50-State Construction Licensing Compliance Guide
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Guide Contents
Overview

Montana Construction Licensing

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Licenses are typically required for individuals and businesses that provide construction industry services. This guide contains information about construction industry licensing in Montana.

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Company Licenses

Montana Construction and Contracting Company Licenses

Montana Construction Contractor Registration

Agency:Montana Department of Labor and Industry: Construction Contractor Registration Unit
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:Yes
Insurance Requirements:

Businesses working in Montana with employees must provide proof of a valid Montana workers' compensation insurance policy.

Initial Registration

Form:

Construction Contractor Registration Application

Agency Fee:

$70

Original Ink:Required
Notarization Required?:Required
Notes:

To qualify for “Bid Only” status, your out-of-state business cannot be actively performing work in Montana. Once awarded the job in Montana, you must notify us in writing immediately to change your status and provide proof of a valid Montana workers’ compensation insurance policy for your employees.

Before you Apply:
  •  Businesses working in Montana with employees must provide proof of a valid Montana workers’ compensation insurance policy
    • Corporate officers working in Montana are considered employees and must be covered under a Montana workers’ compensation insurance policy, unless the officer owns 20% or more of the shares of the corporation, or is related to another officer of the corporation and the aggregated shares equal 20% or more. 
    • Sole Proprietors, Partners, Members of Member-Managed LLC’s, and Managers of Manager-Managed LLC’s working on a jobsite in Montana, and are NOT personally covered under a Montana workers’ compensation insurance policy, must have or apply for an active independent contractor exemption certificate (ICEC)

Registration Renewal

Agency Fee:

$70

Due:

Biennially by the date of issuance. Renewal applications may be requested and filed up to 6 months prior to the renewal date.

Original Ink:Required
Notarization Required?:Not required
Notes:

Prepopulated renewal forms are mailed to registrants approximately 60 days before the renewal date. Registrants need only cross out any errors, make the correction in ink, and initial the changes.

Required Attachments:
  • Updated list of owners, partners, members, managers, or corporate officers (if changes have occurred)
  • Updated declarations page or certificate of insurance (if changes have occurred)

Montana Fire Protection Entity License

Agency:Montana Department of Labor and Industry Fire Protection License Program
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:No
Insurance Requirements:
  • Full term commercial general liability insurance policy from an insurance company authorized to do business in the state of Montana and except as provided in (5), submit verification of workers' compensation insurance.
  • An entity engaging in the business of servicing fire extinguishers shall submit a copy of commercial general liability insurance with a minimum limit per occurrence of $500,000 that includes premises/operations and products/ completed operations coverage.
  • An entity engaging in the business of selling, servicing or installing fire alarm systems, special agent fire suppression systems or fire extinguisher systems shall submit a copy of commercial general liability insurance with a minimum limit per occurrence of $1,000,000 that includes premises/ operations and products/completed operations coverage.
  • Sole proprietors or working members of a partnership who are on file with the department of labor and industry as independent contractors, with no employees, need not submit workers' compensation but shall submit independent contractor exemption verification to the department.
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?No
Qualifying Individual Requirements:
  • The business entity must have an individual staff member that holds a valid applicable individual fire protection
    endorsement to represent the type of work the business is engaged in.
  • An Individual Endorsement Application must be submitted in addition to the Business Entity License Application if you are attempting to license both at the same time.
  • An Individual Endorsement License is not required for Portable Fire Extinguishers.

Initial Registration

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$200

Required Attachments:
  • Proof of insurance (general and workers comp) 
    • Full term commercial general liability insurance policy from an insurance company authorized to do business in the state of Montana and except as provided in (5), submit verification of workers' compensation insurance.
    • An entity engaging in the business of servicing fire extinguishers shall submit a copy of commercial general liability insurance with a minimum limit per occurrence of $500,000 that includes premises/operations and products/ completed operations coverage.
    • An entity engaging in the business of selling, servicing or installing fire alarm systems, special agent fire suppression systems or fire extinguisher systems shall submit a copy of commercial general liability insurance with a minimum limit per occurrence of $1,000,000 that includes premises/ operations and products/completed operations coverage.
    • Sole proprietors or working members of a partnership who are on file with the department of labor and industry as independent contractors, with no employees, need not submit workers' compensation but shall submit independent contractor exemption verification to the department.

