Rhode Island Masonry License Requirements

Rhode Island does not publish a separate state masonry trade license. Masonry contractors instead use a Rhode Island Contractors Registration and Licensing Board (RICRLB) registration when they perform work within the contractor statute. The statutory examples of appurtenances include stone and masonry walls. That state registration does not replace project permits, drawings, or inspections required by the local building official. For new residential construction or structural remodeling of one- to four-family homes, check the Board’s current requirements before contracting because chapter 5-65.4 authorizes a separate residential-contractor licensing program.

Regulatory Body

Rhode Island Contractors Registration and Licensing Board / Department of Labor and Training Professional Regulation (CRLB / DLT) is the statutory authority responsible for issuing and enforcing this license under R.I. General Laws Title 5 Chapter 65 (Contractors Registration); Title 5 Chapter 6 (Electricians); Title 5 Chapter 20 (Plumbers); Title 28 Chapter 27 (Pipefitters and Refrigeration). The Contractors Registration and Licensing Board (CRLB) registers residential contractors and licenses commercial roofers. The Department of Labor and Training (DLT) Division of Professional Regulation licenses electricians, plumbers, pipefitters, refrigeration technicians, and sheet metal workers — the trade licenses required for HVAC work in Rhode Island.

Official portal: https://www.crb.ri.gov/
Address: Contractors Registration and Licensing Board, 1511 Pontiac Avenue, Cranston, RI 02920
Phone: (401) 921-1500

Eligibility Requirements

This guide does not establish a minimum applicant age; confirm any age requirement with the issuing authority. Check the current application for identification and tax-number requirements. RICRLB does not publish a Rhode Island residency requirement. Out-of-state applicants must designate a Rhode Island agent of service.

Good moral character

Use the current RICRLB application and enforcement provisions for any eligibility issue; do not assume an unlisted automatic disqualification.

Background investigation

RICRLB’s published first-time materials identify identity and entity documents. Confirm any additional disclosure in the current online application.

Experience and Education

The sources cited here stop short of naming a year requirement; the operative standard is RICRLB publishes no minimum masonry experience requirement and no state masonry examination for contractor registration. A first-time registrant completes a five-hour Board-approved pre-registration course unless the business will work exclusively on commercial structures..

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

RICRLB registration application
Board-approved five-hour course certificate when required
Liability and, if applicable, workers’ compensation certificates

Education substitution

RICRLB publishes an exclusively-commercial exception to the first-time course; verify the actual scope before relying on it.

Exam Requirements

No statewide examination is specified for this pathway. The controlling process is: No state masonry trade examination is published for RICRLB contractor registration.

Examination fee: No RICRLB masonry trade-examination fee is published. Contractor registration is $150.

Retake policy: Not applicable to a state masonry trade examination.

Insurance and Bonds

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

RICRLB requires at least $500,000 general-liability coverage and requires the Board to be named as certificate holder.

Workers' compensation

RICRLB requires a workers’ compensation certificate when the applicant has employees. Rhode Island DLT states that, subject to limited exemptions, employers with one or more employees must carry workers’ compensation coverage.

Additional financial requirements

RICRLB’s current registration checklist does not list a surety-bond or financial-statement requirement.

Fee Schedule

Fee	Amount
Application	$150
Initial license	$150
Renewal (every year)	$150

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 Rhode Island masonry.

Renewal and Continuing Education

The Rhode Island Masonry Contractor Registration — RICRLB must be renewed every year. The fee to renew is presently $150. Keep liability and, when applicable, workers’ compensation documentation current and use RICRLB’s renewal page for the current submission process.

Continuing education: RICRLB requires 2.5 hours of state-approved continuing education at renewal, except for registrants working exclusively on commercial structures.

Downloadable Asset

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

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity

Rhode Island grants no NASCLA reciprocity for this classification.

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

RICRLB states there is no contractor-registration reciprocity. Out-of-state masonry contractors should apply through the Rhode Island process and provide the required agent of service.

