Michigan Handyman License Requirements (2026)

No Michigan state contractor license is required to perform paid residential repair, alteration, or handyman work where the aggregate contract price for labor, material, and any other items for the one undertaking or project is LESS THAN $600.00, per MCL 339.2403 (Occupational Code, Public Act 299 of 1980, Article 24). At $600.00 or more, a state Residential Builder (RB) or Maintenance & Alteration (M&A) Contractor license — administered by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Construction Codes — becomes mandatory. The exemption is automatic and requires no filing, fee, or exam. Three limits control it: an anti-evasion clause bars splitting one larger job into multiple sub-$600 contracts; electrical, plumbing, and mechanical/HVAC work always require their own skilled-trades licenses regardless of dollar amount; and unlicensed work at or above the threshold carries criminal penalties under MCL 339.601.

Who Issues the Michigan Handyman License?

Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Construction Codes — Residential Builders' and Maintenance & Alteration Contractors' Board (LARA / BCC) administers the credential or scope-specific rules for handyman work in Michigan under Occupational Code, Public Act 299 of 1980, Article 24, MCL 339.2401 et seq, and whether they apply depends on the work scope and conditions explained below. Licenses and regulates residential builders and maintenance & alteration contractors under Article 24 of the Occupational Code. It administers the 'less than $600' minor-work threshold, below which no state contractor license is required to perform residential repair or alteration work.

Official portal: michigan.gov
Address: Bureau of Construction Codes, P.O. Box 30254, Lansing, MI 48909

Michigan Handyman License Eligibility Requirements

This guide does not establish a minimum applicant age; confirm any age requirement with the issuing authority. Applicants must provide a Social Security Number. No state residency requirement to use the less-than-$600 exemption or to hold the RB/M&A license.

Good moral character

Good moral character is a statutory qualification for the RB/M&A license only; it does not apply to sub-$600 exempt handyman work.

Background investigation

No fingerprint criminal-background check is required to work under the exemption. For the RB/M&A license, applicants must demonstrate good moral character; LARA's application requirements list the application and fee, good moral character, and the examination, with no separate fingerprint background check.

How Much Experience Do You Need for a Michigan Handyman License?

No experience is required to work under the less-than-$600 exemption. For the RB/M&A license (needed at $600 or more), no years of hands-on experience are required; the entry pathway is 60 hours of prelicensure education plus the PSI exam.

Education substitution

For the RB/M&A license only: 60 hours of LARA-approved prelicensure coursework (6-hour minimums across business management, estimating, design/building science, contracts/liability, marketing/sales, project management, Michigan Residential Code, and MIOSHA construction safety, plus 18 elective hours) is required before applying. No education is required for sub-$600 exempt work.

Michigan Handyman Exam Requirements

Testing provider or authority: No exam is required to perform paid handyman/repair work under the less-than-$600 threshold. A PSI-administered examination applies only to applicants for the Residential Builder or Maintenance & Alteration Contractor license (work at $600 or more). The following examination requirements cover the pathways described in this guide; follow each part's classification, waiver, and local-scope conditions. Unpublished format details do not remove an examination requirement:

Residential Builder combined Business & Law and Practice/Trade exam (RB license only; 50 business and law questions; passing raw score 116 of 160) — 160 questions, 240 minutes, passing score: confirm in the current candidate bulletin

Examination fee: None for sub-$600 work. For the RB/M&A license, PSI charges $117 for the Residential Builder exam and $70 to $114 for the M&A exam depending on the number of trade portions (PSI candidate bulletin updated August 3, 2026), paid to PSI when scheduling.

Retake policy: Retests cost the same as a first attempt ($117 for Residential Builder). The exam must be passed within one year of LARA approving the application, or the applicant must reapply and forfeits fees paid.

Michigan Handyman Insurance and Bond Requirements

Michigan attaches no contractor surety bond to handyman work below the licensing threshold, so general liability insurance is a business decision rather than a state mandate; any bond tied to a registration or a carve-out trade is set out below.

General liability

Not required by the state as a condition of the RB/M&A license (no state mandate confirmed) and not required for sub-$600 exempt work. General liability coverage is a recommended business best practice.

Workers' compensation

Standard Michigan workers' compensation law applies to any handyman or builder with employees; no builder-specific state requirement is confirmed.

Additional financial requirements

Not required. LARA's RB/M&A requirements are prelicensure education, the application and fee, good moral character, and the exam.

How Much Does a Michigan Handyman License Cost?

Fee	Amount
Application	No separate amount recorded; confirm in the fee guidance
Initial license	No separate amount recorded; confirm in the fee guidance
Renewal (every 3 years)	No separate amount recorded; confirm in the fee guidance

To turn these board fees into a realistic year-one budget — bond premium, liability insurance, and exam prep included — open the cost calculator preloaded for Michigan handyman.

