Quick answer: Kansas does not license construction trades at the state level. There is no statewide license for general contractors, plumbers, electricians or HVAC/mechanical contractors – those trades are licensed by individual cities and counties (for example, Wichita/Sedgwick County through the Metropolitan Area Building & Construction Department, and Johnson County through its Contractor Licensing program). The one common statewide requirement is for roofing contractors, who must hold a registration certificate from the Kansas Attorney General under the Kansas Roofing Contractor Registration Act (K.S.A. 50-6,121 et seq.). Painters, carpenters, handymen and cleaners have no state license, and landscapers need a state credential only when they apply pesticides for hire.
The table below shows which of the common trades need a license in Kansas, and whether that license is issued locally, by the state, or not at all.
Which trades need a license in Kansas?
| Trade | State license required? | Licensing body |
|---|---|---|
| Plumber | Local | No statewide license. Plumbing contractors are licensed by cities and counties (e.g., Wichita/Sedgwick County MABCD, Johnson County). Requirements vary by jurisdiction. |
| Electrician | Local | No statewide license. Electrical contractors are licensed locally by the city or county where they work (e.g., Sedgwick County MABCD, Johnson County). Check the local building department. |
| HVAC | Local | No statewide license. HVAC/mechanical and refrigeration contractors are licensed locally (e.g., Sedgwick County MABCD 'Mechanical', Johnson County 'DM'). Requirements vary by city/county. |
| General Contractor | Local | No statewide license. General/building contractors are licensed by individual cities and counties, often with Class A/B/C tiers (e.g., Wichita/Sedgwick County, Johnson County). |
| Roofer | Registration | Statewide registration required – roofing contractors must hold a registration certificate from the Kansas Attorney General under K.S.A. 50-6,121 et seq. Local licensing may also apply. |
| Painter | No | No state license for painting. Some cities may require a business license or permit for certain work, but there is no statewide painting license. |
| Carpenter | No | No state license for general carpentry, framing, cabinetry or trim. Local jurisdictions may license framing (e.g., Johnson County 'Wood Framing') and structural work requires local permits. |
| Landscaper | No | No state contractor license for general landscaping or lawn care. A Kansas Dept. of Agriculture pesticide business license and applicator certification are required only to apply pesticides/herbicides for hire. |
| Handyman | No | No state license for general handyman work. Local rules may apply, and a handyman cannot perform work reserved for a locally licensed trade (electrical, plumbing, HVAC) or roofing without proper credentials. |
| Cleaner | No | No state occupational or contractor license required for residential or commercial cleaning. |
"Local" means licensing is handled by the city or county building department, not the state. "Registration" (roofer) means a statewide registration certificate is required from the Kansas Attorney General. "No" means no state license, though a local business license or permit may still apply.
Kansas licenses trades locally, not statewide
Unlike many states, Kansas has no statewide licensing board for general contractors, plumbers, electricians or HVAC/mechanical contractors. Instead, these trades are regulated at the local level by individual cities and counties, each of which sets its own license classes, exams and requirements. A plumber or electrician licensed in one jurisdiction is not automatically licensed in another.
Two of the largest local programs illustrate how this works. In the Wichita area, the Metropolitan Area Building & Construction Department (MABCD) issues building and trade permits and licenses for the City of Wichita, unincorporated Sedgwick County and several smaller cities. In the Kansas City suburbs, Johnson County Contractor Licensing issues general-contractor and specialty-trade licenses. Topeka, Kansas City (KS) and other municipalities run their own programs. Because rules differ from place to place, always confirm requirements with the local building department before starting work.
The trades cities and counties license
Local Kansas jurisdictions typically license the core construction trades. In Sedgwick County (MABCD), general-contractor classes cover building, roofing/siding, swimming pool, solar and wrecking, while separate trade licenses cover Electrical, Plumbing, Mechanical, Refrigeration, Gas Fitter, Sheet Metal, Drain Layer, Lawn Irrigation and more. In Johnson County, general contractors hold Class A, B or C licenses, and specialty licenses cover Electrical (DE), Plumbing (DP), HVAC/Mechanical (DM), Roofing (DR), Fire Protection, Swimming Pool and Wood Framing.
The practical takeaway: to work as a plumber, electrician, HVAC contractor or general contractor in Kansas, you apply to the city or county where the job is located, not to a state board. Many jurisdictions also require passing a trade exam and carrying insurance.
Roofing: the one statewide requirement
Roofing is the exception to Kansas's local-only pattern. Under the Kansas Roofing Contractor Registration Act (K.S.A. 50-6,121 et seq.), "no person shall engage in the business of or act in the capacity of a roofing contractor within this state without having a valid registration certificate." Registration certificates are issued and administered by the Kansas Attorney General.
