Quick answer: Missouri does not license general contractors or most trades at the state level. Licensing is handled locally by cities and counties. The state offers only two optional statewide licenses — for electrical contractors and mechanical (HVAC) contractors — and even those do not eliminate local permits or inspections. Always check the rules of the city or county where you will work (for example St. Louis, Kansas City, or Springfield).
In Missouri, most construction-trade licensing is decided at the city or county level rather than by the state.
Which trades need a license in Missouri?
| Trade | State license required? | Licensing body |
|---|---|---|
| Plumber | Local license (no state license) | Missouri has no statewide plumbing license. Plumbers are licensed and tested locally. St. Louis licenses plumbing contractors through a city Board of Examiners of Plumbers and Drainlayers, Kansas City requires a plumbing contractor license with a qualified supervisor holding a city certificate of qualification, and Springfield requires plumbers to pass a city-sanctioned trade certification exam. Requirements, exams, bonds, and insurance vary by jurisdiction. |
| Electrician | Local (optional statewide license available) | Missouri offers an optional statewide electrical contractor license through the Office of Statewide Electrical Contractors (Division of Professional Registration), but it does not replace local licensing. Under RSMo 324.920, a contractor working in a jurisdiction that does not require a local license is not required to hold the statewide license, and the state does not issue permits or inspect work. Cities such as St. Louis, Kansas City, and Springfield run their own electrical contractor licensing and examinations. |
| HVAC / Mechanical | Local (optional statewide license available) | There is no mandatory statewide HVAC license, but Missouri created an optional statewide mechanical contractor license (Statewide Mechanical Contractor Licensing Act). A political subdivision may keep its own local mechanical license but must recognize the statewide license in lieu of a local license for performing work and obtaining permits. Local governments still retain permitting and inspection authority. St. Louis, Kansas City, and Springfield all license mechanical contractors locally. |
| General Contractor | No state license; local rules vary | Missouri has no statewide general contractor license and no state exam. Whether you need a license depends entirely on the city or county. Some jurisdictions require a general/building contractor license, registration, or a business license before pulling permits; others require only a business license. St. Louis requires contractors to obtain a graduated contractor business license, and Kansas City licenses residential building contractors. |
| Roofer | No state license; local rules may apply | Missouri does not license roofers at the state level. Roofing work is governed locally — you may need a local business license or contractor registration and a building permit for roof replacement or structural work. Check the city or county building department where the job is located. |
| Painter | No state license | There is no Missouri state license for painters. Painting is generally treated as unregulated trade work at the state level, though a city may require a general business license or occupational tax to operate. For lead-based paint work in older housing, separate federal EPA rules can apply. |
| Carpenter | No state license; permits for structural work | Missouri has no statewide carpentry license. Carpenters typically do not need a trade license, but structural, framing, or remodeling work usually requires a building permit from the local jurisdiction, and some cities require the contractor to hold a local business or contractor license first. |
| Landscaper | No state license | Missouri does not license landscapers at the state level. A general business license or occupational tax may be required by the city or county where you operate. Specialized activities such as applying certain pesticides can trigger separate state requirements administered by the Missouri Department of Agriculture. |
| Handyman | No state license; limits on trade work | Missouri has no state handyman license. Small, non-structural repairs are commonly allowed without a trade license, and many minor jobs may not need a permit. However, once work crosses into electrical, plumbing, or mechanical/HVAC trades, the local jurisdiction's trade-licensing and permit rules apply. A local business license may also be required. |
| Cleaner | No license required | Cleaning and janitorial services require no state trade license in Missouri. Operating a cleaning business may require a general business license or local occupational/merchant's license and payment of applicable business taxes, but there is no construction-trade licensing involved. |
Because Missouri regulates the building trades locally, the same trade can require a license in one city and none in the next — always confirm with the specific city or county.
Missouri has no general statewide contractor license
Unlike states with a central contractor board, Missouri leaves most construction-trade licensing to local governments. There is no statewide license or exam for general contractors, plumbers, roofers, painters, carpenters, or landscapers. Instead, each city and county decides which trades it licenses, what exams or bonds are required, and which projects need permits. The first question is never "What does Missouri require?" but "What does the jurisdiction where I'm working require?"
