Carpentry Contractor vs. General Contractor: Roles and When to Hire Each

The construction and renovation service sector draws a meaningful operational distinction between carpentry contractors and general contractors — two license categories that overlap in scope but differ fundamentally in authority, responsibility, and trade depth. Misidentifying which type of contractor a project requires is a documented source of budget overruns, permit failures, and substandard trade execution. This page maps the professional landscape of both contractor types, their respective licensing frameworks, and the structural logic governing when each is the appropriate hire.

Definition and scope

A carpentry contractor is a licensed trade professional whose scope of work is bounded by wood-frame construction, millwork, finish installation, cabinetry, structural framing, and related wood-based building systems. Carpentry contractors operate under trade-specific licensing issued at the state level — a framework detailed in the carpentry licensing and certification requirements reference for the US market. Their authority is deep within one trade but does not extend to plumbing, electrical, HVAC, or other regulated specialty systems.

A general contractor (GC) holds a broader construction license — in most US states, issued under a separate general contractor or residential builder classification — authorizing project-level management across all trades. The GC's core function is coordination, subcontractor procurement, code compliance oversight, and contract administration for an entire project scope. The GC may self-perform limited carpentry work depending on state law, but the license itself is a project management credential rather than a trade credential.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics classifies carpenters under SOC code 47-2031, a distinct occupational category from construction managers (SOC 11-9021) and general contractors operating as business entities (BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook). This classification distinction reflects real differences in training pathways, liability exposure, and contract authority.

How it works

The operational hierarchy on most projects places the general contractor at the top of the subcontract chain. The GC holds the prime contract with the property owner, pulls the primary building permit, and is the responsible party to the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) — typically a municipal building department. Subcontractors, including carpentry contractors, hold subordinate contracts with the GC rather than directly with the owner.

A carpentry contractor hired by a GC operates within a defined scope of work document, executes to the project drawings and specifications, and is responsible only for trade-specific inspections (framing inspection, for example) that fall within their work. The carpentry services scope of work documentation framework governs what those boundaries look like in practice.

When a carpentry contractor is hired directly by a property owner — bypassing a GC — the owner assumes the project management and permit-pulling responsibilities that would otherwise fall to the GC. In most US jurisdictions, pulling a building permit without a licensed GC is permissible for owner-occupants under owner-builder exemptions, but those exemptions carry resale and insurance consequences that vary by state.

Key structural differences between the two contractor types:

1. License scope — Carpentry contractors hold a trade license; general contractors hold a construction or building contractor license, which in states like California is administered by the Contractors State License Board (CSLB) under separate classifications (e.g., Class B for general building, Class C-5 for framing) (CSLB License Classifications).
2. Permit authority — GCs typically pull the master permit; carpentry contractors may pull sub-permits for specific inspections.
3. Insurance requirements — GCs carry commercial general liability and often builder's risk policies covering the full project value; carpentry contractors carry trade-level liability, generally scoped to their portion of the work. See carpentry services insurance and liability for trade-specific coverage structures.
4. Subcontracting authority — GCs engage and manage all other trades; carpentry contractors do not manage other licensed trades.
5. Contract relationship — GCs contract directly with the owner; carpentry contractors typically contract with the GC on multi-trade projects.

Common scenarios

Scenario A: Full home renovation or new construction — Projects involving structural work, electrical, plumbing, and finish carpentry require a licensed GC as the coordinating authority. The GC then engages a carpentry contractor for framing (rough carpentry services), finish work (finish carpentry services), and specialty millwork as discrete subcontracted scopes.

Scenario B: Standalone carpentry project — Deck construction, cabinet installation (cabinet installation carpentry services), door and window replacement (door and window carpentry services), or staircase work (staircase carpentry services) can be contracted directly with a licensed carpentry contractor. These projects typically require only a trade permit, not a full building permit.

Scenario C: Home renovation with incidental carpentry — A kitchen remodel managed by a GC will subcontract millwork and cabinet installation to a carpentry specialist while coordinating the plumber and electrician under a single prime contract. The carpentry services for home renovation scope typically sits within this model.

Decision boundaries

The threshold question is whether the project crosses trade boundaries. If work requires coordination of 2 or more licensed trade systems (electrical + framing, plumbing + structural), a GC is the structurally appropriate hire. If the project is wood-work specific and self-contained, a carpentry contractor hired directly is the efficient path.

Project size is a secondary factor. Many states set a dollar threshold — for example, California requires a licensed contractor for projects exceeding $500 in combined labor and materials (CSLB Consumer Guide) — above which unlicensed work is illegal regardless of contractor type.

The how to hire a carpenter reference covers qualification verification procedures. For cost benchmarking across contractor types, carpentry services cost guide provides market-rate frameworks. Projects requiring permit navigation should also reference carpentry services permits and building codes.

The broader national carpentry authority reference index organizes the full service sector landscape, including trade pathways, contractor categories, and specialty service types.

References

• Bureau of Labor Statistics — Carpenters, Occupational Outlook Handbook (SOC 47-2031)
• Bureau of Labor Statistics — Construction Managers, Occupational Outlook Handbook (SOC 11-9021)
• California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) — License Classifications
• California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) — Consumer Guide to Hiring Licensed Contractors
• US Department of Labor — Apprenticeship Program Standards for Carpenters