North Carolina: what the law says about your contract
2 North Carolina rules, each quoted from the statute with its link and the date we checked it, after the federal rule that applies everywhere.
North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors
Required for projects of $40,000 or more (G.S. 87-1); plumbing, HVAC and electrical have their own boards.
FTC Cooling-Off Rule (16 CFR 429)
Three business days to cancel in-home sales of $25 or more
“You, the buyer, may cancel this transaction at any time prior to midnight of the third business day after the date of this transaction.”
The rule covers sales of $25 or more made at your home, and $130 or more at a seller’s temporary location such as a hotel, fair or convention center. It applies even when you invited the salesperson in. The seller must give you two copies of a cancellation form, tell you about the right out loud, and refund within 10 business days of a valid cancellation.
16 CFR 429 · checked 2026-10-05The scope, in the rule’s words
“…which has a purchase price of $25 or more if the sale is made at the buyer’s residence or a purchase price of $130 or more if the sale is made at locations other than the buyer’s residence…”
Exceptions include sales negotiated at the seller’s permanent place of business, real estate, insurance and securities, and genuine emergencies you started where you sign a handwritten waiver.
FTC consumer guide to the ruleThe emergency exception
“In which the buyer has initiated the contact and the goods or services are needed to meet a bona fide immediate personal emergency of the buyer, and the buyer furnishes the seller with a separate dated and signed personal statement in the buyer’s handwriting describing the situation requiring immediate remedy and expressly acknowledging and waiving the right to cancel the sale within 3 business days…”
A pre-printed waiver handed to you by the seller is not this. The statement has to be in your own handwriting, for an emergency you asked them to fix.
16 CFR 429 §429.0What the law says, quoted with its source. Not legal advice: for your situation ask your state's contractor board or attorney general.
North Carolina rules
Home-solicitation credit sales: 3 business days to cancel
“…the buyer has the right to cancel a home-solicitation sale until midnight of the third business day after the day on which the buyer signs an agreement or offer to purchase…”
North Carolina’s version covers consumer credit sales solicited at your residence (financed jobs). Cash sales still fall under the federal rule. It does not cover repeat buyers of the same seller or sales negotiated at the seller’s business; a written emergency request can waive it once work has substantially begun.
N.C. Gen. Stat. §25A-39(a); §25A-38 · checked 2026-10-05Jobs of $40,000 or more need a licensed general contractor
“…the construction of any building, highway, public utilities, grading or any improvement or structure where the cost of the undertaking is forty thousand dollars ($40,000) or more… shall be deemed to be a “general contractor”…”
A North Carolina project of $40,000 or more must be done by a licensed general contractor (search the NC Licensing Board for General Contractors). Plumbing, HVAC and electrical are licensed separately.
N.C. Gen. Stat. §87-1(a) · checked 2026-10-05What the law says, quoted with its source. Not legal advice: for your situation ask your state's contractor board or attorney general.