Hawaii C-27 Masonry Contractor License Requirements (2026)

The Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) Contractors License Board issues the C-27 Masonry classification under HRS Chapter 444. C-27 covers brick, concrete block, stone, and structural and veneer masonry. Any masonry contracting at $1,000 or more requires an active C-27 (or A General Engineering / B General Building) license. The qualifying individual (Responsible Managing Employee, RME) must document four years of supervisory masonry experience, pass the PSI Trade and Business and Law exams, and the entity must register for Hawaii General Excise Tax. This page documents the verified path including HIOSH silica enforcement and IBC Chapter 21 SDC E seismic detailing.

Governing Authority

This license is issued and enforced by Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs — Professional and Vocational Licensing Division, Contractors License Board (DCCA-PVL) pursuant to Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 444; Hawaii Administrative Rules Title 16 Chapter 77. The Contractors License Board licenses Class A General Engineering, Class B General Building, and Class C Specialty contractors statewide. The DCCA-PVL Board of Electricians and Plumbers separately licenses individual electricians and plumbers.

Official portal: https://cca.hawaii.gov/pvl/boards/contractor/
Address: King Kalakaua Building, 335 Merchant Street, Room 301, Honolulu, HI 96813
Phone: (808) 586-3000

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify, an applicant must have reached age 18 and hold a valid Social Security Number. No Hawaii residency requirement; out-of-state RMEs accepted.

Good moral character

DCCA reviews prior license discipline and criminal history. Felonies relating to construction or fraud may bar issuance.

Background investigation

Criminal history disclosure on the application; DCCA may request court records for any disclosed conviction.

Experience & Education Matrix

Eligibility requires 4 years of supervisory masonry experience within the last 10 years installing brick, CMU, stone, structural masonry, mortar, flashing, weeps, and seismic anchored veneer per TMS 402, documented and independently verifiable. Payroll, tax, project, and supervisor records are the usual proof the board will accept.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

DCCA Verification of Experience signed by licensed contractor RMEs
W-2, 1099, or payroll records covering the qualifying period
Project list with addresses, owner contacts, and dates

Education substitution

Two-year construction or masonry technology degree may substitute for up to two years.

Examination Structure

Examinations are administered by PSI Services LLC under contract to DCCA. The applicant must pass the following examination parts before the license can issue:

Hawaii Business and Law Examination — 65 questions, 120 minutes, passing score 70%
C-27 Masonry Trade Examination — TMS 402/602, IBC Chapter 21, SDC E seismic anchored veneer — 80 questions, 240 minutes, passing score 70%

Examination fee: $75 per PSI exam section ($150 total).

Retake policy: Failed sections may be retaken after 30 days with a new $75 fee. Application remains valid for two years.

Insurance & Financial Security

The cited state source set does not require a contractor license surety bond for this credential. Contractors should still confirm project-specific bond, permit-bond, or public-works bond requirements before bidding.

General liability

DCCA requires GL on the application. Most owners require $1,000,000 per occurrence / $2,000,000 aggregate.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation is mandatory under HRS §386 for any Hawaii employer with one or more employees. Masonry NCCI 5022 carries one of the highest manual rates in Hawaii.

Additional financial requirements

Hawaii does not require a financial statement for C-27. Entities must register for Hawaii General Excise Tax (4.5% on Oahu, 4.0% other islands).

Application and License Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$50
Examination	$150
Initial license	$410
Renewal (every 2 years)	$410

Maintenance & Renewal

Expect to renew the Hawaii C-27 Masonry Contractor — DCCA Contractors License Board every 2 years. Renewal currently costs $410. Hawaii contractor licenses renew September 30 of odd-numbered years. Late renewal requires reinstatement and possible reexamination.

Continuing education: No CE required for C-27, but the RME must remain affiliated with the entity and the GET account must remain active.

Downloadable Asset

2026 Hawaii Masonry License Roadmap (PDF) — a printable step-by-step checklist for the application process.

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity and Endorsement

Hawaii does not accept the NASCLA Accredited Examination for this classification.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
No formal bilateral reciprocity agreements identified.

Hawaii has no reciprocity for masonry contractors. The Pacific Ocean is real — out-of-state masonry contractors must qualify a Hawaii RME independently.

Weighing more than one jurisdiction? The national hub compares Masonry license requirements in every state — exam, bond, fee, and experience thresholds side by side.

