Authority Network America: Home Services Vertical Summary

The home services sector in the United States encompasses licensed trades, construction disciplines, and property maintenance functions that together represent one of the largest segments of the domestic services economy. This page describes how the Authority Network America home services vertical is structured, which member properties cover which disciplines, and how the referral and verification framework operates across the network. It serves professionals, researchers, and consumers who need to navigate the qualified-provider landscape in plumbing, HVAC, electrical, roofing, contracting, and pool services.

Definition and scope

The home services vertical, as organized within the Authority Network America framework, covers licensed skilled trades and property improvement disciplines delivered at residential and light commercial properties across all 50 states. The defining characteristic of a home services sector business is that it delivers physical labor or materials to a fixed property under licensing or bonding requirements set by state or local authority having jurisdiction (AHJ).

This vertical excludes digital services, financial services, and moving or storage operations. It includes the following primary discipline categories:

1. Plumbing — potable water supply, drain-waste-vent systems, gas lines, and fixture installation
2. HVAC — heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigerant-handling under EPA Section 608 certification requirements
3. Electrical — service panels, wiring, circuits, and code-compliance work governed by the National Electrical Code (NEC), published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
4. General contracting — project coordination, structural renovation, and subcontractor management under state contractor licensing boards
5. Roofing — materials installation, waterproofing, and storm damage remediation
6. Pool and spa services — construction, plumbing, chemical maintenance, and safety compliance

Licensing requirements across these disciplines vary by state. Electrical and plumbing journeyman/master credential structures typically require between 4 and 8 years of documented apprenticeship and examination, as published by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Apprenticeship.

How it works

The network's home services vertical operates through eight member properties, each covering a specific discipline or cross-network function. Each member site maintains its own reference content, provider criteria, and geographic data independently while drawing on shared network quality benchmarks and compliance requirements established at the hub level.

National Plumbing Authority covers state-by-state licensing structures, plumbing code editions adopted by jurisdiction, and the distinction between master plumber, journeyman plumber, and plumbing contractor classifications — distinctions that carry direct legal weight in permit applications and inspections.

National HVAC Authority addresses EPA Section 608 certification tiers (Type I, Type II, Type III, and Universal), NATE certification standards, and the intersection of energy efficiency mandates under ASHRAE Standard 90.1 with residential system selection.

National Electrical Authority provides reference-grade content on NEC adoption cycles, the difference between electrical contractor licenses and electrician licenses, and the jurisdictional inspection process that governs rough and final electrical sign-off on permitted work.

National Contractor Authority covers the general contracting license landscape, including the states that require a state-level contractor license (such as California, Florida, and Arizona through their respective contractor licensing boards) versus those that delegate licensing entirely to county or municipal authorities.

National Roof Authority covers roofing contractor licensing, manufacturer credentialing programs such as the GAF Master Elite designation, and the distinction between insurance-driven storm restoration work and standard installation contracts — a regulatory and liability distinction that affects both contractors and property owners.

For aquatic and outdoor services, National Pool Authority addresses pool contractor licensing, the Association of Pool & Spa Professionals (APSP) standards, and chemical handling certifications required under OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200).

Two additional network members serve cross-vertical and structural functions. Authority Network Organization provides network-level reference content on how qualified-provider frameworks are constructed and validated across trades. National Authority Organization operates as a broader reference hub addressing licensing, credentialing, and standards across professional sectors beyond home services.

The member directory consolidates provider data across all eight discipline sites, while the vertical coverage map shows which disciplines are actively maintained in which geographic regions.

Common scenarios

Three operational scenarios illustrate how the vertical structure routes service seekers to the correct member property:

• Single-trade permit inquiry — A property owner seeking a plumber for a water heater replacement permit needs licensing verification specific to their state. The appropriate path is through National Plumbing Authority, which maintains jurisdiction-level licensing tables.
• Multi-trade renovation project — A full kitchen renovation involving electrical, plumbing, and structural changes requires coordination across three discipline categories. The contractor verification framework and National Contractor Authority together address how general contractors hold and subcontract these permits.
• Insurance claim restoration — Post-storm roof and electrical damage creates a scenario where two licensed disciplines must coordinate with an adjuster. National Roof Authority and National Electrical Authority each address the documentation and permit sequencing relevant to their trade.

Decision boundaries

The home services vertical does not overlap with commercial construction licensing, which triggers different bonding thresholds and often federal Davis-Bacon Act wage compliance under 29 CFR Part 5. Residential projects under a set square footage or dollar threshold — thresholds that vary by state — may qualify for homeowner exemptions that alter which licensing rules apply.

The distinction between a licensed contractor and a registered contractor also matters: licensed contractors have passed a state-administered examination and carry individual credential accountability, while registered contractors in states that use registration frameworks have met a lower administrative threshold without examination. The authority designation explained page details how the network applies these credential distinctions to provider listings.

Disputes over jurisdiction — whether a project is residential or commercial, whether a county permit supersedes a state license — are resolved by the AHJ, not by the licensing board. The network compliance requirements page addresses how member sites handle jurisdictional edge cases in their reference content.

References

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency — Section 608 Technician Certification
• National Fire Protection Association — NFPA 70 (National Electrical Code)
• U.S. Department of Labor — Office of Apprenticeship
• ASHRAE Standard 90.1 — Energy Standard for Sites and Buildings
• Association of Pool & Spa Professionals (APSP) — ANSI/APSP Standards
• OSHA Hazard Communication Standard — 29 CFR 1910.1200
• U.S. Code of Federal Regulations — 29 CFR Part 5 (Davis-Bacon)