A roofing contractor is broadly defined as anyone who, in the ordinary course of business, engages in or solicits commercial or residential roofing services for a fee. Registration requires proof of general liability insurance (a statutory minimum of $1,000,000 per occurrence) and workers' compensation coverage or an exemption affidavit. Certificates are valid for one year and expire June 30. Registration is a statewide baseline – a roofer may still also need a local license in the city or county where the work is performed.
Landscaping and pesticide licensing
General landscaping, mowing, mulching and lawn maintenance require no state license in Kansas. However, the moment a business applies pesticides or herbicides for hire – including "weed & feed" fertilizers or spot-spraying weeds – state credentials from the Kansas Department of Agriculture Pesticide and Fertilizer Program are required.
Two separate credentials apply: the business must hold a Commercial Pesticide Business License, and at least one individual who actually applies the product must hold a Commercial Pesticide Applicator certification in the appropriate category. This is the main state-level credential a Kansas landscaper is likely to encounter.
Trades with no Kansas state license
Several common home-service trades have no state license in Kansas: painting, carpentry/framing, handyman work and cleaning. This does not mean they are unregulated. Depending on the city or county, these businesses may still need a local business license or permits, and some jurisdictions do license scopes like wood framing. Building permits are also required for many projects regardless of who performs the work.
Importantly, an unlicensed handyman or carpenter cannot legally cross into a scope that a local jurisdiction reserves for a licensed trade – such as electrical, plumbing or HVAC work – and cannot perform roofing for a fee without the state Attorney General registration. When in doubt, confirm with the local building department before taking on a job.
How to get licensed in Kansas
- Identify the city or county where the work will be performed – in Kansas, most trade and contractor licensing is issued locally, so the correct authority is your local building department (for example, Wichita/Sedgwick County MABCD or Johnson County Contractor Licensing).
- Contact that local building department to determine the exact license class you need (e.g., general contractor Class A/B/C, or a trade license for electrical, plumbing, mechanical/HVAC) and its exam, experience, insurance and fee requirements.
- If you do roofing work anywhere in Kansas, register as a roofing contractor with the Kansas Attorney General under the Kansas Roofing Contractor Registration Act, providing proof of general liability and workers' compensation coverage, and renew annually before the June 30 expiration.
- If you apply pesticides or herbicides for hire (lawn/landscape), obtain a Commercial Pesticide Business License from the Kansas Department of Agriculture and have at least one certified Commercial Pesticide Applicator on staff.
- Keep all local licenses and any state roofing registration current, carry the insurance each jurisdiction requires, and re-check requirements whenever you take work in a new city or county, since rules vary across Kansas.
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Frequently asked questions
Do plumbers and electricians need a state license in Kansas?
No. Kansas has no statewide license for plumbers or electricians. These trades are licensed locally by the city or county where the work is performed – for example, through the Wichita/Sedgwick County Metropolitan Area Building & Construction Department (MABCD) or Johnson County Contractor Licensing. Requirements, exams and fees vary by jurisdiction, so check with the local building department.
Does Kansas have a state contractor license?
No. There is no statewide general-contractor, plumbing, electrical or HVAC license in Kansas. Contractor and trade licensing is handled at the city and county level. The one common statewide requirement is roofing-contractor registration with the Kansas Attorney General.
Do roofers need to register in Kansas?
Yes. Under the Kansas Roofing Contractor Registration Act (K.S.A. 50-6,121 et seq.), no one may act as a roofing contractor in Kansas without a valid registration certificate from the Kansas Attorney General. Registration requires proof of general liability insurance (at least $1,000,000 per occurrence) and workers' compensation coverage or an exemption. Certificates are valid for one year and expire June 30. A roofer may still also need a local license.
Does a landscaper or handyman need a license in Kansas?
There is no state license for general landscaping, lawn care or handyman work in Kansas. A landscaper needs a Kansas Department of Agriculture pesticide business license and applicator certification only to apply pesticides or herbicides for hire. Handymen may need a local business license and cannot perform work reserved for a locally licensed trade such as electrical, plumbing or HVAC.
Sources: Kansas Attorney General – Roofing Registration, K.S.A. 50-6,123 – Roofing contractor registration required, K.S.A. 50-6,122 – Kansas Roofing Contractor Registration Act; definitions, Sedgwick County (Wichita) MABCD – Contractor Licensing, Johnson County, Kansas – Contractor Licensing (license types), Kansas Department of Agriculture – Pesticide Applicator, 2025. Licensing rules change — always confirm current requirements with the relevant state board and your local city before you work.