Indiana Masonry Contractor License Requirements (2026)

Indiana has no state masonry contractor license. The Indiana Professional Licensing Agency does not register or test masonry contractors. Local building departments license at the city or county level — most prominently the Indianapolis Business and Neighborhood Services Contractor License framework. Marion County and the Department of Business and Neighborhood Services issue General Contractor and Specialty Contractor licenses that masonry contractors fall under in Indianapolis. Other Indiana cities (Fort Wayne, Evansville, South Bend, Bloomington) maintain similar local registries. This page documents the verified path including the Indianapolis BNS framework, OSHA silica enforcement, and IBC Chapter 21 compliance.

Regulatory Body Profile

Authority over this credential rests with Indianapolis Department of Business and Neighborhood Services — City of Indianapolis / Marion County (BNS), which issues and polices it under Revised Code of the Consolidated City and County, Chapter 875 (Contractors) and Chapter 871 (Electrical). BNS issues municipal contractor, electrical, and HVAC licenses for Indianapolis and Marion County. Indiana has no state license for these trades, so BNS is the dominant licensing authority for Central Indiana.

Official portal: https://www.indy.gov/agency/department-of-business-and-neighborhood-services
Address: 1200 Madison Avenue, Suite 100, Indianapolis, IN 46225
Phone: (317) 327-8700

The Eligibility Audit

The applicant must be at least 18 years of age and possess a valid Social Security Number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). No Indiana residency requirement; out-of-state entities must register with the Indiana Secretary of State.

Good moral character

Indianapolis BNS reviews prior license discipline and Marion County tax compliance.

Background investigation

Indianapolis BNS requires criminal history disclosure; some classes require fingerprinting.

Experience and Education Standards

The experience bar is 3 years of journey-level masonry experience documented to the local building department; Indianapolis BNS Class C/D requires demonstrated competence on multiple projects., and it must be backed by verifiable records — typically payroll, tax, project, or supervisor documentation covering the claimed period.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

Local building department experience affidavit
Project list with permit numbers and addresses
W-2, 1099, or payroll records

The Exam Syllabus

Testing is handled by Indianapolis BNS administers in-house exam; suburban Indiana municipalities vary. The applicant has to pass each part listed here before the credential is granted:

Indianapolis BNS Class C/D Building Contractor Examination — IBC Chapter 21, masonry, business practices — 50 questions, 120 minutes, passing score 75%

Examination fee: $50–$150 Indianapolis BNS exam fee.

Retake policy: Failed exams may be retaken after 30 days at Indianapolis BNS. Other Indiana cities follow their own retake rules.

Bonding, Insurance & Financial Security

Before the license is issued, the applicant must file a $10,000 contractor license surety bond in the form prescribed by the BNS.

General liability

Indianapolis BNS requires $300,000 minimum GL for Class D and $500,000+ for Class C. Most owners require $1,000,000 per occurrence.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation is mandatory under IC 22-3 for any Indiana employer with one or more employees. Masonry NCCI 5022 carries one of the highest manual rates in Indiana.

Additional financial requirements

No financial statement required for Indianapolis Class C/D. Surety bond of $10,000–$25,000 required by class.

Schedule of Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$250
Examination	$100
Initial license	$250
Renewal (every year)	$250

Renewal and Continuing Obligations

The Indiana Masonry — Local Jurisdiction (Indianapolis Business Service Center) (No State License) runs on a year renewal cycle. The current renewal fee is $250. Indianapolis BNS Class C/D licenses renew annually on the anniversary date. Maintain bond, GL, and workers comp continuously.

Downloadable Asset

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

Download the PDF roadmap →

Out-of-State Reciprocity

For this classification, Indiana does not recognize the NASCLA Accredited Examination.

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

No state-level reciprocity exists because Indiana has no state masonry license. Indianapolis BNS licenses are not transferable to Fort Wayne, Evansville, or other Indiana cities.

