New Hampshire Masonry Contractor License Requirements (2026)

New Hampshire has no state masonry contractor license. The New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) does not register or test masonry contractors. New Hampshire relies on the New Hampshire State Building Code (RSA 155-A, adopting IBC and IRC), local building permits, and the Consumer Protection Act (RSA 358-A) for consumer protection. Some larger municipalities (Manchester, Nashua, Concord, Portsmouth) maintain optional contractor registries. This page documents the verified path including consumer protection requirements, OSHA silica enforcement, and TMS 402 / IBC Chapter 21 compliance.

Regulatory Body Profile

Licensing for this trade is governed by New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) — trade boards (OPLC), the agency that issues and regulates the credential under New Hampshire RSA 319-C (Electricians), RSA 329-A (Plumbers), RSA 153 (Mechanical/Gas Fitters); administrative rules Elec 100–600, Plu 100–600, Saf-C 6000 series. New Hampshire does not license general contractors at the state level. Trade boards under the OPLC umbrella license individual electricians, plumbers, and gas fitters statewide. Mechanical/HVAC work intersects the Gas Fitters Board (for fuel gas piping) and local mechanical permitting; pure HVAC ductwork is not separately state-licensed. New Hampshire is unusual in the Northeast for combining strict individual trade licensing with no general contractor license at all — accountability for general construction sits at the municipal building department and through civil contract law. Home improvement contractors are not registered or bonded by the state; consumer protection runs through RSA 358-A (Consumer Protection Act) enforced by the Attorney General. Always confirm current rules with OPLC and the local building official before bidding work. Overview of the New Hampshire licensing landscape: New Hampshire takes a deliberately light-touch approach to construction trades regulation compared to its neighbors. There is no statewide general contractor license, no statewide home improvement contractor registration program (unlike Massachusetts HIC or Rhode Island contractor registration), and no statewide building permit. Instead, the state relies on three pillars. First, the building code: New Hampshire adopted the State Building Code under RSA 155-A, which incorporates the International Building Code, International Residential Code, International Mechanical Code, International Plumbing Code, International Energy Conservation Code, and the National Electrical Code by reference. The State Fire Marshal enforces the State Building Code in jurisdictions that have not adopted local enforcement, while most populated municipalities run their own building departments and issue their own permits. Second, individual trade licensing: the Electricians Board, the Plumbers Board, and the Mechanical Licensing Board (Gas Fitters) license journeyman and master tradespeople under their respective statutes. These licenses are personal to the individual and follow the worker between jobs and between employers. Third, consumer protection law: home improvement disputes are handled through RSA 358-A and standard contract law, not through a state license bond pool. What this means in practice for contractors: a self-employed builder in New Hampshire can legally bid and build a single-family home without any state-issued license, provided every electrical worker on site holds a current Electricians Board license, every plumber holds a current Plumbers Board license, every gas fitter holds a current Gas Fitters Board license, the project clears the local building department permit, and the work passes all required inspections. The contractor may still need a federal EIN, state business registration with the Secretary of State, business profits and enterprise tax accounts with the New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration, and (if hiring) workers compensation coverage under RSA 281-A. The Department of Labor enforces workers compensation aggressively, and uninsured employers face stop-work orders. Municipal nuances matter. Manchester, Nashua, Concord, Portsmouth, Dover, and Keene each operate full building departments with their own permit application packets, contractor sign-in requirements, and inspection schedules. Some towns require the contractor to be listed on the permit; some require proof of insurance before issuing the permit; a few smaller towns have no building inspector at all and rely on the State Fire Marshal. Always call the building department before assuming a project does not need a permit. Electrical and plumbing permits are typically pulled by the licensed tradesperson, not the general contractor, and the inspection is performed by the municipal inspector or by the State Electrical or State Plumbing inspector in unincorporated areas. Reciprocity is meaningful here. The Electricians Board holds reciprocal agreements with several New England states for master and journeyman credentials, as does the Plumbers Board. The Mechanical Licensing Board recognizes equivalent gas fitter credentials from neighboring states on a case-by-case basis. Reciprocal applicants still pay New Hampshire fees, submit a New Hampshire application, and in most cases sit for the New Hampshire-specific portion or the full New Hampshire exam. Renewal cycles vary by board (electricians and plumbers renew on a three-year cycle; gas fitters renew on a two-year cycle), and continuing education requirements are set by each board. Because New Hampshire publishes most rules and forms only on the OPLC website and the General Court statute pages, contractors should bookmark oplc.nh.gov and gencourt.state.nh.us and check both before paying any fee or scheduling an exam. Rates and fee amounts in this guide should be confirmed directly with the relevant board before submitting payment.

Official portal: https://www.oplc.nh.gov/
Address: 7 Eagle Square, Concord, NH 03301
Phone: (603) 271-2152

The Eligibility Audit

Eligibility begins with two baseline checks: the applicant must be 18 or older and must provide a valid Social Security Number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). No New Hampshire residency requirement; out-of-state entities must register with the New Hampshire Secretary of State.