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$200

Due:

Annually by May 31. 

Montana Independent Contractor Exemption Certification

Agency:Montana Department of Labor & Industry - Independent Contractor Central Unit

Registration Renewal

Form:

Montana Independent Contractor Exemption Certification Renewal

Agency Fee:

$125

Due:

Biennially by the date of issuance.

Montana Lead Abatement Company License

Not required



Lead Services Company licensure is not required on the State level in Montana.

Montana does not have a state-issued lead abatement license; instead, these licenses are administered federally by the EPA.

Montana Limited Electrical Contractor License

Agency:Montana State Electrical Board
Notes:

Limited electrical contractors can work on residential projects consisting of less than 5 living units in a single structure.

Initial Registration

Form:

Limited Electrical Contractor

Filing Method:

Mail or online.

Agency Fee:

$300

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$300

Due:

Biennially by July 15.

Montana Unlimited Electrical Contractor License

Agency:Montana State Electrical Board

Initial Registration

Form:

Unlimited Electrical Contractor Application

Filing Method:

Mail or online.

Agency Fee:

$300

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$300

Due:

Biennially by July 15.

Local Construction and Contracting Company Licenses

Business License - General Contractor

Agency:City of Bozeman Planning Division (MT)
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:No
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?No

Initial Registration
Business License Application

Exemption Eligible Organizations:

· Non-Profit Organizations
· People under the age of 18
· Property managers with less than three rental units (does not include vacation rentals)

Form:

https://www.bozeman.net/Home/ShowDocument?id=688

Instructions:

https://www.bozeman.net/home/showdocument?id=686

Filing Method:

Mail or In Person

Turnaround:

2-4 weeks

How to Apply:
  • Submit application
  • Site inspection (if required)
  • License approval
  • City/County health department inspections (if required)

Registration Renewal
Business License - General Contractor

Form:

https://bozn-egov.aspgov.com/Click2GovOL/index.html

Filing Method:

Online

Due:

Annually on the anniversary of the prior year's date of application or renewal.

West Yellowstone Business License

Agency:Town of West Yellowstone Business Licensing Section (MT)
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:No
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?No

Initial Registration

Form:

Application

Filing Method:

Mail

Agency Fee:

$50

Turnaround:

Up to 3 weeks

Bond Amount:

If a business will sell any goods or services that are subject to the Town’s resort tax, then a refundable resort tax bond in the sum of $500 must accompany the business license application.

Registration Renewal

Form:

Application

Filing Method:

Mail

Agency Fee:

$50

Due:

Annually by May 31st

Individual Licenses

Montana Individual Construction and Contracting Licenses

Montana Asbestos Inspector Accreditation

Agency:Montana Department of Environmental Quality - Asbestos Control Program

Registration Renewal

Form:

Montana Accreditation Application Asbestos Related Occupations (Renewal)

Agency Fee:

$170

Due:

Annually by the date of most recent accredidation.

Montana Asbestos Management Planner Accreditation

Agency:Montana Department of Environmental Quality - Asbestos Control Program

Registration Renewal

Form:

Montana Accreditation Application Asbestos Related Occupations (Renewal)

Agency Fee:

$170

Due:

Annually by the date of most recent accredidation.

Montana Asbestos Project Contractor/Supervisor Accreditation

Agency:Montana Department of Environmental Quality - Asbestos Control Program

Registration Renewal

Form:

Montana Accreditation Application Asbestos Related Occupations (Renewal)

Agency Fee:

$170

Due:

Annually by the date of most recent accredidation.