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 Rhode Island's requirements against the bordering jurisdictions before committing to an application:

Connecticut Masonry License Requirements — Connecticut Masonry — DCP Home Improvement Contractor Registration
Massachusetts Masonry License Requirements — Massachusetts Masonry Contractor Requirements (HIC and Specialty CSL)

Step-by-Step Application Roadmap

Confirm that the planned work is contractor work. Use chapter 5-65 and RICRLB’s FAQ. Masonry walls are expressly listed among covered appurtenances. The small-contract exception is narrow and does not cover someone advertising or holding out as a contractor.
Complete the first-time RICRLB course when required. Finish five hours of Board-approved pre-registration education unless the business will work exclusively on commercial structures.
Prepare the coverage and business documents. Obtain at least $500,000 general liability and, if there are employees, workers’ compensation documentation. An incorporated entity must provide its Rhode Island business information.
Submit contractor registration. File RICRLB’s current application and $150 fee before performing contractor work. Registration is valid for one year.
Check the residential structural scope. Chapter 5-65.4 authorizes a licensing program for contractors supervising new residential construction or structural remodeling of one- to four-family homes. Confirm the Board’s current requirements before taking that scope.
Obtain local project approvals. The authority having jurisdiction decides the permit, plan, and inspection requirements for the actual masonry project. Rhode Island’s statewide code incorporates the 2021 ICC codes with Rhode Island amendments effective December 1, 2025.

Application Checklist

Before submitting to CRLB / DLT, the applicant should have each of the following ready:

Scope review under R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 5-65
RICRLB five-hour first-time course when required
$500,000 RICRLB liability certificate
Workers’ compensation certificate if the business has employees
RICRLB registration application and $150 fee
Local permit, plan, and inspection check
Current RICRLB confirmation for new residential or structural-remodeling scope

Common Filing Mistakes

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

Assuming there is a separate masonry license

The relevant statewide credential is generally contractor registration, not a masonry classification. Check the work against chapter 5-65.

Using the commercial-course exception for mixed work

RICRLB limits the first-time course exception to businesses working exclusively on commercial structures.

Treating registration as a permit

Registration does not resolve local building, plan-review, or inspection requirements. Obtain direction from the local authority having jurisdiction.

Missing the annual renewal

RICRLB registration is valid for one year. Plan for the $150 renewal fee, coverage documents, and normally 2.5 hours of approved continuing education.

Taking structural residential scope without a current Board check

Chapter 5-65.4 addresses contractors supervising new residential construction and structural remodeling. Confirm the current RICRLB path before contracting for that work.

Study and Reference 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.

RICRLB General Contractor Registration application and FAQ — Rhode Island Contractors’ Registration and Licensing Board. Current registration, course, coverage, fee, and scope guidance.
R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 5-65 — Rhode Island General Assembly. Primary contractor-registration statute, including the contractor and appurtenance definitions.
Rhode Island Building Code Commission — laws, rules, and regulations — Rhode Island Building Code Commission. Current adopted-code and local-permitting framework.

Other Rhode Island Trade Licenses

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Rhode Island license masonry contractors as a separate trade?

No separate statewide masonry trade license is published. RICRLB contractor registration applies when the masonry work falls within chapter 5-65.

What does RICRLB registration cost?

The published first-time and renewal registration fee is $150. The registration is valid for one year; course and insurance costs are separate.

Is a masonry exam or experience affidavit required?

RICRLB does not publish a masonry trade examination or a minimum masonry experience requirement for contractor registration.

What insurance is required?

RICRLB requires at least $500,000 general liability. Applicants with employees must provide workers’ compensation documentation.

Do I need a local permit after registering?

Possibly. RICRLB registration is not a building permit. Confirm permit, drawing, and inspection requirements with the local authority having jurisdiction for the actual project.

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

Report a correction to this guide

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.