Michigan Masonry Contractor License Requirements (2026)

The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) Bureau of Construction Codes licenses masonry contractors as Maintenance and Alteration Contractors (M&A) with the Masonry trade designation, or as Residential Builders for new construction, under MCL 339.2401 et seq. Any masonry contracting on residential structures requires an active LARA license. Applicants must complete a 60-hour prelicensure course, pass the LARA exam, and provide proof of GL and workers compensation. Commercial masonry has no Michigan state license. This page documents the verified path including the Michigan Construction Code (MBC), MIOSHA silica enforcement, and TMS 402 / IBC Chapter 21 compliance.

The Licensing Authority

Authority over this credential rests with Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs — Bureau of Construction Codes (LARA BCC), which issues and polices it under Michigan Occupational Code, MCL 339.2401 et seq. (Article 24 — Residential Builders); Skilled Trades Regulation Act, MCL 339.5101 et seq.. LARA Bureau of Construction Codes administers Michigan licensing for residential builders, electricians, plumbers, and mechanical contractors through its trade-specific boards, adopts the Michigan building, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical codes, and conducts disciplinary proceedings.

Official portal: https://www.michigan.gov/lara/bureau-list/bcc
Address: P.O. Box 30254, Lansing, MI 48909
Phone: (517) 241-9313

Baseline Eligibility

Eligibility begins with two baseline checks: the applicant must be 18 or older and must provide a valid Social Security Number. No Michigan residency requirement; out-of-state entities must register with the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs.

Good moral character

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

Background investigation

Self-disclosure of criminal history on the LARA application; LARA may request court records for any disclosed conviction.

Experience and Education Requirements

The cited source set does not publish a fixed year-based experience threshold for this credential. The controlling requirement is No state experience requirement, but applicants must complete a LARA-approved 60-hour prelicensure course covering business management, building code, and Michigan law before sitting for the exam..

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

LARA-approved 60-hour prelicensure course completion certificate
Optional: signed letters from prior masonry employers

Education substitution

Approved building construction technology degree may substitute for prelicensure course portions.

The Licensing Examination

Testing is handled by PSI Services LLC under contract to LARA. The applicant has to pass each part listed here before the credential is granted:

Michigan Maintenance and Alteration Contractor Examination — Masonry trade — MBC, business and law, masonry construction — 110 questions, 240 minutes, passing score 70%

Examination fee: $117 PSI exam fee.

Retake policy: Failed exams may be retaken with a new $117 fee. The LARA application remains valid for one year.

Financial Security and Insurance

No license surety bond is mandated statewide here under the cited sources, though project-specific or public-works bonding obligations can still attach to a given job.

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 MCL 418 for any Michigan employer with three or more employees, or one or more employees for 35 weeks/year. Masonry NCCI 5022 carries one of the highest manual rates in Michigan.

Additional financial requirements

No financial statement required.

Fee Schedule

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$185
Examination	$117
Initial license	$185
Renewal (every 3 years)	$185

License Renewal

The Michigan Residential Builder / Maintenance & Alteration Contractor (Masonry) — LARA must be renewed every 3 years. The fee to renew is presently $185. Michigan LARA M&A licenses renew every three years on May 31. Late renewal incurs reinstatement fees and possible re-exam.

Continuing education: 21 hours of LARA-approved CE every three-year renewal cycle, including code updates and MIOSHA safety topics.

Downloadable Asset

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

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity Map

Michigan grants no NASCLA reciprocity for this classification.

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

Michigan has no reciprocity for masonry contractors. Out-of-state applicants must complete the prelicensure course and pass the LARA exam.

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 Licensing Roadmap

Complete the 60-hour prelicensure course. Enroll in a LARA-approved 60-hour prelicensure course covering MBC, business management, and Michigan law. Required before sitting for the exam.
Form a Michigan or foreign entity. Register your LLC or corporation with LARA Corporations Division and obtain a Michigan tax ID.
Pass the PSI LARA Masonry exam. Score 70% or better on the 110-question Maintenance and Alteration Contractor Masonry exam.
Bind GL and workers compensation. Bind GL ($1M+ practical) and workers comp once headcount reaches the MCL 418 threshold.
Submit LARA M&A application. File the application with $185 license fee, prelicensure certificate, GL/workers comp certificates, and exam scores.
Receive LARA license number. LARA issues the license; it must appear on every contract and ad per MCL 339.2403.
Implement MIOSHA silica program. MIOSHA (Michigan state OSHA plan) enforces 29 CFR 1926.1153 with state-specific recordkeeping; written exposure control plan and Table 1 controls are mandatory.

Before Filing: A Checklist

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

☐ LARA Corporations Division entity registration
☐ EIN and Michigan Department of Treasury tax account
☐ LARA-approved 60-hour prelicensure course completion
☐ PSI LARA M&A Masonry exam pass certificate (70%+)
☐ GL ($1M+ practical) and workers comp certificates (if 3+ employees)
☐ LARA M&A application with $185 fee
☐ Local Detroit/Grand Rapids/Lansing registrations (where applicable)
☐ MIOSHA silica written exposure control plan

Common Application Pitfalls

The errors below are the ones that most frequently cost Michigan Masonry applicants time, drawn from the cited board guidance.

Skipping the prelicensure course

LARA rejects exam applications without proof of the 60-hour prelicensure course. Approved courses cost $300–$600 and run 4–6 weeks.

M&A vs Residential Builder confusion

M&A covers alterations and additions; Residential Builder covers new construction. Performing new construction under an M&A license is unlicensed.

CE missed at three-year renewal

21 CE hours are required at every renewal. Missed CE blocks renewal and triggers re-exam requirements.

Anchored veneer ties undersized

Michigan freeze-thaw exposure requires corrosion-resistant ties at TMS 402 spacing; Detroit, Grand Rapids, and Ann Arbor inspectors fail jobs with non-compliant ties.

Silica plan absent

MIOSHA targets Detroit, Grand Rapids, and Lansing masonry sites; missing 29 CFR 1926.1153(g) plans draw immediate citations with Michigan recordkeeping penalties.

Preparation Resources

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.

Michigan Building Code (IBC with Michigan amendments) — LARA Bureau of Construction Codes. Required reference for the LARA M&A exam — Michigan amendments to IBC Chapter 21 masonry.
TMS 402/602 Building Code Requirements and Specification for Masonry Structures — The Masonry Society. Adopted by reference under Michigan Building Code Chapter 21.
LARA M&A Contractor Reference Manual — LARA Bureau of Construction Codes. Official outline of LARA exam topics for masonry trade.

Other Michigan Trade Licenses

For a different Michigan credential, see these companion guides published by CLR:

Answers to Common Questions

Does Michigan license masonry contractors?

Yes for residential. Michigan LARA licenses Maintenance and Alteration Contractors with Masonry designation and Residential Builders. Commercial masonry has no Michigan state license.

What is the prelicensure course?

A LARA-approved 60-hour course covering Michigan Building Code, business management, and Michigan contractor law. Required before the LARA exam.

Is workers comp mandatory for sole proprietor masons?

Michigan workers comp triggers at three or more employees, or one or more for 35 weeks/year. Sole proprietors are exempt unless meeting these thresholds.

Are local registrations required?

Detroit, Grand Rapids, Lansing, and Ann Arbor maintain local contractor registries on top of state LARA licensing.

Does Michigan enforce OSHA silica?

Yes. MIOSHA (Michigan state OSHA plan) enforces 29 CFR 1926.1153 with stricter recordkeeping than federal OSHA.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-04-26 · Next scheduled review 2026-07-25