Iowa Masonry Contractor Registration Requirements (2026)

Iowa does not license masonry as a trade. Anyone earning $2,000 or more per year in Iowa construction — including masonry contractors — must register with the Iowa Division of Labor under Iowa Code §91C. Registration is administrative, not exam-based. Out-of-state contractors must additionally post a $25,000 surety bond under Iowa Code §91C.7. There is no Iowa masonry exam. This page documents the verified path including the out-of-state bond requirement, IOSH silica enforcement, and TMS 402 / IBC Chapter 21 compliance.

Regulatory Body Profile

Authority over this credential rests with Iowa Division of Labor — Contractor Registration Unit (IDOL), which issues and polices it under Iowa Code Chapter 91C; Iowa Administrative Code 875—150 (Contractor Registration rules). The Iowa Division of Labor Contractor Registration Unit administers mandatory contractor registration for any person or business earning $2,000 or more per calendar year from construction work in Iowa, collects the $25,000 surety bond required of out-of-state contractors, and enforces Iowa Code Chapter 91C. Iowa does not issue a statewide general contractor license; registration is the state-level credential for general construction.

Official portal: https://www.iowadivisionoflabor.gov/contractor-registration
Address: 150 Des Moines Street, Des Moines, IA 50309
Phone: (515) 725-5619

The Eligibility Audit

The threshold requirements are straightforward: age 18 or above, plus a valid Social Security Number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). Out-of-state contractors must post a $25,000 surety bond under Iowa Code §91C.7 in addition to the standard registration.

Good moral character

Iowa Division of Labor reviews prior registration discipline and unresolved labor judgments.

Background investigation

Self-disclosure of criminal history on the contractor registration application.

Experience and Education Standards

Rather than a set number of years, the cited materials define eligibility through No state experience requirement for the basic Iowa Contractor Registration. Insurance carriers and prime contractors require demonstrated journey-level masonry experience by contract..

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

Optional: signed letters from prior masonry employers
Project list with addresses (used for prime subcontracts and underwriting, not the state)

The Exam Syllabus

The cited sources impose no written trade exam at the state level here. The path to the credential runs through: No exam required by the Iowa Division of Labor

Examination fee: No exam fee — Iowa registration is administrative.

Bonding, Insurance & Financial Security

A $25,000 surety bond, in the form prescribed by the IDOL, must be posted as a condition of licensure.

General liability

No state minimum, but most owners and prime contractors require $1,000,000 per occurrence GL.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation is mandatory under Iowa Code §85 for any Iowa employer with one or more employees. Masonry NCCI 5022 is one of the highest manual rates in Iowa.

Additional financial requirements

No financial statement. Out-of-state contractors must post a $25,000 surety bond under Iowa Code §91C.7.

Schedule of Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$50
Initial license	$50
Renewal (every year)	$50

Renewal and Continuing Obligations

The Iowa Contractor Registration (Masonry) — Iowa Division of Labor runs on a year renewal cycle. The current renewal fee is $50. Iowa Contractor Registration renews annually on the anniversary date. Late renewal incurs a $25 penalty.

Downloadable Asset

2026 Iowa 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, Iowa does not recognize the NASCLA Accredited Examination.

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

Iowa has no reciprocity for masonry contractors. The Iowa Contractor Registration is required regardless of out-of-state credentials.

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

Form an Iowa or foreign entity. Register your LLC or corporation with the Iowa Secretary of State and obtain an EIN.
Bind GL and workers compensation. Bind GL ($1M+ practical) and workers comp for any employees before applying.
Out-of-state contractors: post the §91C.7 bond. Post a $25,000 surety bond payable to the State of Iowa for unpaid wages and tax claims.
Submit Iowa Contractor Registration. File the Iowa Division of Labor Contractor Registration with $50 fee, GL certificate, workers comp certificate, and (if out-of-state) the $25,000 bond.
Receive registration number. Iowa Division of Labor issues the registration number; it must appear on every contract and ad per Iowa Code §91C.4.
Pull project permits at the AHJ. Local building departments require permits for masonry on permitted projects; Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and Davenport are the largest jurisdictions.
Implement OSHA silica program. Iowa operates a state OSHA plan (IOSH) 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.

Iowa Code §91C Contractor Registration — State of Iowa. Iowa contractor registration statute including the $25,000 out-of-state bond requirement.
TMS 402/602 Building Code Requirements and Specification for Masonry Structures — The Masonry Society. Adopted by reference under IBC Chapter 21.
International Building Code Chapter 21 — Masonry (Iowa-adopted edition) — International Code Council. Iowa adopts IBC at the local jurisdiction level.

Pre-Application Checklist

Ahead of submission to IDOL, confirm every item on this short list:

☐ Iowa Secretary of State entity registration
☐ EIN and Iowa Department of Revenue tax account
☐ GL insurance certificate ($1M+ practical)
☐ Workers compensation certificate
☐ $25,000 surety bond (out-of-state contractors)
☐ Iowa Division of Labor Contractor Registration ($50)
☐ Local business license (city of operation)
☐ IOSH silica written exposure control plan

Where Applications Stall

These are the recurring mistakes that most often delay or reject a Iowa Masonry application, based on the official instructions cited here.

Out-of-state bond skipped

Out-of-state contractors who skip the §91C.7 bond have their registration revoked and lose payment rights on all open Iowa contracts.

Working without registration

Performing $2,000+ of Iowa construction without active registration draws Division of Labor citations and back-fee assessments.

Local registration confusion

State registration does not exempt contractors from Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, or Davenport local business licenses.

Anchored veneer ties wrong gauge

Iowa wind and freeze-thaw require corrosion-resistant ties at TMS 402 spacing; Des Moines and Cedar Rapids inspectors fail jobs with non-compliant ties.

Silica plan absent

IOSH targets Des Moines and Cedar Rapids masonry sites; missing 29 CFR 1926.1153(g) plans draw immediate citations.

Other Iowa Trade Licenses

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

Common Questions

Does Iowa license masonry as a trade?

No. Iowa requires only a Division of Labor Contractor Registration — no exam, no trade qualification.

What triggers Iowa registration?

Earning $2,000 or more per year in Iowa construction triggers mandatory registration under Iowa Code §91C.

Do out-of-state masonry contractors need a bond?

Yes. Iowa Code §91C.7 requires out-of-state contractors to post a $25,000 surety bond payable to the State of Iowa.

Are local registrations required?

Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, and other Iowa cities may require local business licenses on top of state registration.

Does Iowa enforce OSHA silica?

Yes. IOSH (Iowa state OSHA plan) enforces 29 CFR 1926.1153 with Iowa-specific recordkeeping. 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 2026-06-11 · Next scheduled review 2026-09-09