Planning and Community Development, and the approved permit is mailed back after review and payment

   No flat fee is published: the application asks for a description and estimated cost of the work, and the Building Division calculates the fee on review (the City's Building Fees schedule sets a $25 application fee plus 0.6% of estimated cost for 1- and 2-family work and 1% for all other work)

   Not published; applications must be printed, signed and mailed to Planning and Community Development, and the approved permit is mailed back after review and payment

Official Sources

• New Hampshire Electricians Licensing Board — Electrical Contractor License
• City of Manchester City Clerk

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