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

The Application Roadmap

Identify the jurisdiction. Indianapolis BNS, Fort Wayne, Evansville, South Bend, and other Indiana cities license contractors separately. Working multi-city means multiple licenses.
Form an Indiana entity. Register your LLC or corporation with the Indiana Secretary of State and obtain an EIN.
Bind GL and workers compensation. Indianapolis BNS requires $300K (Class D) or $500K+ (Class C) GL plus workers comp. Bind before applying.
Pass the Indianapolis BNS Class C/D exam. Score 75% or better on the Indianapolis BNS Building Contractor exam covering IBC Chapter 21 and masonry.
Submit Indianapolis BNS application. File the Class C/D Contractor license application with $250 fee, surety bond, GL/workers comp certificates, and exam scores.
Pull project permits at the AHJ. Indianapolis BNS issues permits to licensed contractors of record; each project requires a separate permit.
Implement OSHA silica program. Indiana operates a state OSHA plan (IOSHA) enforcing 29 CFR 1926.1153; written exposure control plan and Table 1 controls are mandatory.

Recommended Study Materials

The list below collects the board's cited references and the materials applicants typically study from. CLR is not paid to recommend any of them.

Indianapolis BNS Building Contractor Reference Materials — City of Indianapolis BNS. Official Indianapolis Class C/D exam reference list.
TMS 402/602 Building Code Requirements and Specification for Masonry Structures — The Masonry Society. Adopted by reference under IBC Chapter 21.
Indiana Building Code (IBC with Indiana amendments) — Indiana Fire Prevention and Building Safety Commission. Indiana adopts IBC including Chapter 21 masonry provisions.

Pre-Application Checklist

Have each of the following squared away before the packet goes to BNS:

☐ Indiana Secretary of State entity registration
☐ EIN and Indiana Department of Revenue tax account
☐ GL insurance certificate ($300,000+ for Indianapolis)
☐ Workers compensation certificate
☐ $10,000–$25,000 surety bond (Indianapolis class)
☐ Indianapolis BNS Class C/D exam pass certificate (75%+)
☐ Indianapolis BNS application with $250 fee
☐ IOSHA silica written exposure control plan

Where Applications Stall

The following pitfalls summarize the issues most likely to delay, return, or derail a Indiana Masonry application based on the published board instructions and source materials cited on this page.

Working without local license

Pulling a permit in Indianapolis without an active BNS Class C/D license triggers stop-work orders and double-fee penalties.

Cross-city license assumption

Many out-of-state contractors assume Indiana has a state license. Each city requires independent registration and timelines stack.

Bond amount mismatch

Indianapolis BNS requires class-specific surety bonds; under-bonding triggers automatic license suspension.

Anchored veneer ties undersized

Indiana wind and freeze-thaw require corrosion-resistant ties at TMS 402 spacing; Indianapolis and Fort Wayne inspectors fail jobs with non-compliant ties.

Silica plan absent

IOSHA targets Indianapolis and Fort Wayne masonry sites; missing 29 CFR 1926.1153(g) plans draw immediate citations.

Other Indiana Trade Licenses

Looking at a different trade? CLR also publishes these Indiana licensing guides:

Common Questions

Does Indiana have a state masonry license?

No. Indiana licenses contractors at the local jurisdiction level only. Indianapolis BNS is the dominant framework.

What does Indianapolis BNS require?

Class C or D Building Contractor license with in-house exam, $10,000–$25,000 surety bond, $300,000+ GL, workers comp, and $250 fee.

Is the Indianapolis license valid in other cities?

No. Each Indiana city issues independent licenses. Working in Fort Wayne, Evansville, or Bloomington requires separate registration.

Does Indiana enforce OSHA silica?

Yes. IOSHA (Indiana state OSHA plan) enforces 29 CFR 1926.1153 with written exposure control plan and Table 1 control requirements.

Are anchored veneer ties critical in Indiana?

Yes. Indiana wind and freeze-thaw exposure require corrosion-resistant ties at TMS 402 spacing; Indianapolis and Fort Wayne inspectors enforce strictly.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-05-01 · Next scheduled review 2026-07-30