NAICS 238990

Overview

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is the government-wide standard for organizing establishments to support the collection, analysis, and publication of U.S. economic statistics. Developed under the Office of Management and Budget with Canada and Mexico, NAICS replaced the SIC in 1997 and is revised every five years; the most recent vintage is 2022. ¹
NAICS 238990 covers specialty trade construction activities not classified elsewhere. Census documentation lists illustrative work such as swimming pool and fence construction; house moving; waterproofing/dampproofing and dewatering; sandblasting; installing awnings, antennas, signs on buildings, and shoring; scaffolding; radon mitigation; and on‑site welding. ²

What this NAICS covers

• Exterior sandblasting/abrasive cleaning of building exteriors classified under 238990. ³
• Building modifications to mitigate radon gas. ⁴
• Construction of private driveways, sidewalks, and parking lots; erecting billboards (non‑highway). ⁵
• Waterproofing, dampproofing, and dewatering services. ²
• House moving; scaffolding erection; shoring system installation. ²
• Installing awnings, antennas, lightning conductors, signs on buildings, and similar fixtures. ²
• Swimming pool and fence construction. ²

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Type	Code	Descriptor
NAICS	238910	Site Preparation Contractors
NAICS	561790	Other Services to Buildings and Dwellings
NAICS	562910	Remediation Services
NAICS	237310	Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction

Key exclusions and cross‑references

• Demolition and excavation activities fall under 238910, not 238990. ⁴
• Asbestos and lead‑based paint abatement is classified in 562910. ⁷
• Janitorial/interior cleaning is 561720; exterior sandblasting is 238990. ³
• Landscaping services and projects delivered with landscape design (e.g., retaining walls, decks, fences as part of landscaping) are 561730. ⁶
• Sewer and septic tank cleaning is 562998. ⁶
• Highway lighting and signaling installation is 238210; bridge painting is 238320. ⁵

Frequently asked questions

• What types of projects typically fall under NAICS 238990?
  Census materials cite a wide range of specialized construction activities not covered elsewhere, including waterproofing, dewatering, sandblasting, scaffolding, house moving, installing awnings and signs on buildings, and similar niche trades. ²

• Is radon mitigation classified under NAICS 238990?
  Yes. Building modifications to alleviate radon gas are explicitly cross‑referenced to NAICS 238990 rather than remediation or engineering services. ⁴

• Are private driveways, sidewalks, and parking lots included here or in highway construction?
  Non‑highway work such as private driveways, sidewalks, and parking lots, and erecting billboards, is classified in NAICS 238990; highway lighting/signals and bridge painting are classified elsewhere. ⁵

• Did the 2022 NAICS revision change NAICS 238990?
  Census highlights 2022 NAICS changes mainly in sectors like Retail (44–45) and Information (51); no specific change to the definition of 238990 is identified in the public 2017–2022 materials. Not specified by official sources ⁸.

• Where can official 2022 data for NAICS 238990 be found?
  Construction sector data are published in the 2022 Economic Census Sector 23 tables on data.census.gov and the Census FTP, with implementation tied to the 2022 NAICS vintage. ⁹

Useful resources

• G2X — NAICS 238990 overview
• The Census Bureau’s implementation of the 2022 NAICS (vintage, timeline, and change files). ⁸
• 2022 Economic Census — Sector 23 (Construction) data tables and documentation. ⁹
• Economic Census guidance: NAICS codes and how they are used. ¹⁰

References

1. U.S. Census Bureau — Industry and Occupation Classification (NAICS background; revisions including 2022). https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/cps/technical-documentation/methodology/industry-and-occupation-classification.html
2. U.S. Census Bureau — 1997 NAICS Archive, 235990 All Other Special Trade Contractors (illustrative examples). https://www.census.gov/naics/resources/archives/sect23.html
3. U.S. Census Bureau — NAICS 561720 Janitorial Services (cross‑reference: sandblasting classified in 238990). https://www2.census.gov/econ2007/Reference_materials/htm%20files/561720.htm
4. U.S. Census Bureau — NAICS 5629101 Remediation Services (cross‑references to 238990 and 238910). https://www2.census.gov/econ2007/Reference_materials/htm%20files/5629101.htm
5. U.S. Census Bureau — NAICS 237310 Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction (cross‑references to 238990, 238210, 238320). https://www2.census.gov/econ2007/Reference_materials/htm%20files/23731000.htm
6. U.S. Census Bureau — NAICS 5617909 Other Services to Buildings and Dwellings (cross‑references to 238990, 561730, 562998). https://www2.census.gov/econ2007/Reference_materials/htm%20files/5617909.htm
7. U.S. Census Bureau — NAICS 5629102 Asbestos Abatement and Lead Paint Removal (cross‑references). https://www2.census.gov/econ2007/Reference_materials/htm%20files/5629102.htm
8. U.S. Census Bureau — The Census Bureau’s Implementation of the 2022 NAICS (vintage and change summary). https://www.census.gov/library/reference/code-lists/naics/2022/implementation-timeline.html
9. U.S. Census Bureau — 2022 NAICS Sector 23 (Construction) data tables. https://www.census.gov/data/tables/2022/econ/economic-census/naics-sector-23.html
10. U.S. Census Bureau — Economic Census: NAICS Codes & Understanding Industry Classification Systems. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/economic-census/year/2022/guidance/understanding-naics.html