The two exceptions: optional statewide electrical and mechanical licenses
Missouri's Division of Professional Registration administers two optional statewide licenses that partially bridge local rules. The Office of Statewide Electrical Contractors issues a statewide electrical contractor license, and the Statewide Mechanical Contractor Licensing Act creates a statewide HVAC/mechanical license. Neither preempts local authority. Under RSMo 324.920, a contractor working where no local license is required does not need the statewide electrical license, and the state issues no permits and performs no inspections. For mechanical contractors, a city that keeps its own local license must recognize the statewide license in lieu of a local one for performing work and obtaining permits — but the city keeps its permitting and inspection authority.
How the major cities license trades
St. Louis licenses electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and drainlaying contractors through city Boards of Examiners, and separately requires a graduated contractor business license. Kansas City requires trade contractors (electrical, plumbing, mechanical) to employ a qualified supervisor holding a city certificate of qualification, plus a business license. Springfield requires electricians, plumbers, gas fitters, and mechanical craftsmen to pass city-sanctioned trade certification exams and requires contractor business licenses with proof of bond and/or insurance.
Handyman and cleaning work
Handyman services and cleaning/janitorial services are not licensed as construction trades in Missouri. A handyman can generally perform minor, non-structural repairs without a trade license, but any electrical, plumbing, or mechanical work is subject to the local jurisdiction's trade-licensing and permit rules. Cleaning businesses need no trade license at all. In both cases, a general local business license or occupational tax may still apply.
Permits vs. licenses: you often need both
A license is permission to do business as a contractor; a permit is authorization for a specific project. In Missouri, even where the state offers an optional license, local permits and inspections still apply. Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work almost always requires a local permit, and structural or building work typically requires a building permit. Confirm both the licensing and permitting requirements with the local building department before starting a job.
How to get licensed in Missouri
- Identify the exact city and county where the work will be performed — requirements are local, not statewide.
- Contact that jurisdiction's building or licensing department to confirm whether your trade needs a local license, registration, or business license.
- For electrical or mechanical/HVAC work, check whether the jurisdiction accepts Missouri's optional statewide license or requires its own local license and exam.
- Complete any required exams, bonds, and insurance, and obtain the local contractor/business license before pulling permits.
- Apply for the specific building, electrical, plumbing, or mechanical permit for each project and schedule required inspections.
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Frequently asked questions
Does Missouri have a state contractor's license?
No. Missouri has no statewide license or exam for general contractors, and no state license for plumbers, roofers, painters, carpenters, or landscapers. Licensing is handled locally by cities and counties. The only statewide licenses are optional ones for electrical and mechanical (HVAC) contractors.
Do I need the statewide electrical or mechanical license?
Not necessarily. Both are optional. Under RSMo 324.920, an electrical contractor working where no local license is required does not need the statewide license. A statewide mechanical license must be recognized by cities in lieu of their local license, but local permits and inspections still apply. Many contractors simply obtain the local license for each jurisdiction where they work.
Who licenses plumbers in Missouri?
Cities and counties do. For example, St. Louis licenses plumbing contractors through a Board of Examiners, Kansas City requires a plumbing contractor license with a qualified supervisor, and Springfield requires a passed trade certification exam. There is no state plumbing license.
Does a handyman need a license in Missouri?
There is no state handyman license. Minor, non-structural repairs are usually allowed without a trade license, but electrical, plumbing, or HVAC work triggers the local jurisdiction's trade-licensing and permit rules. A local business license may also be required.
Sources: Missouri Office of Statewide Electrical Contractors - FAQ, RSMo 324.920 - Statewide electrical contractor license, RSMo 324.940 - Statewide Mechanical Contractor Licensing Act, Kansas City - Contractor Licensing, Springfield - Trade Certifications, 2025. Licensing rules change — always confirm current requirements with the relevant state board and your local city before you work.