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 $55; Missouri SoS entity registration $50-$105)
Renew on your city's schedule. Varies by jurisdiction; no statewide renewal.

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 $55; Missouri SoS entity registration $50-$105)
License fee	Varies (e.g., Kansas City $167 for 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.
Processing time	Varies by jurisdiction.

Exams

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

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Local / municipal notes

Missouri has no statewide general contractor license; regulation is local. Kansas City (Residential Building Contractor: age 21+, ICC exam $115, $55 + $167/4-year, $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 $55; Missouri SoS entity registration $50-$105). License: Varies (e.g., Kansas City $167 for 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) Workers' compensation: Required for any construction employer with 1+ employees (RSMo 287.030)

How often must a Missouri general contractor license be renewed?

Varies by jurisdiction; no statewide renewal.

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.