Specialty Contractor (C-51 Tile)

Hawaii C-51 Tile Specialty Contractor License

The Hawaii Contractors License Board issues the C-51 specialty license for tile work. Under HRS §444-9, no one may act, or advertise, as a specialty contractor in Hawaii without a license in the classification the work requires.

What the C-51 Classification Covers

Under HAR Title 16, Chapter 77, Exhibit A, the C-51 classification covers preparing the base for ceramic, mosaic, granite, terrazzo, and other tile work, including pseudo tile and marble or cultured marble products attached by suction, fasteners, or adhesives, and installing those products.

C-51 Carries Two Subclassifications Automatically

Under HAR §16-77-32(d), a specialty licensee automatically holds the subclassifications of its specialty without examination or added fees. For C-51 those are C-51a cultured marble (preparing the base and installing cultured or synthetic marble products) and C-51b terrazzo (placing and finishing terrazzo and liquid membrane with terrazzo chips).

C-51 is not among the specialties HAR §16-77-32 grants automatically to A or B licensees. Other Exhibit A classifications also work with tile, stone, or marble:

• C-42c concrete and clay tile lays concrete and clay tile, with any underlay, purlins, or nailer strips, to form a watertight surface.
• C-1 acoustical and insulation installs acoustic tile systems for sound control.
• C-31 masonry lays brick, rough or cast stone, marble, granite, and structural glass, with or without mortar or adhesives.
• C-49 swimming pool includes ceramic tile and coping in pool construction, and C-49a swimming pool service includes repairs to pool tile, coping stones, plaster, and decks.

Qualifying Takes Four Years of Supervisory Experience and Two Exams

HAR §16-77-18 requires not less than four years of supervisory experience as a foreman, supervising employee, or contractor in the classification you are applying for, earned within the ten years before you apply. A contracting entity qualifies through a responsible managing employee (RME) who meets that requirement. After the Board approves the application, the applicant must pass Part I (Hawaii building, safety, health, labor, and lien laws and contracting business administration) and Part II (specialized knowledge of the C-51 classification) under HAR §16-77-39 and §16-77-40. PSI Services administers both exams, and they must be passed within six months of approval.

Insurance Must Stay in Force for the Life of the License

Before a license issues, file a certificate showing bodily injury liability of at least $100,000 each person and $300,000 each occurrence, and property damage liability of at least $50,000 each occurrence, plus workers' compensation unless you are self-insured or excluded under HRS chapter 386. Under HRS §444-11.1, letting workers' compensation, liability insurance, or a required bond lapse forfeits the license automatically as of the date the coverage expired or was cancelled.

The Board May Require a Bond of at Least $5,000

HRS §444-16.5 lets the Board require a surety bond of not less than $5,000, weighing your financial condition and experience in the field. It is set case by case, not required of every licensee.

Apply for $50; Renew for $338 by September 30 of Even-Numbered Years

The application fee is $50, non-refundable, for each application filed; license fees are assessed after Board approval. Every contractor license renews by September 30 of each even-numbered year regardless of when it was issued. The current period runs October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2028. On-time renewal costs $338 for an active entity or sole proprietor, $208 for an active RME, and $160 for inactive status. Renewal requires current insurance, any required bond, and a Hawaii tax clearance issued within six months; the Board lists no continuing education requirement.

Missed September 30? You Have 60 Days to Restore

A license not renewed by September 30 is forfeited, and the holder is unlicensed and may not contract. Under HRS §444-15(b), a forfeited license may be restored within sixty days of September 30 by filing all required documents and fees plus a penalty fee. The Board lists the cost to restore an active entity or sole-proprietor license at $388. After the restoration window closes, the license terminates and you must apply as a new applicant.

Penalties

Under HRS §444-23(c), contracting without a license (a §444-9 violation) carries civil fines of $2,500 or 40% of the contract price for a first offense, $3,500 or 40% for a second, and $5,000 or 40% for later offenses, whichever is greater. Advertising as a contractor without a license is a misdemeanor under §444-9.2. Violating a cease and desist order can draw a court-imposed fine of not less than $10,000 per offense under §444-10.5(j), and each day of violation is a separate offense. A licensee who contracts outside its classification is fined $500 for a first offense, $1,000 for a second, and $1,500 to $2,000 for each later offense under §444-23(a).