Choosing NAICS Codes for a Construction Business
How the North American Industry Classification System drives whether you are seen as a small business for a given contract.
Your NAICS code tells the government what industry you are in. It is not just a label: the SBA sets a size standard for each code, and that standard decides whether your firm counts as a small business for a particular contract — which in turn drives eligibility for set-asides.
Construction codes you will see
- 236xxx — building construction (residential and nonresidential).
- 237xxx — heavy and civil engineering construction.
- 238xxx — specialty trade contractors (electrical, plumbing, concrete, and so on).
- 541330 — engineering services, sometimes used alongside construction firms.
How to choose
Select the code that best represents the work you actually perform and want to win. You may register several codes, but your primary code should match the bulk of your revenue. When a solicitation names a NAICS code, the contracting officer applies that code's size standard to judge your size status.
Size standards change
SBA updates size standards periodically — often as a revenue threshold for specialty trades and construction. Being "small" under one code does not mean small under another. Check the current standard for the code named in a solicitation before you claim small-business status in your bid.
General information for construction small businesses, not legal advice.