Utah General Contractor License Requirements (2026)

The Utah Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL) Contractors Board licenses general contractors statewide under Utah Code Title 58 Chapter 55 (Construction Trades Licensing Act) and Utah Admin. Code R156-55a. Utah issues three principal general building classifications — General Building Contractor (B100, no project value cap), General Small Commercial Contractor (B200, projects up to $250,000 each), and Residential and Small Commercial Contractor (R100, residential plus small commercial up to $50,000 each). Every classification requires a qualifying individual with four years of supervisory-level experience or completion of the 25-hour DOPL pre-license course, a passing score on the Prometric trade and business and law examinations at 70%, a $50,000 contractor surety bond, general liability, and workers compensation coverage.

Regulatory Oversight

Utah Division of Professional Licensing — Contractors Board (DOPL) administers and enforces this credential under the authority of Utah Code Title 58 Chapter 55 (Utah Construction Trades Licensing Act); Utah Admin. Code R156-55a. The Utah Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL) Contractors Board licenses general contractors, electricians, plumbers, and mechanical contractors statewide, adopts the International Building Code by reference, and conducts disciplinary proceedings under Title 58 Chapter 55.

Official portal: https://dopl.utah.gov/contractor/
Address: 160 East 300 South, Salt Lake City, UT 84111
Phone: (801) 530-6628

Who May Apply

At a minimum the applicant has to be 18 years old and supply a valid Social Security Number. No Utah residency requirement; out-of-state applicants accepted.

Good moral character

DOPL conducts a fitness review on every qualifying individual. Felony convictions, prior license revocations, and unpaid civil judgments are reviewed individually by the Contractors Board.

Background investigation

Mandatory criminal history disclosure on the application; DOPL may request fingerprint-based BCI/FBI background check for applicants with disclosed convictions.

Disqualifying conditions

Construction-related fraud convictions within the prior five years
Unresolved judgments or liens arising from contracting activity
Prior contractor license revocation in any state

Required Experience and Education

The applicant must document and verify at least four years of practical experience at the supervisory, journey, or equivalent level in the classification applied for, OR completion of the 25-hour DOPL-approved pre-license course in lieu of two of the four years. Keep payroll, tax, project, or supervisor records to support the claim, as the board can request proof for any period within its lookback window.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

DOPL Verification of Work Experience form signed by each prior employer or licensed contractor supervisor
W-2 statements, 1099 records, or pay stubs covering the qualifying period
Notarized affidavits from prior supervising contractors when payroll records are unavailable
Trade school or apprenticeship completion certificates (where applicable)

Education substitution

A bachelor's degree in construction management, civil engineering, or a related discipline substitutes for two years of the four-year experience requirement. The 25-hour DOPL pre-license course is mandatory regardless of experience level.

Examination Requirements

Examinations are administered by Prometric (under contract to DOPL). The applicant must pass the following examination parts before the license can issue:

Utah Contractor Business and Law Examination — 50 questions, 120 minutes, passing score 70%
Utah General Building Contractor Trade Examination (B100, B200, or R100 specific) — 80 questions, 240 minutes, passing score 70%

Examination fee: $77 per Prometric exam part paid on the day of testing.

Retake policy: Failed parts may be re-taken individually after a 30-day waiting period by paying a new $77 fee. Each application remains open for one year.

Insurance and Financial Requirements

Licensure is conditioned on filing a $50,000 contractor license surety bond with the DOPL.

General liability

General liability coverage is mandatory under Utah Admin. Code R156-55a. Most commercial owners contractually require $1,000,000 per occurrence / $2,000,000 aggregate.

Workers' compensation

Workers compensation insurance is mandatory in Utah under Utah Code §34A-2-103 for any contractor with one or more employees.

Additional financial requirements

No minimum net worth requirement; the $50,000 contractor surety bond satisfies the financial responsibility standard.

Licensing Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$230
Examination	$154
Initial license	$230
Renewal (every 2 years)	$82

Keeping the License Current

Renewal of the Utah General Contractor (B100, B200, or R100) comes due every 2 years. As cited, the renewal fee stands at $82. Utah contractor licenses renew every two years on November 30 of even-numbered years.

Continuing education: Six hours of DOPL-approved continuing education each two-year renewal cycle: three hours of core (Utah law and rules) and three hours of professional (trade-related).

Downloadable Asset

2026 Utah General Contractor License Roadmap (PDF) — a printable step-by-step checklist for the application process.

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity and License Transfer

The NASCLA Accredited Examination is not accepted by Utah for this classification.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
Arizona	Trade exam waived	Bilateral DOPL–Arizona ROC reciprocity for active general contractors in good standing for at least two years.
Nevada	Trade exam waived	Bilateral DOPL–Nevada State Contractors Board reciprocity for matching classifications.
Idaho	Trade exam waived	Bilateral DOPL–Idaho reciprocity for active general contractors.
Colorado	Trade exam waived	Bilateral DOPL–Colorado reciprocity (Colorado licenses at the local level; state-level recognition through DOPL agreement).
Wyoming	Trade exam waived	Bilateral DOPL–Wyoming reciprocity for active general contractors.

