Montana Masonry License Requirements

Montana’s Construction Contractor License (CCL) Program took effect January 1, 2026. Masonry performed for another person can be construction-contracting work under the statewide definition, which includes constructing, altering, repairing, improving, or demolishing real-property improvements. Montana does not identify a separate masonry CCL classification, masonry experience prerequisite, or state masonry examination in the current program materials. The statute has defined exemptions, including an exemption for an independent contractor with no employees; check the complete statutory text and confirm uncertain scope with DLI.

Regulatory Body

Montana Department of Labor and Industry — Construction Contractor License Program (MT DLI CCL) administers the credential or scope-specific rules discussed here under Montana Code Annotated Title 37, chapter 45. Whether that pathway applies depends on the work scope and conditions explained below. Administers the statewide Construction Contractor License Program, including online application, renewal, and public license lookup.

Official portal: https://boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov/construction-contractor/
Address: 301 South Park Avenue, 4th Floor, PO Box 200513, Helena, MT 59620-0513
Phone: (406) 444-6880

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. The reviewed CCL statute and checklist do not state a Montana-residency condition. Confirm separate entity, tax, and project requirements for the business structure and location.

Good moral character

For people listed in the application statute, § 37-1-137 applies. Use the current application and statute for the applicable eligibility review.

Background investigation

The current CCL checklist does not identify a separate criminal-background-check submission.

Experience and Education

Rather than a set number of years, the cited materials define eligibility through The current CCL statute and checklist do not prescribe masonry experience, an apprenticeship, or pre-license course hours..

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

Complete current CCL application and required fee
Information required by MCA § 37-45-201, including proof of workers’ compensation compliance and applicable ownership or officer information

Exam Requirements

No statewide examination is specified for this pathway. The controlling process is: No state masonry examination is listed in the current CCL statute or application checklist.

Examination fee: No state examination fee is listed for the CCL.

Retake policy: Not applicable; follow current DLI instructions if program requirements change.

Insurance and Bonds

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

The current CCL statute and checklist reviewed do not state a statewide commercial-general-liability amount. Contract, lender, owner, permit, or other project requirements may be different.

Workers' compensation

The CCL application statute requires proof of compliance with workers’ compensation laws. DLI’s ICEC application is for a qualifying independent contractor who is not personally covered by Montana workers’ compensation; it costs $125, is valid two years, and is not a masonry trade license.

Additional financial requirements

The current CCL checklist does not list a financial-statement submission.

Fee Schedule

Fee	Amount
Application	$70
Initial license	No separate amount recorded; confirm in the fee guidance
Renewal (every year)	$70

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 Montana masonry.

Renewal and Continuing Education

The Montana Construction Contractor License (Masonry) must be renewed every year. The fee to renew is presently $70. Renewal is on the anniversary of issuance and opens online 60 days before expiration.

Continuing education: No continuing education is required by the current DLI CCL license-information page.

Downloadable Asset

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

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity

Montana grants no NASCLA reciprocity for this classification.

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

The current CCL materials reviewed do not identify a masonry reciprocity or NASCLA-exam option. Use the current Montana CCL process.

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

Masonry Licensing in Neighboring States

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

Idaho Masonry License Requirements — Idaho Contractor Registration (Masonry) — Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses
North Dakota Masonry License Requirements — North Dakota Contractor License (Masonry)
South Dakota Masonry License Requirements — South Dakota Contractor’s Excise Tax License (Masonry)
Wyoming Masonry License Requirements — Wyoming Masonry Contractor — Local Licensing and Permit Guide

Step-by-Step Application Roadmap

Confirm CCL scope and exemptions. Read the construction-contractor definition and all exemptions in MCA § 37-45-104. An independent contractor with no employees is expressly listed as an exemption; contact DLI for a scope determination if needed.
Collect statutory application information. The CCL application requires the Social Security number, workers’ compensation compliance, EIN if any, and applicable owner, officer, manager, partner, or registered-agent information.
Apply online and pay DLI. DLI requires online application and lists a $70 nonrefundable application fee.
Maintain current business records. The current DLI rule requires notice within 30 days of specified ownership, business-name, officer, member, and partner changes.
Obtain job-specific approvals. Confirm the building permit, inspections, contract documents, and any local or owner requirements for the actual masonry project.
Renew on the anniversary date. DLI states that online renewal opens 60 days before the anniversary-date expiration and lists a $70 renewal fee.

Application Checklist

Ahead of submission to MT DLI CCL, confirm every item on this short list:

MCA Title 37, chapter 45 scope and exemption review
Current online CCL application with $70 nonrefundable fee
Social Security number, EIN if any, and applicable ownership or officer information
Proof of compliance with workers’ compensation laws
Project-specific permits, inspections, and contract requirements
Online renewal before the anniversary-date expiration

Common Filing Mistakes

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

Using former registration guidance as current law

Montana replaced the registration-only framework with the CCL program effective January 1, 2026. Use the current DLI CCL portal and materials.

Confusing the ICEC with a masonry credential

An ICEC addresses a qualifying independent contractor’s workers’ compensation status. It does not establish masonry competency or automatically answer whether the CCL applies.

Splitting a project to fit the dollar exemption

The statute excludes the under-$2,500 exemption when work is part of a larger operation or divided to evade the chapter.

Missing the 30-day change notice

DLI identifies failure to report specified business-name, ownership, officer, member, and partner changes within 30 days as unprofessional conduct.

Skipping project permits and inspections

The state contractor credential does not replace project-specific permits, inspections, or contractual standards.

Study and Reference Materials

These materials are drawn from the regulator's own citations and the references applicants commonly use to prepare. CLR receives no compensation for listing them.

Montana Construction Contractor License Program — Montana Department of Labor and Industry. Start with the current online application, renewal, and license lookup.
MCA Title 37, chapter 45 — Construction Contractors — Montana Legislature. Review the statutory definition, exemptions, application information, and conduct requirements.
Independent Contractor Exemption Certificate application — Montana Department of Labor and Industry. Use when evaluating independent-contractor workers’ compensation status rather than construction-trade competency.

Other Montana Trade Licenses

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Montana have a separate masonry license?

The current statewide program is the Construction Contractor License. DLI’s current CCL materials do not identify a separate masonry classification or state masonry trade examination.

What is the current state fee?

DLI lists a $70 nonrefundable CCL application fee and a $70 renewal fee. The current ICEC application, which is a workers’ compensation-status certificate rather than a masonry license, lists a separate $125 fee.

Do all masonry jobs require a CCL?

Do not assume so. MCA § 37-45-104 contains a detailed exemption list, including a narrow under-$2,500 casual/minor-work exemption and an exemption for an independent contractor with no employees. The under-$2,500 provision cannot be used to divide a larger operation to evade the chapter.

Does Montana set a statewide masonry insurance amount?

The current CCL statute and checklist reviewed require proof of workers’ compensation-law compliance but do not identify a statewide general-liability amount for ordinary masonry CCL applicants. Confirm coverage required by the project and contract.

How often does the CCL renew?

The CCL renews on the anniversary of issuance. DLI opens renewal 60 days before expiration, lists a $70 renewal fee, and says continuing education is not required.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-09-04 · Next scheduled review 2026-12-03

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Corrections and presentation updates

2026-09-30: Corrected examination detection when format details are unpublished and updated the summary layout and requirements score. Source-check dates are unchanged.
2026-09-08: Shared template updated to distinguish unspecified eligibility requirements, retain cost qualifications, and use consistent headings. Source-check dates are unchanged by presentation updates.
2026-09-21: Local-only guides now use a compliance-focused structure and terminology instead of implying a statewide license application. Source-check dates are unchanged by this presentation update.