Construction Industry Classification Codes (SIC & NAICS)
Construction Industry Codes
Updated: 2025
The Construction sector includes establishments primarily engaged in the construction of buildings, heavy and civil engineering projects, and specialized trade activities. This sector covers general contractors, design–build firms, infrastructure builders, and specialty subcontractors performing trades such as electrical, plumbing, mechanical, roofing, and concrete work. Construction classifications support project tracking, cost benchmarking, bonding and insurance underwriting, and regulatory compliance at the jobsite and firm level. Accurate SIC and NAICS codes provide consistent rollups for market analysis, safety reporting, and government procurement.
SIC Range: 15–17
NAICS Range: 23
SICCODE.com assigns businesses to the Construction sector when their primary activity involves constructing, altering, or improving buildings and infrastructure, or providing specialty trade services at the jobsite. SIC and NAICS codes are selected based on the type of structure, the role of the firm on the project (general contractor vs. subcontractor), and the dominant trade or discipline being performed.
SIC vs. NAICS Structure for Construction
| SIC Structure | NAICS Structure |
| SIC divides construction into three major groups: building construction (general contractors), heavy construction other than building, and special trade contractors such as electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and concrete. | NAICS 23 also separates building construction, heavy and civil engineering construction, and specialty trade contractors, with additional detail for residential vs. nonresidential and specific trade disciplines. |
| SIC emphasizes contractor role and broad project type, reflecting traditional industry segments and union/trade structures. | NAICS introduces finer segmentation for design–build firms, infrastructure specialties, and emerging construction delivery models. |
| Special trades are grouped together in SIC 17, requiring additional detail at the 4-digit level to distinguish disciplines. | NAICS provides clearer categories for each specialty (e.g., electrical, plumbing, drywall, roofing), improving risk, safety, and market analysis. |
Major SIC Subsectors (Linked to Official 2-Digit Pages)
- SIC 15 — Building Construction General Contractors and Operative Builders
- SIC 16 — Heavy Construction Other Than Building Construction Contractors
- SIC 17 — Construction Special Trade Contractors
NAICS Structure Within Construction (Linked)
In both SIC and NAICS, construction industries are grouped by the type of structure built and the primary role of the establishment in the project. General building contractors typically oversee entire residential or commercial projects, heavy and civil engineering firms focus on infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and utilities, and special trade contractors perform specific components of the work. These classifications make it possible to compare construction activity across markets, evaluate contractor mix on large programs, and align records for bonding, permitting, and safety oversight.
Insights & Research for Construction
Use SIC & NAICS to distinguish between homebuilding, commercial, industrial, and institutional construction for market sizing, forecasting, and development planning.
Classification data helps identify firms involved in highways, bridges, transit, utilities, water systems, and other public works projects for capital planning and funding analysis.
Map specialty trade contractors by discipline, region, and project type for sourcing, prequalification, subcontractor risk management, and supply chain coordination.
Insurers, lenders, and owners rely on accurate construction classifications for safety benchmarking, bonding limits, coverage decisions, and regulatory compliance at the jobsite.
How These Classifications Are Used
Construction SIC & NAICS codes are used by owners, contractors, subcontractors, insurers, and public agencies to categorize firms by the work they perform and the projects they pursue. They underpin bidding lists, vendor qualification systems, contractor databases, and economic impact studies. Accurate classification helps align firms with the right contract opportunities, clarify regulatory requirements, and improve the quality of analytics related to labor demand, materials usage, safety performance, and regional development.
Get Help With Construction Classification
If you need assistance selecting the correct SIC or NAICS code for a construction company or project, our classification specialists can review activities, confirm the appropriate category, and support compliance, insurance, or market research needs.
Related Classification Clusters
- Transportation & Warehousing — logistics, materials movement, and construction supply chains
- Manufacturing (NAICS 31–33) — building materials, equipment, and construction product suppliers
Reviewed and verified by the SICCODE.com Expert Review Team.