Missouri Carpentry License Requirements (2026)

Missouri does not license carpenters or general contractors at the state level. Carpentry is regulated entirely by municipal registration. St. Louis City requires a contractor business license through the Office of the License Collector and a separate trade qualification through the Building Division. Kansas City requires a Class A through D General Contractor license through the Department of City Planning and Development. Springfield, Columbia, Independence and other Missouri cities each operate their own contractor registration. Most use ICC contractor exams. Each jurisdiction sets its own bond, insurance, and continuing education.

Federal requirement: EPA Lead RRP Rule

Whether or not Missouri licenses this trade, any work that disturbs paint in pre-1978 housing falls under the federal EPA Lead RRP Rule nationwide. See our complete EPA RRP Lead Certification guide for who needs firm and renovator certification, what it costs, and how renewal works.

Regulatory Body Profile

Missouri — No Statewide Contractor Licensing (Municipal Authorities) (MO-LOCAL) is the statutory authority responsible for issuing and enforcing this license under No statewide contractor licensing statute. Authority flows from Missouri home-rule charter cities under Mo. Const. art. VI §19 and §20, enforced through municipal building codes.. Missouri has no state contractor board. Licensing, testing, bonding, and enforcement are handled entirely by individual municipalities. Kansas City (Code Compliance Division, City Planning and Development Department) and St. Louis (Building Division, Department of Public Safety) are the two dominant licensing authorities, with Springfield, Columbia, Independence, and St. Louis County operating their own independent programs.

Official portal: https://www.mo.gov/
Address: Varies by municipality (Kansas City, St. Louis, Springfield, Columbia, and other home-rule cities)
Phone: Kansas City Code Compliance: (816) 513-1500 | St. Louis Building Division: (314) 622-3313

The Eligibility Audit

The applicant must be at least 18 years of age and possess a valid Social Security Number. No Missouri residency requirement.

Good moral character

Criminal history is reviewed case-by-case by the licensing authority.

Background investigation

Criminal history disclosure required on the application.

Experience and Education Standards

At least 2 years of Two to four years of construction experience depending on the city and class. has to be evidenced and confirmed. Retain payroll, tax, project, or supervisor records, since the board may audit the experience claimed.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

Notarized experience affidavits from licensed supervising contractors
W-2s, 1099s, or payroll records covering the qualifying period
Apprenticeship completion certificate where applicable

Education substitution

Approved carpentry apprenticeship or accredited trade school coursework may substitute for part of the experience requirement.

The Exam Syllabus

ICC Contractor / Trades Examination via Pearson VUE for most Missouri jurisdictions; St. Louis Building Division administers in-house alternatives administers the required examination. Each part below must be passed before the license will issue:

ICC General Contractor or Residential Building Contractor exam — 80 questions, 240 minutes, passing score 75%
Local Business and Law module — 50 questions, 120 minutes, passing score 70%

Examination fee: $110 ICC fee plus the municipal application fee.

Retake policy: Failed parts may be retaken after paying a new exam fee. Applications remain valid for one year.

Bonding, Insurance & Financial Security

The applicant must secure and file a $10,000 surety bond before the MO-LOCAL will release the license.

General liability

St. Louis and Kansas City require $500,000 to $1,000,000 commercial general liability with the city named as additional insured.

Workers' compensation

Workers compensation is mandatory under Mo. Rev. Stat. §287.030 for any construction contractor regardless of employee count.

Additional financial requirements

No state financial statement. Some Kansas City classes require evidence of working capital.

Schedule of Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$200
Examination	$110
Initial license	$200
Renewal (every year)	$200

Renewal and Continuing Obligations

The Missouri Carpentry (no state license; St. Louis, Kansas City, and Springfield contractor registration) runs on a year renewal cycle. The current renewal fee is $200. Annual renewal in most Missouri cities.

Continuing education: St. Louis and Kansas City require ICC Preferred Provider continuing education at renewal.

Downloadable Asset

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

Download the PDF roadmap →

Out-of-State Reciprocity

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

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

No statewide license to reciprocate. Missouri cities operate independently.

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

The Application Roadmap

Identify the Missouri city or county where you will work. St. Louis, Kansas City, Springfield, etc.
Document the required carpentry experience. Two to four years per city class.
Pass the ICC contractor exam. Schedule with Pearson VUE.
Submit the municipal application with fee. Kansas City charges $200.
Post the surety bond and insurance. $10,000 bond and $500K GL typical.
File workers compensation certificate or exemption. Required for any construction.
Receive the contractor license number. Issued within four to six weeks.
Renew annually with each jurisdiction. Submit fee and current insurance.

Pre-Application Checklist

Ahead of submission to MO-LOCAL, confirm every item on this short list:

☐ Municipal contractor application with fee
☐ Construction experience documentation
☐ ICC contractor exam pass certificate
☐ $10,000 surety bond
☐ Certificate of $500K GL insurance
☐ Workers compensation certificate or exemption
☐ EPA Lead RRP certification (pre-1978 work)

Where Applications Stall

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

Skipping municipal registration

Performing carpentry in St. Louis or Kansas City without that city contractor registration is unlicensed contracting and voids permits.

Mo. Rev. Stat. §287.030 confusion

Missouri construction workers compensation rules apply even to one-person shops. Sole proprietors must affirmatively file an exemption to opt out.

Lead RRP for pre-1978 trim

EPA RRP certification is federally required and Missouri DHSS Lead Licensing Program enforces concurrently.

Wrong Kansas City class

Building a 5,000 sq ft commercial space under a Class C residential license is unlicensed contracting.

Bond lapse

St. Louis and Kansas City automatically suspend licenses with lapsed bond.

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.

St. Louis Building Code — City of St. Louis. Adopted IRC and IBC.
Kansas City Property Maintenance and Construction Codes — City of Kansas City. Adopted IRC and IBC.
ICC Residential Building Contractor Examination Reference List — International Code Council. Lists allowed open-book references.

Other Missouri Trade Licenses

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

Common Questions

Does Missouri have a state carpentry license?

No. Missouri licenses no construction trade at the state level. Each city handles its own registration.

What does St. Louis require?

A contractor business license through the Office of the License Collector and a trade qualification through the Building Division. Carpenters who pull permits also need a Master/Licensed Carpenter qualification.

What does Kansas City require?

A Class A through D General Contractor license through the Department of City Planning and Development plus $10,000 surety bond and $500,000 GL.

Does Missouri require workers comp for construction even with no employees?

Yes. Mo. Rev. Stat. §287.030 covers all construction contractors regardless of employee count, although sole proprietors with no employees can file an exemption.

How often do Missouri registrations renew?

Most renew annually on the anniversary of issuance.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-05-11 · Next scheduled review 2026-08-09