Step-by-Step Application Roadmap

Form a Hawaii or foreign entity. Register your LLC or corporation with the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Business Registration Division.
Designate the RME (Responsible Managing Employee). Identify the qualifying individual with four years of supervisory masonry experience.
Document four years of masonry experience. Compile signed Verification of Experience forms and project lists for the RME.
Pass the PSI Hawaii Business and Law exam. Score 70% or better on the 65-question business and law exam.
Pass the PSI C-27 Masonry trade exam. Score 70% or better on the 80-question trade exam covering TMS 402/602 and IBC Chapter 21.
Submit DCCA C-27 application. File the application with the $50 application fee, $135 license fee, GL certificate, workers comp certificate, and exam scores.
Register for Hawaii General Excise Tax. Hawaii GET is mandatory on contractor revenue (4.5% Oahu, 4% other islands) — file BB-1 with the Hawaii Department of Taxation.
Implement HIOSH silica program. HIOSH (Hawaii state OSHA plan) enforces 29 CFR 1926.1153 with Hawaii-specific recordkeeping; written exposure control plan and Table 1 controls are mandatory.

Pre-Submission Checklist

These are the pieces to lock down before filing with DCCA-PVL:

☐ Hawaii Business Registration Division entity registration
☐ Hawaii General Excise Tax registration (BB-1)
☐ RME with 4 years supervisory masonry experience
☐ DCCA Verification of Experience signed by licensed contractors
☐ PSI Hawaii Business and Law exam pass certificate (70%+)
☐ PSI C-27 Masonry trade exam pass certificate (70%+)
☐ GL and workers compensation certificates
☐ HIOSH silica written exposure control plan

Study and Reference Materials

What follows are the regulator-cited and commonly used preparation references for this trade. They appear here for convenience only; CLR takes no compensation for them.

TMS 402/602 Building Code Requirements and Specification for Masonry Structures — The Masonry Society. Adopted by reference under IBC Chapter 21 — critical for SDC D/E special reinforced masonry.
Hawaii State Building Code (IBC with Hawaii amendments) — Hawaii State Building Code Council. Hawaii amendments to IBC including high-wind and seismic provisions.
HRS Chapter 444 Contractors statute — State of Hawaii. Hawaii contractor licensing law including C-27 scope.

Common Filing Mistakes

Based on the board's own instructions and the sources cited here, the problems below are what most often stall a Hawaii Masonry application.

RME loss without replacement

If the RME leaves, the C-27 license is automatically suspended within 30 days unless a replacement RME is registered. Common cause of inactive licenses in Hawaii.

GET non-filing

Hawaii GET is monthly or quarterly depending on volume. Missed filings draw 25% penalty plus interest and trigger DCCA license review.

SDC E seismic veneer failures

Hawaii's special reinforced masonry requirements under TMS 402 are stricter than mainland. Anchored veneer failures cause inspection rejections statewide.

Inter-island freight surcharges undocumented

Mainland contractors underbid Hawaii masonry without accounting for inter-island brick and CMU freight; cost overruns trigger contract disputes and DCCA complaints.

Silica plan absent

HIOSH targets Honolulu and outer-island masonry sites; missing 29 CFR 1926.1153(g) plans draw immediate citations with Hawaii recordkeeping penalties.

Other Hawaii Trade Licenses

If the Masonry license is not the right fit, the following published Hawaii trade guides are also covered by CLR:

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Hawaii have a dedicated masonry license?

Yes. C-27 Masonry classification issued by the DCCA Contractors License Board.

How much experience does the RME need?

Four years of supervisory masonry experience within the last 10 years, verified on the DCCA Verification of Experience form.

What is the General Excise Tax?

Hawaii GET is a 4.5% (Oahu) or 4% (other islands) tax on contractor gross receipts. It is mandatory and not a sales tax — contractors pay it directly.

Why does Hawaii care about seismic detailing?

Hawaii is Seismic Design Category D or E across most islands. IBC Chapter 21 / TMS 402 anchored veneer ties and special reinforced masonry detailing are critical and inspected.

Does Hawaii enforce OSHA silica?

Yes. HIOSH operates a state OSHA plan enforcing 29 CFR 1926.1153 with Hawaii recordkeeping requirements. Written exposure control plan is mandatory.

Primary Sources

Regulatory requirements on this page are drawn from the official board, statute, and exam-provider materials listed below.

Verified 2026-05-21 · Next scheduled review 2026-08-19