Michigan Handyman License Renewal and Continuing Education

The Michigan handyman license renews every 3 years. The cited sources list no separate statewide renewal fee for the Michigan handyman license. Renewal applies only to holders of the RB/M&A license (needed at $600 or more); sub-$600 exempt handyman work requires no license and thus no renewal. RB/M&A licenses renew every 3 years by May 31, and renewal can start 90 days before expiration. LARA's fee schedule lists $150 for renewal, $170 for late renewal, and $185 for relicensure.

Continuing education: For the RB/M&A license: first or second renewal cycle requires 21 hours of continuing competency; third or later cycle requires 3 hours. No continuing education applies to sub-$600 exempt work.

Downloadable Asset

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

Download the PDF roadmap →

Does Michigan Accept Out-of-State Handyman Licenses?

A handyman exemption or registration does not transfer between states, so work in Michigan must meet Michigan's own threshold and rules; the particulars are set out below.

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

Not applicable to sub-$600 exempt handyman work, as there is no state credential to reciprocate. Michigan's RB/M&A license is education- and exam-based with no confirmed reciprocity or NASCLA acceptance for that residential license.

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

How to Get a Michigan Handyman License, Step by Step

Confirm the less-than-$600 threshold applies to each project. Under MCL 339.2403, the exemption applies only where the aggregate contract price for labor, material, and any other items for the one undertaking or project is less than $600.00. Total the full project value before quoting.
Do not split a larger job to stay under $600. MCL 339.2403 contains an anti-evasion clause: splitting one operation into multiple sub-$600 contracts to evade the act is expressly prohibited and does not preserve the exemption.
Use licensed pros for electrical, plumbing, and HVAC. Electrical (Art. 7), plumbing (Art. 11), and mechanical/HVAC (Art. 8) work require their own skilled-trades licenses under the Skilled Trades Regulation Act regardless of dollar amount. The $600 exemption does not cover these trades.
Check for local city or county registration and permits. Michigan has no statewide handyman registration, but some municipalities may require a local business license or contractor registration, and building permits may be required for certain work. Confirm with the local building department before starting.
Use a written contract and carry liability insurance. Although Michigan confirms no separate state home-improvement contract statute, a clear written contract and general liability coverage are business best practices that protect both the handyman and the homeowner.
Obtain the RB/M&A license before taking work at $600 or more. Complete 60 hours of LARA-approved prelicensure education, pass the PSI examination, and file the license application with the Bureau of Construction Codes before contracting for any project valued at $600.00 or more.

Application Checklist

Have each of these ready before you file with LARA / BCC:

Total the full aggregate contract price (labor plus materials plus any other items) for the project and confirm it is less than $600.00 before quoting.
Verify the job is one undertaking and is not being split from a larger project into multiple sub-$600 contracts.
Confirm no part of the work is electrical, plumbing, or mechanical/HVAC — those require a separately licensed trade professional regardless of price.
Check with the local city or county building department for any local business license, contractor registration, or building permit requirements.
Prepare a written contract describing scope, price, and terms, and confirm general liability insurance is in place as a business best practice.
If any project reaches $600.00 or more, obtain the Residential Builder or Maintenance & Alteration Contractor license before contracting for the work.

Common Filing Mistakes

These are the problems most likely to delay or derail a Michigan Handyman application, drawn from the instructions of LARA / BCC and the other sources cited on this page.

Exceeding the $600 threshold by aggregating a project

The threshold is measured on the aggregate contract price for labor, material, and any other items for the whole undertaking. Underestimating materials or add-ons can push a job to $600.00 or more, requiring a license.

Splitting one job into multiple sub-$600 contracts

MCL 339.2403's anti-evasion clause expressly prohibits dividing one operation into several under-$600 contracts to avoid licensing. Doing so does not preserve the exemption and exposes the handyman to penalties.

Performing an excluded trade without its own license

Even a small electrical, plumbing, or HVAC task requires the corresponding skilled-trades license under the Skilled Trades Regulation Act. The $600 exemption never covers these trades regardless of the job's price.

Ignoring the criminal penalty for unlicensed contracting

Unlicensed residential-builder or M&A work at or above the threshold is a criminal misdemeanor under MCL 339.601 carrying a $5,000–$25,000 fine and possible imprisonment, and the worker cannot sue to collect payment or file a lien under MCL 339.2412.

Overlooking local registration and permit requirements

Michigan has no statewide handyman registration, but some municipalities require a local business license or contractor registration, and permits may be required for specific work. These local rules apply independently of the state exemption.

