Kitchen Remodel Contractor Requirements in Arkansas
Arkansas kitchen remodel splits along the pre-existing line: major structural changes or additions to the home need the residential REMODELLER licence (2 years' experience or the exam, $50/$25/$50 fees), while defined trade pieces on a pre-existing single-family residence can sit under HOME IMPROVEMENT — the licence that flatly 'does not allow you to build a home or remodel a home.' Above $2,000 of cost both ladders engage with anti-splitting attached; the residential BUILDER licence also absorbs remodeling work by board practice. Every claim sourced and dated.
Residential licence required above $2,000 — builder since 7/1/2001, home improvement since 1/1/2012 — § 17-25-505(a): 'A person shall not act as a residential building contractor after July 1, 2001, unless licensed by the Residential Contractors Committee or exempted from licensure under this subchapter.' (b) the same for a home improvement contractor after January 1, 2012. (c) failure to procure the licence 'shall be deemed guilty of a Class A misdemeanor with each day in violation of the requirement to constitute a separate offense.' § 17-25-513(3)(A): exempt 'when the cost of the work done or to be done does not exceed two thousand dollars ($2,000)'; (B) the exemption 'shall not apply to a project in which the construction work necessary to complete the project is divided into separate contracts of amounts less than two thousand dollars ($2,000)'. The apply page repeats the trigger for each licence type ('more than $2,000, including, but not limited to, labor and material'). S-AR-RES-LAW
Home improvement licence — pre-existing single-family specialty work only; may not build or remodel homes — § 17-25-502(1): 'home improvement contractor' means one that attempts or contracts for 'the reconstruction, alteration, renovation, repair, modification, improvement, removal, demolition, or addition to any preexisting single family residence or the property and structures appurtenant thereto.' Apply page verbatim: 'A home improvement license is needed to do specialty work on a single-family residence, if the project is more than $2,000 … This license is for a contractor who is only responsible for certain types of work (painting, windows, flooring, etc.). This license does not allow you to build a home or remodel a home.' Form: $50 filing fee; Limited (< $50,000 of work) or Unlimited. § 17-25-514(c): a home improvement contractor whose work is under $50,000 'shall not be required to secure the payment of workers' compensation … or provide proof of coverage to the committee'. S-AR-HI-APP
Residential builder licence — 1–4 unit single-family construction, 4 years' experience, exam, positive net worth — § 17-25-502(2): 'residential building contractor' means one that 'attempts to or submits a bid to construct or contract or undertakes to construct or assumes charge in a supervisory capacity or otherwise manages the construction of a single family residence or the property and structures appurtenant thereto'; § 17-25-502(3): 'single family residence' means 'any project consisting of at least one (1) but no more than four (4) units of new construction for residential occupancy.' Entry: four years' verifiable experience + three references OR the exam (17 CAR 295-107(a)); the written examination (§ 17-25-509); a compiled financial statement showing 'positive net worth excluding the applicant's homestead and retirement accounts' (295-109(a)); proof of workers' compensation (§ 17-25-514); the $10,000 contractor's bond is NOT on the builder form — the financial statement carries the security role (S-AR-RB-APP checklist). Fees $100 new / $50 timely / $100 late (295-105(a),(d)). S-AR-RB-APP
Residential exemptions — own residence, owner-occupant work, ≤ $2,000, licensed subs, other Arkansas licences, roofing subch. — § 17-25-513 verbatim: exempt '(1) A person who acts as a residential building contractor in the construction of his or her residence unless he or she builds more than one (1) residence during any calendar year; (2) The owner of a single family residence acting as his or her own home improvement contractor on his or her own property; (3)(A) A person or entity … when the cost of the work done or to be done does not exceed two thousand dollars ($2,000)', with the anti-splitting sentence in (B); '(4) A subcontractor of a contractor licensed by the Residential Contractors Committee; (5) A person or entity licensed as a contractor by another licensing agency, board, or commission of the State of Arkansas if the contractor is performing work within the scope of the license held …; (6) A person or entity performing work as a roofing contractor as defined under § 17-25-601 et seq.' § 17-25-610 adds the roofing chapter's five exemptions, including the 50%-of-project-cost rule for HI/RBC licensees. S-AR-RES-LAW
02 Which credentials this project can touch
Project
Credential
Relation
Rule
Source
kitchen-remodel
Residential Remodeler (structural changes and additions)
The $10,000 contractor's bond is a condition of licensure (not a fee) and follows the licensee into every project; the roofing registration adds its own $15,000 bond. Every city/county fee is LOCAL_AUTHORITY_REQUIRED and is not published here.