Montana Asbestos Project Designer Accreditation

Agency:Montana Department of Environmental Quality - Asbestos Control Program

Registration Renewal

Form:

Montana Accreditation Application Asbestos Related Occupations (Renewal)

Agency Fee:

$170

Due:

Annually by the date of most recent accredidation.

Montana Asbestos Project Worker Accreditation

Agency:Montana Department of Environmental Quality - Asbestos Control Program

Registration Renewal

Form:

Montana Accreditation Application Asbestos Related Occupations (Renewal)

Agency Fee:

$45

Due:

Annually by the date of most recent accredidation.

Montana Fire Protection License Individual Endorsement (Sell, Install and Service)

Agency:Montana Department of Labor and Industry Fire Protection License Program
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:No
Notes:

The department shall issue a license to an applicant who:

a. Certification of completion of all the Nicet work elements provided for under section ARM 24.144.502 or completion of Nicet II, with the verification of completion sent to the licensing program at the above address directly from Nicet

b. Completion of a state approved apprenticeship program with the verification of completion sent to the licensing program directly from the approving bureau;

c. Completion of manufacturer training with the verification of completion sent to the licensing program at the above address directly from the manufacturer; or

d. Currently holds the equivalent of endorsement in another jurisdiction provided that the applicant meets or exceeds the qualifications for endorsement in Montana and verification of endorsement is sent to the licensing program at the above address directly from the other state, territory, or federal government.

Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?No
Requirement Notes:

An endorsee shall obtain a minimum of four hours (60 minutes per hour) annually and submit copies of continuing education certificates in the event they are audited by the department. The continuing education requirement will not apply until the endorsee's first full year of endorsement.

Initial Registration

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$100

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$100

Due:

Annually by May 31. 

Montana Journeyman Electrician License

Agency:Montana State Electrical Board

Initial Registration

Form:

Journeyman Electrician Application

Agency Fee:

$240 application by exam; $250.00 spplication by reciprocity or credential

Registration Renewal

Form:

Renewal Application

Agency Fee:

$200

Due:

By July 15 of even-numbered years.

Montana Journeyman Plumber License

Agency:Montana State Electrical Board

Initial Registration

Form:

Journeyman Plumber

Agency Fee:

Application Fee: $100.00; License Fees: $170.00; Reciprocity Fee in addition to application fee: $300.00

Registration Renewal

Form:

Renewal Form

Agency Fee:

$160

Due:

Annually by September 1.

Montana Lead Abatement Individual License

Not required



Lead Services Individual licensure is not required on the State level in Montana.

Montana does not have a state-issued lead abatement license; instead, these licenses are administered federally by the EPA.

Montana Master Electrician License

Agency:Montana State Electrical Board

Initial Registration

Form:

Master Electrician Form

Agency Fee:

$240

Registration Renewal

Form:

Renewal Form

Agency Fee:

$200

Due:

By July 15 of even-numbered years.

Montana Master Plumber License

Agency:Montana State Electrical Board

Initial Registration

Form:

Master Plumber

Agency Fee:

Application Fee: $100.00 License Fees: $280.00

Registration Renewal

Form:

Renewal Form

Agency Fee:

$265

Due:

Annually by September 1.

Montana Residential Electrician License

Agency:Montana State Electrical Board

Initial Registration

Form:

Residential Electrician Form

Agency Fee:

Application Fee by Examination: $240.00; Application by Reciprocity or Credential: $250.00

Registration Renewal

Form:

Renewal Form

Agency Fee:

$200

Due:

By July 15 of even-numbered years.

Explore Licensing in Other States

Associated General Contractors of America
Professional association providing advocacy and organization for construction firms and workers.

National Association of Home Builders
National association for the promotion of the housing industry.

National Association of State Contractors Licensing Agencies
National organization that represents and promotes the interests of state level contractor licensing agencies.