Study and Reference Materials

These references are cited in the Michigan sources for this guide or commonly used to prepare for handyman work; CLR receives no compensation for listing them.

MCL 339.2403 — the less-than-$600 minor-work exemption statute — Michigan Legislature (Occupational Code, Article 24). The controlling compliance reference: the exact threshold, aggregate-price basis, anti-evasion clause, and the electrical/plumbing/mechanical carve-outs.
LARA Bureau of Construction Codes — Residential Builders licensing page — Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. The board's official page explaining when the RB/M&A license is required and the 60-hour education and PSI exam path for work at $600 or more.
Local city/county building department permit and registration office — Municipal building departments. Confirm any local business license, contractor registration, or building-permit requirements that may apply even to sub-$600 handyman work.

Handyman Pay and Employment in Michigan

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that 39,490 general maintenance and repair workers work in Michigan, earning a median of $47,580 a year ($22.87 an hour). That is 4% below the national median of $49,590, ranking 38th of 51 jurisdictions BLS published. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $35,050 and the top 10% earn over $70,570. The trade's share of Michigan's workforce is close to the national average (location quotient 0.91).

Maintenance and Repair Workers, General wages, Michigan compared with the United States, May 2025
Measure	Michigan	United States
Median annual wage	$47,580	$49,590
Median hourly wage	$22.87	$23.84
10th–90th percentile	$35,050–$70,570	$35,350–$77,180
Employment	39,490	1,529,700

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, occupation 49-9071 (Maintenance and Repair Workers, General). Figures cover wage and salary employees and exclude self-employed owners. BLS counts general maintenance and repair workers, the closest occupation to handyman work; most are employed by property owners rather than self-employed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a license to do handyman work in Michigan?

No state license is required to perform paid residential repair, alteration, or handyman work where the aggregate contract price for labor, material, and any other items for the one project is less than $600.00, per MCL 339.2403. At $600.00 or more, a Residential Builder or Maintenance & Alteration Contractor license is required.

What is the exact dollar threshold for the Michigan handyman exemption?

The threshold is 'less than $600.00' in aggregate contract price for labor, material, and any other items per one undertaking or project, set by MCL 339.2403 (Occupational Code, Article 24). A project priced at $600.00 or more requires a state RB or M&A license; the figure includes both labor and materials.

Can I split a larger job into several jobs under $600 to stay exempt?

No. MCL 339.2403 contains an anti-evasion clause that expressly prohibits splitting one operation or undertaking into multiple sub-$600 contracts to evade the licensing act. The aggregate price of the whole project controls whether a license is required.

Does the exemption cover electrical, plumbing, or HVAC work?

No. Electrical (Article 7), plumbing (Article 11), and mechanical/HVAC (Article 8) work each require their own skilled-trades license under the Skilled Trades Regulation Act regardless of the dollar amount. The less-than-$600 exemption never covers these trades, even on a small job.

What is the penalty for doing licensed work without a license in Michigan?

Under MCL 339.601, performing residential-builder or M&A contracting without the required license is a criminal misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than $5,000.00 nor more than $25,000.00 and/or imprisonment up to 1 year for a first offense (up to 2 years for subsequent offenses; a felony if it causes death or serious injury). Separately, MCL 339.2412 bars an unlicensed person from suing to collect payment or filing a construction lien.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-10-26 · Next scheduled review 2027-01-24

Report a correction to this guide

Corrections and updates

2026-10-26: RB/M&A late renewal fee corrected from a $20/$35 late fee to $170 for late renewal ($150 on time) and $185 for relicensure, per LARA's Residential Builder fee schedule; PSI exam fee set at $117 (M&A $70 to $114) from PSI's candidate bulletin updated August 3, 2026.

Layout changes shared by every guide are listed in the template change log; they do not change source-check dates.

Handyman Licensing in Neighboring States

Contractors working near a state line, or weighing where to qualify first, should compare Michigan's requirements against the bordering jurisdictions before committing to an application:

Indiana Handyman License Requirements — No statewide handyman/contractor license — municipal regulation; statewide Home Improvement Contracts Act (IC 24-5-11) written-contract rule applies
Ohio Handyman License Requirements — No statewide handyman or general-contractor license (Ohio licenses only five commercial trades via OCILB; general home-repair/handyman work is unregulated at the state level and handled locally)
Wisconsin Handyman License Requirements — No state handyman license — permit-linked Dwelling Contractor / Dwelling Contractor Qualifier credential (Wis. Stat. § 101.654)

More guides for Michigan contractors

Other Michigan Trade Licenses

CLR also publishes these Michigan licensing guides for other trades: