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Michigan contractor license (LARA)Requirements, cost, exam

Michigan licenses general contractors through the LARA Bureau of Construction Codes. License required for residential building and M&A work for pay.1

Michigan · general contractor

State license required

Experience
No years of experience: 60 hours of approved prelicensure courses…2
Exam
Yes.3
Bond
No surety bond requirement appears in Article 24 (MCL 339.2401-2412) or on the BCC-2000 application.3
Insurance
No general-liability minimum appears in Article 24 or on the BCC-2000 application.3
Fees
Application $195 (builder or M&A license, salesperson or branch office).4
Renewal
License term is 3 years (MCL 339.2404(5)).3

LARA Bureau of Construction Codes

How do you get a Michigan contractor license?

  1. Check that you need a license

    License required for residential building and M&A work for pay.1

  2. Meet the experience rule

    No years of experience: 60 hours of approved prelicensure courses…2

  3. Apply to the LARA$195

    Application $195 (builder or M&A license, salesperson or branch office).4

    LARA site
  4. Pass the exam

    Yes.3

    What's on the exam
  5. File the bond and insurance

    No surety bond requirement appears in Article 24 (MCL 339.2401-2412) or on the BCC-2000 application. No general-liability minimum appears in Article 24 or on the BCC-2000 application.3

    Michigan bond and insurance rules
  6. Get the license, then renew

    License term is 3 years (MCL 339.2404(5)).3

    Renewal and CE

Electrical, plumbing and HVAC licenses in Michigan

Which license class do you need in Michigan?

Residential Builder (build whole 1-2 family dwellings or townhouses up to 3 stories, and do M&A work) and Residential Maintenance & Alteration (M&A) contractor with named crafts: carpentry, concrete, swimming pool installation, basement waterproofing,…5

Does Michigan have license reciprocity?

None: Michigan has no reciprocal agreements.6

Do you need workers' comp?

No workers' compensation filing appears in Article 24 or on the BCC-2000 application.3

Michigan insurance and bonds

Sources

  1. LARA Bureau of Construction Codes: who needs a license (legislature.mi.gov, 2026-10-27)
  2. LARA Bureau of Construction Codes: experience (legislature.mi.gov, 2026-10-27)
  3. LARA Bureau of Construction Codes: exam (legislature.mi.gov, 2026-10-27)
  4. LARA Bureau of Construction Codes: fees (michigan.gov, 2026-10-27)
  5. LARA Bureau of Construction Codes: license classes (legislature.mi.gov, 2026-10-27)
  6. LARA Bureau of Construction Codes: reciprocity (michigan.gov, 2026-10-27)
  7. LARA Bureau of Construction Codes: MCL (legislature.mi.gov, 2026-10-27)
  8. LARA Bureau of Construction Codes: MCL (legislature.mi.gov, 2026-10-27)
  9. LARA Bureau of Construction Codes: Res Bldr MA Contractor BCC 2000 0322 (michigan.gov, 2026-10-27)
  10. LARA Bureau of Construction Codes: MCL (legislature.mi.gov, 2026-10-27)
  11. LARA Bureau of Construction Codes - Residential Builders and Maintenance & Alteration Contractors (michigan.gov, 2026-10-27)
  12. LARA BCC - Electrical Administrative Board (michigan.gov, 2026-10-27)
  13. LARA BCC - Plumbing / Mechanical Boards (michigan.gov, 2026-10-27)