Quick answer: Michigan's LARA Bureau of Construction Codes licenses electricians, plumbers, and mechanical (HVAC) contractors at the state level, plus residential builders and maintenance & alteration (M&A) contractors. Trades like roofing, carpentry, and painting are licensed as M&A categories, and any residential building, remodeling, or trade work totaling $600 or more in labor and materials requires a builder or M&A license. Landscaping and cleaning need no state trade license.
Michigan licenses construction trades through the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) Bureau of Construction Codes, with separate systems for skilled trades and for residential builders and M&A contractors.
Which trades need a license in Michigan?
| Trade | State license required? | Licensing body |
|---|---|---|
| Plumber | Yes (state) | Plumbing is a state-licensed skilled trade. LARA's Bureau of Construction Codes issues Journey Plumber, Master Plumber, and Plumbing Contractor licenses. A plumbing contractor must hold or employ a licensed master plumber. All plumbing work requires a licensed plumber and a permit. |
| Electrician | Yes (state) | Electrical work is a state-licensed skilled trade. The Bureau of Construction Codes issues Journeyman Electrician, Master Electrician, and Electrical Contractor licenses. An electrical contractor license requires an associated master electrician. Licensed electricians and permits are required for electrical work. |
| HVAC / Mechanical | Yes (state) | HVAC falls under Michigan's Mechanical Contractor license, issued by the Bureau of Construction Codes. Applicants qualify by specific work classifications (e.g., HVAC equipment, ductwork, refrigeration, hydronic heating/cooling, unlimited/limited heating service). A licensed mechanical contractor and permits are required for mechanical work. |
| General Contractor | Yes (residential) | A person who builds a complete residential structure or remodels one must hold a state Residential Builder license from LARA. The license covers full home construction plus maintenance and alteration (remodeling) work. Michigan does not issue a separate statewide commercial general-contractor license. |
| Roofer | Yes (M&A) | Roofing on residential structures is licensed as a Maintenance & Alteration (M&A) contractor category (classification M – Roofing). A roofer taking residential contracts of $600 or more in labor and materials needs an M&A license in Roofing (or a Residential Builder license). |
| Painter | Yes (M&A) | Painting on residential structures is an M&A category (classification J – Painting & Decorating). A painter contracting for $600 or more in labor and materials on a residential structure must hold an M&A license in Painting & Decorating (or a Residential Builder license). |
| Carpenter | Yes (M&A) | Carpentry is an M&A category (classification A – Carpentry). A carpenter contracting for $600 or more in labor and materials to repair, alter, or add to a residential structure needs an M&A license in Carpentry (or a Residential Builder license). Working as an employee for wages does not require the license. |
| Landscaper | No | General landscaping and lawn-care work is not a state-licensed construction trade in Michigan; there is no state landscaper license. However, associated hardscape work such as concrete, masonry, or excavation on residential property can fall under M&A contractor categories, and a local business license or registration may apply. |
| Handyman | Threshold | Michigan has no separate "handyman" license, but the residential builder/M&A rules still apply: anyone who contracts to repair, alter, or improve a residential structure for $600 or more in labor and materials must hold a Residential Builder or M&A license. Small jobs under $600 and work performed as a wage-earning employee are not licensed as contracting. |
| Cleaner | No | Residential and commercial cleaning is not a licensed construction trade in Michigan and needs no state trade license. Operators still register a business as usual, and any incidental building work would fall under the trade rules above; local business licensing may apply. |
Statuses reflect state-level LARA licensing; cities and counties may add local registration, business licenses, or permit requirements.
How Michigan licenses trades: LARA and the Bureau of Construction Codes
Construction trade licensing in Michigan is handled by the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) through its Bureau of Construction Codes (BCC). The BCC handles examination and licensing in the boiler, electrical, elevator, mechanical, plumbing, residential builder, and maintenance & alteration contractor fields, and investigates consumer complaints against licensees. Two broad systems exist: the skilled trades (electrical, plumbing, mechanical) and residential builders and M&A contractors. Most applications are submitted online through Accela.
State-licensed skilled trades: electrical, plumbing, and mechanical
These three trades require individual state licenses to perform the work and to pull permits:
- Electrical – Journeyman Electrician, Master Electrician, and Electrical Contractor licenses. A master electrician generally needs about 12,000 hours over at least 6 years; the contractor license requires an associated master electrician.
