Utah Painting Contractor License Requirements (2026)

Utah licenses painting contractors through the Department of Commerce, Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL) under Utah Code §58-55. Painters hold the S330 Painting and Coating Contractor classification. Applicants must complete a 25-hour pre-license course, pass the Utah Business and Law and Trade exams, and carry $300,000 minimum general liability. Federal EPA RRP applies for pre-1978 housing.

Federal requirement: EPA Lead RRP Rule

Pre-1978 housing triggers the federal EPA Lead RRP Rule for any paint-disturbing renovation, repair, or painting work — a requirement that stands apart from whatever Utah does or does not license. See our complete EPA RRP Lead Certification guide for who needs firm and renovator certification, what it costs, and how renewal works.

Regulatory Oversight

Under Utah Code Title 58 Chapter 55 (Utah Construction Trades Licensing Act); Utah Admin. Code R156-55a, Utah Division of Professional Licensing — Contractors Board (DOPL) is the body that issues this license and enforces compliance with it. 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

An applicant qualifies only after meeting the age floor of 18 and producing a valid Social Security Number. No Utah residency requirement.

Good moral character

DOPL reviews criminal history; fraud convictions disqualifying.

Background investigation

Disclosure required.

Required Experience and Education

Eligibility here is not measured in years of experience but by no minimum experience prerequisite for S330; mandatory 25-hour pre-license education course covering Utah construction law, lien law, business practices, and OSHA., per the cited materials.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

25-hour pre-license course completion certificate
Prometric Business and Law plus Trade exam score reports
Certificate of insurance and surety bond

Examination Requirements

Prometric runs the examination for this credential. Issuance is contingent on passing every part below:

Utah Business and Law — 50 questions, 120 minutes, passing score 70%
Utah Painting and Coating Trade (S330) — 65 questions, 180 minutes, passing score 70%

Examination fee: $80 Prometric per part; $230 DOPL application.

Retake policy: Retake after 30 days; application valid one year.

Insurance and Financial Requirements

The cited materials impose no contractor license bond for this credential. Bear in mind that specific contracts, permits, or public works can still require their own bonds.

General liability

DOPL requires minimum $100,000 / $300,000 general liability for specialty contractors. Market standard is $1,000,000 / $2,000,000.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation mandatory under Utah Code §34A-2 for any employer with one or more employees.

Additional financial requirements

No financial statement required for S330.

Licensing Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$230
Examination	$160
Initial license	No separate state fee
Renewal (every 2 years)	$230

Keeping the License Current

Renewal of the Utah Painting and Coating Contractor License (S330) comes due every 2 years. As cited, the renewal fee stands at $230. Biennial renewal. Insurance must remain current.

Continuing education: 6 hours of CE per renewal cycle including 3 hours of core (law/business) and 3 hours of professional.

Downloadable Asset

2026 Utah Painting 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
	—
	—
	—

Utah reciprocates Business and Law with AZ, NV, NM. Trade exam still required.

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

Application Process, Step by Step

Form business entity with Utah Division of Corporations. Register LLC/corporation and obtain EIN.
Complete the 25-hour pre-license course. DOPL-approved providers cover Utah construction law, lien law, OSHA, and business practices.
Pass Prometric Business and Law plus S330 Trade exam. Score 70% on each.
Procure $100K/$300K minimum GL and workers compensation. $1M/$2M GL is the market standard.
Submit DOPL S330 application. $230 fee; biennial license.
Complete EPA Lead-Safe Firm Certification. Required for pre-1978 housing.
Set up OSHA written safety program. HazCom, respiratory, fall protection, silica.
Renew biennially with CE. Two-year cycle; 6 hours of CE required.

Frequent Application Errors

Based on the board's own instructions and the sources cited here, the problems below are what most often stall a Utah Painting application.

Skipping the 25-hour pre-license course

Prometric will not schedule the exam without proof of course completion.

Working without an active S330 license

Utah Code §58-55-501 makes unlicensed contracting a Class A misdemeanor with civil penalties.

Letting GL or WC lapse

DOPL automatically suspends the license on insurance lapse.

Ignoring EPA Lead RRP

Salt Lake City and Ogden have substantial pre-1978 housing.

Missing CE deadline

6-hour CE is required at every biennial renewal — late CE blocks renewal.

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.

Utah Contractor Reference Manual — Utah DOPL. Primary exam reference.
Utah Code §58-55 (Construction Trades Licensing Act) — Utah Legislature. Governing statute.
EPA Lead-Safe Work Practices Student Manual — US EPA. Required for RRP Renovator course.

Document Checklist

The items below are the ones worth confirming before the application is filed with DOPL:

☐ Utah business entity registration
☐ 25-hour pre-license course certificate
☐ Prometric Business and Law plus S330 Trade exam pass
☐ DOPL S330 application
☐ $100K/$300K minimum general liability
☐ Workers compensation (if employees)
☐ EPA Lead-Safe Firm Certification
☐ EIN from the IRS

Other Utah Trade Licenses

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

Questions Applicants Ask

Does Utah license painters?

Yes. The S330 Painting and Coating Contractor classification at DOPL is required for any compensated painting work under Utah Code §58-55.

What is the 25-hour pre-license course?

A DOPL-mandated education program covering Utah construction law, lien law, OSHA, and business practices. Required before sitting for the exams.

What is the GL minimum?

$100,000 per occurrence and $300,000 aggregate under DOPL rules. Market standard is $1M/$2M.

Is EPA Lead RRP required?

Yes. Federal EPA RRP applies in Utah for any pre-1978 housing.

Is the license biennial?

Yes. Two-year renewal cycle with 6 hours of CE.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-05-02 · Next scheduled review 2026-07-31