Good moral character

No state character review for New Hampshire masonry contractors.

Background investigation

No state background check.

Experience and Education Standards

Rather than a set number of years, the cited materials define eligibility through New Hampshire imposes no state experience requirement on masonry contractors..

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

Optional: signed letters from prior masonry employers
Project list with addresses (used for prime subcontracts and underwriting)

The Exam Syllabus

No written state trade examination is mandated for this credential in the cited materials. Instead, the operative process is: No state exam required

Examination fee: No exam fee — New Hampshire does not test masonry contractors.

Bonding, Insurance & Financial Security

There is no statewide surety bond tied to this credential in the cited record. Bonding can still surface at the project level — permit, license, or public-works bonds — so check before you bid.

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 RSA 281-A:5 for any New Hampshire employer with one or more employees. Masonry NCCI 5022 carries one of the highest manual rates in New Hampshire.

Additional financial requirements

No financial statement required.

Schedule of Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	No separate state fee
Initial license	No separate state fee
Renewal (every year)	No separate state fee

Renewal and Continuing Obligations

The New Hampshire Masonry — No State License (Local Permit Only) runs on a year renewal cycle. No separate statewide renewal fee is listed in the cited sources. No state renewal required for masonry. Local Manchester, Nashua, Concord, and Portsmouth registries renew annually at the issuing city.

Downloadable Asset

2026 New Hampshire 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, New Hampshire does not recognize the NASCLA Accredited Examination.

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

Not applicable — New Hampshire does not license masonry, so there is no state credential to reciprocate.

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 a New Hampshire entity. Register your LLC or corporation with the New Hampshire Secretary of State and obtain an EIN.
Bind GL and workers compensation. Bind GL ($1M+ practical) and workers comp for any employees.
Use written contracts compliant with RSA 358-A. New Hampshire Consumer Protection Act allows treble damages for unfair or deceptive practices. Use clear written contracts to avoid disputes.
Obtain local business registration. Manchester, Nashua, Concord, and Portsmouth maintain optional contractor registries. Most other towns require only project permits.
Pull project permits at the AHJ. Local building inspectors require permits per the New Hampshire State Building Code (RSA 155-A); each masonry project on a permitted structure requires a permit.
Implement OSHA silica program. Federal OSHA enforces 29 CFR 1926.1153 in New Hampshire; written exposure control plan and Table 1 controls are mandatory on every masonry job.

Pre-Application Checklist

Have each of the following squared away before the packet goes to OPLC:

☐ New Hampshire Secretary of State entity registration
☐ EIN and New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration tax account
☐ GL insurance certificate ($1M+ practical)
☐ Workers compensation certificate
☐ Written contracts compliant with RSA 358-A
☐ Local building permits per project
☐ OSHA silica written exposure control plan

Where Applications Stall

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

Treble damages from RSA 358-A claims

New Hampshire Consumer Protection Act allows treble damages plus attorney fees for unfair or deceptive practices. Verbal estimates and unclear contracts are common triggers.

Severe freeze-thaw veneer failure

New Hampshire freeze-thaw cycles cause spalling and tie corrosion in undersized or improperly bedded veneer; Manchester and Portsmouth inspectors fail jobs without proper flashing.

Skipping local building permits

New Hampshire code enforcement officers cite contractors who pour footings or set masonry without permits — fines and double permit fees apply.

Workers comp lapse during winter shutdown

Many New Hampshire masonry contractors pause January–March; lapsed comp triggers automatic Department of Labor penalties.

Silica plan absent

OSHA targets Manchester and Nashua masonry sites; missing 29 CFR 1926.1153(g) plans draw immediate citations.

Recommended Study 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.

New Hampshire State Building Code (RSA 155-A — IBC and IRC adoption) — New Hampshire Building Code Review Board. New Hampshire adopts IBC including Chapter 21 masonry provisions.
TMS 402/602 Building Code Requirements and Specification for Masonry Structures — The Masonry Society. Adopted by reference under IBC Chapter 21.
RSA 358-A Consumer Protection Act — State of New Hampshire. Required reading for all New Hampshire residential contractors.

Other New Hampshire Trade Licenses

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

Common Questions

Does New Hampshire license masonry contractors?

No. New Hampshire does not test or register masonry contractors at the state level. Local building permits and the Consumer Protection Act govern.

What is the Consumer Protection Act?

RSA 358-A allows homeowners to recover treble damages for unfair or deceptive business practices. Written contracts and clear estimates protect contractors from claims.

Are local registrations required?

Manchester, Nashua, Concord, and Portsmouth maintain optional contractor registries. Most other municipalities require only project permits.

Does New Hampshire enforce OSHA silica?

Federal OSHA enforces 29 CFR 1926.1153 in New Hampshire. Written exposure control plan is mandatory for masonry cutting, grinding, and mixing.

Are anchored veneer ties critical in New Hampshire?

Yes. New Hampshire severe freeze-thaw cycles require corrosion-resistant ties at TMS 402 spacing; Manchester and Portsmouth inspectors enforce strictly.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-05-10 · Next scheduled review 2026-08-08