Missouri General Contractor License Requirements

Official classification: No statewide general contractor license — licensed locally; all businesses register with the Secretary of State · Issued by the Local city/county building departments; Missouri Secretary of State (business registration).

🏗️ General ContractorMO ✔ Verified 2026-06-24

In Missouri, general contractors must hold the No statewide general contractor license — licensed locally; all businesses register with the Secretary of State, issued by the Local city/county building departments; Missouri Secretary of State (business registration), and no state surety bond is required. Full requirements — experience, exams, fees, insurance, renewal and reciprocity — are detailed below.

How to become a licensed general contractor in Missouri

Missouri licenses general contractors at the city level rather than statewide, so the path runs through your local permitting office. Here are the general steps — the verified specifics are detailed further down the page.

Start with your city, not the state. Missouri has no statewide general contractor license — registration, bonds and insurance are set by each municipality, so confirm the rules with your local permitting office first.
Carry the insurance your city requires. No statewide minimum; local licenses set their own (e.g., Kansas City $1,000,000 per occurrence)
Post any local bond. No statewide bond. Local bonds vary (e.g., Columbia $5,000-$10,000).
Register and pay the local fees. Varies (e.g., Kansas City $60; Missouri SoS entity registration $50-$105)
Renew on your city's schedule. Varies by jurisdiction; no statewide renewal.

For the general path in every state, see the General Contractor guide →

Missouri general contractor license lookup

Missouri has no statewide general contractor license, so there is no state license database to search — verify a contractor's registration or license with the city or county where the work will be done.

License types

Missouri Secretary of State business registration — Required of all businesses statewide ($50-$105); establishes the legal entity, not a contractor license.
Kansas City Residential Building Contractor — Required for residential general construction in Kansas City; ICC exam, no experience requirement.
St. Louis City Construction Industry Contractor (Graduated Business License) — Required for contractors/subcontractors working in St. Louis City; fees scale by employee count.

Requirements at a glance

Experience required	No statewide requirement. Examples: Kansas City — no experience required (age 21+, high-school diploma, ICC exam). St. Louis City — graduated business license, no exam. Columbia — local GC license with a $5,000-$10,000 bond.
Application fee	Varies (e.g., Kansas City $60; Missouri SoS entity registration $50-$105)
License fee	Varies (e.g., Kansas City $181 issuance fee, renewed at $181 every 4 years)
Renewal fee	Varies (Kansas City every 4 years; St. Louis City annual)
Renewal period	Varies by jurisdiction; no statewide renewal
Continuing education	None identified in the major jurisdictions.
Bond required	No statewide bond. Local bonds vary (e.g., Columbia $5,000-$10,000).
Liability insurance	No statewide minimum; local licenses set their own (e.g., Kansas City $1,000,000 per occurrence)
Property damage	Not separately specified
Workers' comp	Required for any construction employer with 1+ employees (RSMo 287.030)
Background check	Not a stated statutory requirement.
Credit requirement	None
Reciprocity	Not applicable — no statewide license exists; local licenses are jurisdiction-specific. · compare all states
Processing time	Varies by jurisdiction.

What a Missouri general contractor license costs

Fees are set per city; the figures on this page are one city's example.

Exams

Kansas City Residential Building Contractor exam (local)	Provider: ICC/Pearson VUE · Passing: Set by the provider · Fee: $115 (Kansas City)

Renewing a Missouri general contractor license

Because Missouri licenses general contractors locally, renewal runs through the same city office that issued the credential. The figures below are the No statewide general contractor license — licensed locally; all businesses register with the Secretary of State rules; other Missouri municipalities set their own.

Renewal period	Varies by jurisdiction; no statewide renewal
Renewal fee	Varies (Kansas City every 4 years; St. Louis City annual)
Continuing education	None identified in the major jurisdictions.
Where to renew	Local city/county building departments; Missouri Secretary of State (business registration)

Local / municipal notes

Missouri has no statewide general contractor license; regulation is local. Kansas City (Residential Building Contractor: age 21+, ICC exam $115, $60 application + $181 issuance, $181 every 4 years, $1,000,000 liability), St. Louis City (Construction Industry Contractor Graduated Business License: state sales-tax ID, workers'-comp proof, annual renewal), Columbia (local GC license + $5,000-$10,000 bond). All businesses must register with the Missouri Secretary of State ($50-$105).

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Missouri general contractor license cost?

Application: Varies (e.g., Kansas City $60; Missouri SoS entity registration $50-$105). License: Varies (e.g., Kansas City $181 issuance fee, renewed at $181 every 4 years). Renewal: Varies (Kansas City every 4 years; St. Louis City annual).

Do general contractors in Missouri need a surety bond?

No statewide bond. Local bonds vary (e.g., Columbia $5,000-$10,000).

What experience is required for a Missouri general contractor license?

No statewide requirement. Examples: Kansas City — no experience required (age 21+, high-school diploma, ICC exam). St. Louis City — graduated business license, no exam. Columbia — local GC license with a $5,000-$10,000 bond.

Is insurance required for general contractors in Missouri?

Liability: No statewide minimum; local licenses set their own (e.g., Kansas City $1,000,000 per occurrence). Property damage: Not separately specified. Workers' compensation: Required for any construction employer with 1+ employees (RSMo 287.030).

How long does it take to get a Missouri general contractor license?

Processing time: Varies by jurisdiction.

Is a background check required for general contractors in Missouri?

Background check: Not a stated statutory requirement.

How often must a Missouri general contractor license be renewed?

Varies by jurisdiction; no statewide renewal. Continuing education: None identified in the major jurisdictions.

Fees and rules change frequently (often annually). This page was last verified on 2026-06-24 — always confirm current requirements directly with the Local city/county building departments; Missouri Secretary of State (business registration) before applying. This is not legal advice.