Utah maintains bilateral reciprocity agreements with Arizona, Nevada, Idaho, Colorado, and Wyoming. Reciprocal applicants still must pass the Utah Business and Law examination and meet bonding and insurance requirements.

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

Application Process, Step by Step

Choose the classification. B100 (General Building, no cap), B200 (General Small Commercial, projects up to $250,000), or R100 (Residential and Small Commercial, residential plus small commercial up to $50,000).
Document the qualifying individual's experience. Four years of supervisory-level experience in the chosen classification, or two years plus a qualifying degree. The qualifying individual must be a full-time employee, owner, or officer of the business.
Complete the 25-hour DOPL pre-license course. Mandatory for every applicant regardless of experience level. Approved providers are listed on the DOPL website.
Pass the Prometric examinations at 70%. Both the Business and Law and the trade-specific exam must be passed at 70% or better.
Secure the $50,000 contractor surety bond. Obtain the bond from a Utah-admitted surety. The bond protects consumers against violations of Title 58 Chapter 55.
Obtain general liability and workers compensation. General liability is mandatory; workers compensation is required for any contractor with one or more employees.
Submit the DOPL application and receive the license. File the completed application with the application fee, exam pass certificates, course completion certificate, bond, and insurance certificates. DOPL issues the license after approval.

Frequent Application Errors

Working from the cited board instructions, here are the snags most likely to trip up a Utah General Contractor filing.

Choosing the wrong classification

An R100 contractor who bids a $75,000 commercial project is operating outside the licensed scope. Upgrading mid-project requires a new application, exam, and bond endorsement.

Skipping the 25-hour pre-license course

The 25-hour DOPL pre-license course is mandatory for every applicant regardless of experience. DOPL will reject applications missing the course completion certificate.

Confusing the qualifying individual with the owner

The qualifying individual must be a full-time employee, owner, or officer of the business. Borrowed qualifiers and pass-through arrangements are prohibited under Utah Admin. Code R156-55a.

Underestimating the bond

The $50,000 contractor surety bond is non-negotiable. Bond premiums vary widely with credit; a poor credit applicant may pay 5%–15% of the face amount annually.

Missing the workers compensation requirement

Utah requires workers compensation for any contractor with one or more employees. Sole proprietors with no employees may file a workers comp waiver, but that waiver expires and must be renewed.

Recommended References

What follows are the regulator-cited and commonly used preparation references for this trade. They appear here for convenience only; CLR takes no compensation for them.

NASCLA Contractors Guide to Business, Law and Project Management — Utah edition — NASCLA. Standard reference for the Utah Business and Law portion. Open-book at the Prometric test center.
International Building Code (current Utah-adopted edition) — International Code Council. Primary technical reference for the trade exam.
Utah Code Title 58 Chapter 55 and Utah Admin. Code R156-55a — State of Utah. Licensing law and rules. Required reading for the core CE and Business and Law exam.

Document Checklist

These are the pieces to lock down before filing with DOPL:

☐ DOPL contractor application with $230 fee and qualifying individual designation
☐ 25-hour DOPL-approved pre-license course completion certificate
☐ Verification of Work Experience form covering four years (or two years plus qualifying degree)
☐ Prometric Business and Law exam pass certificate at 70%+
☐ Prometric trade exam pass certificate at 70%+ for the chosen classification
☐ $50,000 contractor surety bond from a Utah-admitted surety
☐ Certificate of general liability insurance and workers compensation coverage

Other Utah Trade Licenses

CLR covers other Utah trades as well — the published guides below may be more relevant:

Questions Applicants Ask

When do I need a Utah contractor license?

Any contracting work valued at $3,000 or more (labor and materials combined) requires a DOPL license under Utah Code §58-55-301. Handyman work below $3,000 per project is exempt but must still comply with local building codes and permitting.

What is the difference between B100, B200, and R100 in Utah?

B100 (General Building Contractor) has no project value cap and authorizes all building construction. B200 (General Small Commercial Contractor) is capped at $250,000 per project. R100 (Residential and Small Commercial Contractor) authorizes residential work plus small commercial projects up to $50,000 each.

How much experience does Utah require for a general contractor license?

Four years of supervisory or journey-level experience in the classification applied for, or two years plus a qualifying construction-related bachelor's degree. The 25-hour DOPL pre-license course is mandatory regardless of experience.

What bond does Utah require for general contractors?

Utah requires a $50,000 contractor surety bond from a Utah-admitted surety. The bond protects consumers against violations of Title 58 Chapter 55. General liability and workers compensation are also mandatory.

How often does the Utah contractor license renew?

Every two years on November 30 of even-numbered years. Renewal requires six hours of DOPL-approved continuing education (three hours of core, three hours of professional).

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