- Plumbing – Journey Plumber, Master Plumber, and Plumbing Contractor licenses. A journey plumber must pass written and practical exams; a plumbing contractor must hold or employ a licensed master plumber.
- Mechanical (HVAC) – A Mechanical Contractor license issued by classification, such as HVAC equipment, ductwork, refrigeration, and heating service. Applicants need experience in each classification applied for.
Residential builder vs. maintenance & alteration (M&A) contractor
Michigan draws a key distinction. An Individual Residential Builder license lets you build a complete residential structure and perform maintenance and alteration (remodeling) work. A Maintenance & Alteration (M&A) Contractor license lets you become licensed only in specific trade categories. You may hold a Residential Builder license or an M&A license, but not both. M&A classifications include: Carpentry (A), Concrete (B), Excavation (D), Insulation (G), Masonry (I), Painting & Decorating (J), Siding (K), Roofing (M), Screen & Storm Sash (N), Gutters (O), Tile & Marble (P), House Wrecking (R), Swimming Pools (S), and Basement Waterproofing (T). An M&A contractor may only accept contracts in the trades listed on their license.
The $600 threshold and trades with no separate license
Under Michigan's residential builder law, any contractor offering residential construction, repair, alteration, or improvement work totaling $600 or more in labor and materials must be licensed as a Residential Builder or M&A contractor. Work performed as an employee for wages, and very small jobs under $600, are not treated as licensed contracting. Some occupations are not licensed construction trades at the state level at all — for example, general landscaping/lawn care, cleaning, and simple handyman tasks — although the moment such work becomes residential construction or remodeling of $600+, the builder/M&A rules apply.
Local requirements and permits
A state license does not replace local rules. Michigan cities, townships, and counties commonly require their own business registration and issue building, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits (the BCC issues permits where a local jurisdiction has not assumed enforcement). Always confirm licensing, registration, and permit requirements with the local building department before starting work, and verify any contractor's state license using LARA's "Verify a License" tool.
How to get licensed in Michigan
- Identify your trade and whether it is a state skilled trade (electrical, plumbing, mechanical) or residential work (Residential Builder or M&A contractor).
- Confirm you meet the experience and exam requirements (e.g., master electrician/plumber hour thresholds, mechanical classification experience, builder prelicensure education).
- Complete required prelicensure education or exams and submit your application to LARA's Bureau of Construction Codes, usually online through Accela.
- Choose the correct M&A classifications (e.g., Roofing, Carpentry, Painting & Decorating) or the Residential Builder license, remembering you cannot hold both.
- Check your local city/county building department for business registration and permits, and keep your license current through renewal and continuing competency.
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Frequently asked questions
Does a roofer, painter, or carpenter need a license in Michigan?
Yes, for residential work of $600 or more in labor and materials. Roofing, painting, and carpentry are Maintenance & Alteration (M&A) contractor categories (Roofing M, Painting & Decorating J, Carpentry A). You need an M&A license in that trade or a Residential Builder license.
What is the difference between a Residential Builder and an M&A contractor license?
A Residential Builder license lets you build complete homes and do remodeling. An M&A license covers only specific trade categories you qualify in. You may hold one or the other, but not both at the same time.
Do handymen or cleaners need a state license in Michigan?
There is no state handyman or cleaner license. But if a handyman contracts to repair, alter, or improve a residential structure for $600 or more in labor and materials, they must hold a Residential Builder or M&A license. Cleaning is not a licensed construction trade.
Who licenses electricians, plumbers, and HVAC contractors in Michigan?
LARA's Bureau of Construction Codes. Electricians hold Journeyman, Master, or Electrical Contractor licenses; plumbers hold Journey, Master, or Plumbing Contractor licenses; and HVAC work requires a Mechanical Contractor license issued by work classification. Permits are also required.
Sources: LARA Bureau of Construction Codes (BCC), BCC Licensing Section, Residential Builders (LARA BCC), Maintenance & Alteration Contractor License Information, Electrical Examination, Licensing & Application Information, Plumbing Examination, Licensing & Application Information, Mechanical Examination, Licensing & Application Information, 2025. Licensing rules change — always confirm current requirements with the relevant state board and your local city before you work.